'White Roux' really cooking

HOMOSASSA — He’s not an ordinary hip-hop/rap performer, but he talks about ordinary people and their problems in each of his songs.

CATHY KAPULKA

Russo Kanaris, “White Roux,” rehearses in the Ice Palace Studios II and Frozen Water Entertainment’s sound room in Inverness as he prepares for his next concert. Kanaris has completed a hip-hop/rap album scheduled for release sometime in early spring.

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CATHY KAPULKA

Kanaris performs recently at Club Skye in Ybor City.  Karanis graduated from the Orlando Culinary Academy before setting his sights on music.

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Russo Kanaris, 23, is also known as “White Roux.” He is a local man who graduated from Lecanto High School in 2006, and has completed a hip-hop/rap album scheduled for release sometime in early spring.

He said his lyrics are about human suffering, veterans, injustices, political views and the economy.

“For me and other people, there’s no limitations,” Kanaris said. “You can’t deny the history or the pain. It’s about getting the message out.”

He started writing his lyrics as he worked for his parents’ well-known Homosassa eatery, Emily’s Family Restaurant.

He attended the Orlando Culinary Academy, an affiliate of Le Cordon Bleu Schools North America, and graduated with an associate’s in culinary arts. But his talents went far beyond cooking as he worked on writing more songs. 

He gave himself a hip-hop moniker, “White Roux,” after the butter and flour concoction used as a thickening agent in cooking. 

His original plan was to come back to Citrus County and take over the family restaurant business. 

Then he found Glen Stoudemire, the owner of Ice Palace Studios II and Frozen Water Entertainment, a recording studio in Inverness.

“Man, he’s got that swag,” Stoudemire said as he talked about the first time Kanaris entered his studio. “It’s a thing you can’t teach.”

Stoudemire explained he liked the way Kanaris carried himself, his “swag.” He liked his confidence level, his charisma.

“Good things are going to happen to that young man,” he said. “He’s the future and he’s going to put Citrus County and this area on the map.”

George Kanaris, Russo’s father, said he is 100 percent behind him and encourages his son to pursue his dream of becoming a famous artist.

“What a blessing it is to be able to make money with your music,” George said. “Not like your mom and I who spent 30 years in the kitchen. Even if there’s a chance, you have to swing the bat.”

Riggs Morales, vice president of A&R (artists and repertoire) for Shady Records in Manhattan, N.Y., is mentoring Kanaris.

 Morales is responsible for talent scouting and overseeing the artistic development of recording artists. He played a large role and is partly responsible for the success of Eminem and 50 cent, two very successful artists in the industry. 

In 2002, Morales signed 50 Cent, who went on to sell more than 10 million albums worldwide with “Get Rich or Die Tryin’,” which went 10-times platinum, and “The Massacre,” which went six-times platinum. “Eminem Presents: The Re-Up,” went 1.3-times platinum.

Morales spoke highly of Kanaris.

“One of the most attractive things about Roux, he’s got his act together,” Morales said. “He’s very enterprising.”

Morales said he’s helping him to develop his talent, to get him ready for the masses.

“He’s already a little bit more advanced than the average people that walk in,” Morales said. “He’s hungry compared to the average kid that approaches me on a daily basis. Drive is definitely the word, his drive is there and his hunger is there.”

Morales said he was impressed when he learned Kanaris made the move to New York City to further his career. 

He said Kanaris is very passionate about his music, and it wouldn’t surprise him if one day Kanaris ends up running his own production company. 

He said he sees a great deal of potential in him.

“I wouldn’t have taken him on if I didn’t see it,” he added. “I can’t say that I’ve been holding his hand, and so far, that’s the biggest compliment.”

Chronicle reporter Cathy Kapulka can be reached at 352-564-2922 or ckapulka@chronicleonline.com.