In a scene where authenticity is rare and survival stories are often glamorised, Raytoine Gray Sr. doesn’t need embellishment—his life already reads like a script that Hollywood couldn’t dream up. At 48, the Roanoke, Virginia native has endured more than most could fathom: multiple shootings, knife wounds, car crashes, dog attacks, and over fifty medical procedures—three of which left him with amputations. Yet here he stands, not as a victim, but as a living testament to resilience, channelling his scars into raw, uncompromising music.
Unlike many who chase clout or trends, Raytoine isn’t trying to be the loudest voice in the room—he’s determined to be the truest. XXL Magazine UK sat down with the man behind the music for an unfiltered conversation on survival, artistry, and why his pain is bigger than himself.
XXL: Your life story reads like a catalogue of battles most people couldn’t survive. Can you take us back to when music first became more than an escape and started turning into a mission?
Raytoine Gray Sr.: Growing up in Roanoke, chaos was my normal. I didn’t have therapy, I had a notebook. Rhyming was my survival tool—it was me screaming back at the world that tried to silence me. But over time, it became bigger than therapy. I realised my story wasn’t just mine; it could speak to anyone fighting through storms. That’s when I knew this wasn’t just an outlet—it was a purpose.
XXL: You’ve spoken about your children and your faith being your anchor. After all you’ve been through—physically, emotionally—what does “purpose” mean to you today?
Raytoine: Purpose is waking up every day knowing I shouldn’t even still be here. Surviving all that—gunshots, surgeries, amputations—it’s not coincidence. I believe I was spared for a reason. My music is my way of proving that pain can be recycled into power. I tell people all the time: “You’re not broken, you’re building.”
XXL: A lot of today’s rap is about lifestyle, trends, and flexing. You’ve called your sound “survival music.” How do you see your work fitting into the wider hip-hop landscape?
Raytoine: I’m not chasing radio hits. I don’t care about fitting into playlists. I’m telling the truth. If you’ve been cut open fifty-six times, you don’t have time for fake music. I’m influenced by Pac, DMX, Scarface—artists who bled into their bars. My music isn’t entertainment; it’s testimony.
XXL: Some fans call you the “Rocky Balboa” of rap—always fighting, always coming back. Do you embrace that comparison?
Raytoine: (Laughs) Yeah, I’ll take that. Rocky never had the odds in his favour, but he kept swinging. That’s me. I’ve been knocked down so many times, but I refuse to stay there. The scars are proof I’m still standing. And as long as I’m standing, I’m still fighting.
XXL: Let’s talk about the future. What’s next musically, and what legacy are you building beyond the booth?
Raytoine: Right now, I’m working on an EP called Still Breathing. Every track is my life in chapters—grit, soul, and straight truth. I’m also linking with independent artists who move with integrity, no gimmicks. But beyond music, I’m starting a foundation for people with disabilities who want to create. I know what it’s like to feel limited, but I also know what it’s like to prove limits wrong. That’s the legacy I want—empowerment.
XXL: For the fans reading this, how can they connect and support your movement in a real way?
Raytoine: The biggest thing is connection. Stream the music, share the message, show up. Social media’s cool, but what matters is real engagement. I’m not just building an audience—I’m building a community.
Raytoine Gray Sr. isn’t just another rapper with a backstory—he’s a man who embodies the fight for survival and the art of turning tragedy into testimony. In a world full of fabricated personas, his authenticity is his weapon, and his scars are his crown.
Still Breathing isn’t just the title of his next project—it’s his manifesto.
Follow Raytoine: https://ffm.to/dxba0xb
