Kevin Joshua "Rowdy" Rowsey II.

Kevin Joshua "Rowdy" Rowsey II (affectionately known as "Joshua") passed away unexpectedly on Wednesday, April 17, 2024, at the age of thirty-two. He leaves behind to celebrate his legacy, his immediate family, including his parents, Kevin Rowsey and Dr. Pamela Johnson Rowsey and younger sister, Jessica Noel Rowsey, aunts and uncles, a robust extended family, godparents, Drs. John and Cynthia Wallace; three god sisters, Dr. Lauren Wallace Wright (Brian), Dr. Linnea Wallace Hill (Nathan), Lydia Wallace, and Arielle Donelan, one god brother, John Wallace, III, his childhood/best friend, Amanda Rudd, his brothers of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity incorporated, countless friends, classrooms full of changed lives, and genuine adoring fans who knew him as "Rowdy."
Born July 30, 1991, in Ann Arbor, Michigan, Joshua was a national recording artist, writer, actor, and educator. He graduated from the prestigious Cary Academy and earned his Bachelor of Business Administration from UNC Kenan-Flagler School of Business. He also attended the University of North Carolina Greensboro where he completed his Master of Arts in Teaching. He was fluent in Chinese, a talented violinist, and an accomplished swimmer. While his life was too short for those he left behind, he made a bigger impact on the world than most would make in many more years.
After pivoting from a corporate career in New York City, Joshua felt a calling to embrace his talents as a hip-hop artist, and to honor his voice, hometown, and heritage to create an infrastructure that would benefit his community. His work and impact did not go unnoticed. Joshua was selected as a U.S. Hip-Hop Ambassador through the Next Level initiative of the U.S. Department of State. He has been featured on BET, NPR, PBS Kids, and TEDx Talks. On stage, he was part of the national collective, No9to5 Music, and played with a live Jazz Band, (J) Rowdy & the Night Shift, which was nominated for a 2017 Carolina music award.
As an artist, "Rowdy" shared the stage with notable national recording acts including Rakim, Busta Rhymes, 2 Chainz, Petey Pablo, and Juicy J. His friends, family, and community will never forget the deep impact he made on the North Carolina Triangle. Joshua felt the authentic language of hip-hop could teach, redress injustice, and heal. Moving his vision beyond words, he founded two cyphers that allowed students to embrace their gifts and express their talents through music. He also served as the Executive Director of Blackspace Durham, a safe space for teens to engage across the spectrum of the arts. Through his commitment to speaking their language, Joshua could always connect with those others found "hard to reach." His belief in the power of words went beyond hip-hop, as he helped students of all backgrounds find their voices through serving as an English as a Second Language Teacher at Guilford County Schools and as an Artist in Residence at his high school alma mater, Cary Academy.
A loyal friend, a wonderful son, and an amazing brother, Joshua used his voice beyond the stage, workshops, and the classroom. He always had words of affirmation to share and there was no limit to his encouragement. He could be counted upon for an opinion or feedback (whether solicited or not). He made firm declarations about how life should be lived (we all began to question our nine to five gigs), and with no words at all, he expressed his feelings with that laugh we will never forget.
Joshua recently said of his life, "Everything seems to be right in front of me. Right now, I am living my truth, finding my authentic voice. That can be scary-but it is a beautiful thing-just to be in the moment, figuring it out." He found his truth, he found his voice, and he made the world a better place.
Joshua, we are abundantly grateful you embraced your calling and shared your life on earth with us. We look forward to the day we see (and hear) you again!
In lieu of flowers, please send donations to Blackspace, an art and music space for Black and Brown Youth. The donation link to Blackspace is https://www.paypal.me/theblackspace.
Celebration of Life
Heaven gains Hip Hop: Celebration of Life for Joshua "Rowdy" Rowsey will be Saturday, April 27, 2024, at Kings Park International Church, 1305 Odyssey Drive, Durham, NC 27713.
Family meet and greet at 12 noon, celebration service at 1 pm.