Padrino celebrated his 34th birthday sitting behind a mixer board at a studio in North Miami. It's likely he turned 32 and 33 doing much of the same.
His album project entitled "RNIP" is due to drop by the end of this summer, and he still has a lot of work to do. But, he and Grammy-award winning executive producers, Cool and Dre, have a plan to release singles all summer long -- the appetizers until the serving of the main course.
His long career of producing other people's tracks, and laying down his own, have finally come to a critical precipice -- he is about to drop an album in the biggest hip hop market in the world. And he stands on the edge of either the biggest success of his life, or faces the long walk back to the drawing board. He has proven, however, that what he will not do is quit.
Musically, the last two-and-a-half years have been rewarding for Padrino, who went by the name Rory Bowe. However, the last few years have also been some of the hardest years of his life.
"There has been a loss of loved ones, times that I wanted to quit, and there have been times when I worked my butt off and still wasn't able to do the things that I wanted to do financially," he said. "It's been rough. It's been very rough. This is the first time that I've actually stayed out of the streets. The music business is not easy ... it's been very stressing. Being told over the years that you're not good enough causes you to stop believing in yourself."
Padrino says that in his new album he and his music have come into their "manhood" while leaving the hood or gangster feel behind.
In the struggle to improve himself as an artist he honed his vocals, and his fans can expect a lot more singing from him on the upcoming album.
He made his start from humble beginnings in The Bahamas, and became the biggest name in producing. He was once recognized as the country's top producer. His tracks have been featured on every radio station, and his monster track "Duffles" debuted to rave reviews due to its accompanying music video shot on Norman's Cay, New Providence and Paradise Island.
Even as he works toward his dream in the United States (U.S.), he is still sought out by Bahamian artists who only want him to produce their tracks. Up-and-coming Bahamian artist, Chase Fernander, recently release a song produced by Padrino. The hot track has been making the rounds on Bahamian radio stations for several weeks and has been well received. He has also worked with artists out of Grand Bahama.
His album, however, has been non-stop work and growth for him, with Cool and Dre at the helm steering him in the right direction. And it has been a period of maturity and humility for him, personally.
"This album has been a work in progress for two-and-a-half years, but recently it took a turn for a much bigger and better direction after the addition of Cool and Dre," said Padrino. "You can expect a really grown-up type of feel. You can expect a lot of tempered emotion, rage, anger and pain. The old Padrino was more aggressive, this Padrino is more calm and grown up. It's not about the gangster stuff for me anymore; it's more about what kind of records can I leave behind that will be lasting. It's not about having a two-week record anymore. It's about having a record that will last 20 years that my kids will be able to eat from."
Cool and Dre, who have produced for artists like Christina Milian, Rick Ross and the Game, belive in Padrino's potential to be the next best thing on the hip hop scene in the U.S., and eventually, globally.
"We've been in the studio for the past few weeks putting together an amazing body of work," Cool and Dre said in a statement. "We feel like he has the potential to be one of the greats, and we're really excited about his project."
Cool and Dre are the executive producers on Padrino's "RNIP", while well-known engineer Brian Stanley is expected to mix-down the album when Padrino puts the period on the final lyric. Stanley, who also hails from the Caribbean, said he is always excited to work on projects with fellow Caribbean people.
"I can't wait until we start releasing some of this music to the general public," said Stanley. "I love to see when island and Caribbean people take the world by storm and let the world know that no matter how small of a country you are from, you can do great things."
According to Padrino, Cool and Dre have brought a family atmosphere to his studio time and he insists that it shows in his music.
"Expect to hear a lot of amazing music from Padrino," said the Cool and Dre statement. "We think he is going to be a force to be reckoned with when it comes to this music business and The Bahamas has got to get ready because he's about to put the hip hop music scene on the map as far as The Bahamas is concerned. In the U.S. market and worldwide, we think he's going to be a huge artist."
He has also been rubbing shoulders with big name artists -- with rumors growing that Game could be featured on one or two of his tracks. The Kaos Records camp, the label under which Padrino performs, would not confirm or deny that collaboration.
Padrino has been seen with performers such as Miami rapper Gunplay and 90s sensation Snow.
"Right away I heard his stuff and said I'd love to work with him," said Snow. "He is definitely going to put The Bahamas on the map. His music, his form and his rap style are incredible, and he has a beautiful voice too."
Padrino was surrounded by talent as he celebrated his birthday at Cool and Dre's studio. Fat Joe was busy laying down tracks in one recording room, while Padrino and his team went over some of his tracks.
"We're working hard to bring Padrino to the U.S. market and then bring him to the world," said Kaos Records principal, Ted Kay. "But, we're waving that Bahamian flag all the way."
While Padrino has spent a lot of time in the U.S. working on his album, he has never forgotten home. On a recent trip he shot a music video, and lounged at the Compass Point Resort, which has a music studio attached to it (a perfect refuge for Padrino).
"I embrace my country and I only want the best for my country," said Padrino. "I hope to inspire dudes that were once like me. These have been the hardest years of my life, I just want to make things better."

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