Randy “DK Tha Gruva” Green has been in the entertainment industry for decades. From street dancing in the projects of West Dallas to acting in Hollywood films, Randy’s journey is one of resilience, faith, and artistry. He first gained recognition as part of the hugely popular Dallas street dance group The Rockets, later moving into rapping and acting. We sat down with Randy to talk about his early beginnings, career highlights, and the exciting projects he’s working on today.
SDM: Randy, take us back to where it all began in West Dallas. How old were you when you first started dancing?
Randy: I was about nine years old. I learned from my older sister Racheal and from a guy named Darrin “Dazzo” Mitchell. He noticed me watching him because he was good. About a year later, I started dancing in a group with my cousins, twins Ronald and Donald Clemons. The group was called The Chaka-Delics, and they introduced me to the dance world. After a while, I got good and began to make a name for myself in the West Dallas Projects. Street dancing was my first love.
As a teenager, I teamed up with Billy Johnson, and from there I joined the biggest dance group out of Dallas—The Rockets. That was with Anthony “Mr. Rocket” Frazier, Joseph “Disco-Joe” Frazier, Dr. Gene “Doc Wave” Simmons, and Byrum “Dazzlyn Pran” Mathis. We went on to perform on TV shows and in concerts. Street dancing will always be part of me until God calls me home.
SDM: You were excelling in street dancing. What inspired you to start rapping?
Randy: When I was 12, my best friend Smith Ransom stopped me in the hallway at school one day and said, “Hey man, I wrote this rap for us—I want us to learn it.” So we did. We started rapping on the school bus and around the neighborhood just for fun. Three years later, we got serious and formed a group called The P-Boyz X-Press: myself (D.K.), Smith (Sir J.), David “Doc. D” Fisher, and Ronald Clemons “Ronald Rock.”
Our first performance was at The McMillan Center on Valentine’s Night around 1985. Later, I discovered a young rapper named Alton “AMD” Marshall, and the two of us connected with DJ James “Curly” Moore. We kept the name The P-Boyz X-Press, and by my senior year at L.G. Pinkston High School, we had landed our first record deal with Fresh Roc Productions.
After the group disbanded, I reconnected with Smith Ransom (Unncutt) and Eliger “M-One” Crenshaw in 2005. We started a new group called S.E.C. (Street Edge Civilians) and signed another record deal with No Love Entertainment. By that time, I was 34, and that’s when my rap career came to an end.
SDM: Over the years, you’ve worked with many people in the entertainment industry. Who have you worked with, and how did those connections happen?
Randy: I’ve had the honor of working with all the members of The Lockers except Re-Run, who had already passed. I worked with Chris “The Glove” Taylor, Dr. Dre’s right-hand man, and comedian George Wallace on the film Jerico, directed by Brandon and Seckeita Lewis.
I’ve worked with Ms. Jo Marie Payton (Harriet from Family Matters) on both Jerico and the upcoming film Impossible, where I play a panhandler street dancer. I also worked alongside legendary actor Greg Daniels and our very own Mrs. Irma P. Hall on those films. Talk show host and comedian Sherri Shepherd is in Impossible too—though I haven’t met her yet! (laughs)
And then there’s Sir Earl Toon from the legendary group Kool & the Gang. He’s become a good friend of mine.
SDM: Who has had the biggest impact on your career, and why? I know you’ve spoken about the late Adolfo “Shabba-Doo” Quinones from Breakin’.
Randy: Everybody who knows me knows I thought I was “Ozone” from Breakin’. The first time I saw that movie, I dreamed of meeting him one day.
When I was working on my solo CD How I Roll, I was taking trips to Las Vegas with my brother Nathan Washington. We recorded ourselves dancing, and Nathan—who was Facebook friends with Shabba-n Doo—sent him a copy. After seeing it, Shabba-Doo wanted to meet me. That was a dream come true. Meeting him and becoming good friends for nine years until his passing was surreal. He even directed
and appeared in my music video Like This. We later discovered we shared the same birthday, May 11th. That was destiny.
SDM: You transitioned from dancing and rapping into acting. Was acting always the goal?
Randy: Yes, I always knew I wanted to be an actor. The transition was natural for me. Director GuGu Michaels had been shooting my music videos and started coaching me in acting. From there, things took off.
SDM: You’re starring in the new thriller Snow Bunny Chronicles: Looks Do Kill, where you play Detective Caleb. You’re also the executive producer alongside GuGu Michaels. Before that, you appeared in Private Targets, where you also contributed to the soundtrack and production. Tell us about those projects.
Randy: My first breakout role was in Private Targets. GuGu E. Michaels was looking for investors, and I agreed to come on board, along with Manuel Correa. He later asked if I wanted to be in the film, and I said yes.
In Snow Bunny Chronicles (Looks Do Kill), I play Detective Caleb and also serve as executive producer with GuGu. This is my first major film role, and I’m very excited about it. If you love thrillers, you’ll enjoy this movie.
SDM: You also won a Telly Award last year. That must have been an incredible moment.
Randy: Absolutely! What’s funny is I didn’t even know I was going to receive it. Sir Earl Toon had been telling people at the Telly Awards about me—my dancing, my film work. We flew to L.A., and during his performance of “Celebration” and “Get Down On It,” he called me
onstage to dance. Afterward, when I sat down, they called my name for a Telly Award. I was floored! That was one of the greatest moments of my professional life, and it also led to my first national magazine article.
SDM: Your faith in God is something you speak about often. How has your faith guided you?
Randy: My faith in God is everything. I don’t do anything without Him. If I can’t put God in it, I don’t want to do it. I pray before I sleep, while I drive, before I perform. Prayer is my foundation. My faith has allowed me to see my dreams come to life.
SDM: For those who want to see your films, where can they watch them?
Randy: Private Targets is available on Tubi, Prime, Apple TV, TVE, Sinema Room, and FAWE SOME platforms worldwide. Snow Bunny Chronicles (Looks Do Kill) is coming soon.
SDM: Do you have any new projects in the works?
Randy: Yes! Detective Caleb is getting his own spinoff series from Snow Bunny Chronicles, directed by GuGu Michaels. We also have about five or six more films lined up over the next few years. I’m wrapping up my second CD titled EPIC, produced by Teraun Jones, and working on a documentary about The Rockets called Hip-Hop Saved My Life. Plus, Impossible is currently touring with the American Diabetes Association. God is truly moving in my life.
SDM: What advce would you give to newcomers in the entertainment industry? And looking back, what would you do differently?
Randy: First, you must be passionate about what you do. Invest in yourself, learn the business, and control as much as you can. Not everyone who offers to help you is genuine—some people just want to rob your dream. Put God first, stay humble, and don’t get too
high and mighty when success comes, because it can be gone just as fast. Save your money, keep a clean record so you can travel, and don’t be afraid to step outside your comfort zone. If I could do anything differently, I would have gone through with attending the Art Institute for music and video production. I enrolled, got a grant, even secured housing—but I didn’t go to class that first Monday. I still regret that to this day.
SDM: Before we close, tell us the story behind your name, “DK Tha Gruva.”
Randy: The name came from an OG in the neighborhood named Patrick—he used to call me Disco because I was a dancer. I liked Kangol Kid from the rap group UTFO, so I started calling myself “Disco Kid.” When I started rapping, I shortened it to D.K.
As I went solo, people would say, “DK, your music makes people want to groove.” So I added “Groover,” later changing the spelling to “Gruva.” That’s how “DK Tha Gruva” was born.
SDM: Randy, this has been an amazing conversation. Is there anything else you’d like to share with our readers?
Randy: Yes—my grandmother, Josephine E. Grayson, was my biggest inspiration. Everyone in the neighborhood knew her as Ms. Dolly. She always pushed me to keep moving forward. She used to tell me, “You don’t have to be a star to be in my show,” then hug me and kiss me on the forehead. I loved her dearly, and I carry her with me everywhere I go. I also want to thank the readers for supporting Southern Dallas Magazine. And thank you, James Thomas—stay blessed. God’s got you. You can follow me on Facebook at Randy Green and
on Instagram at @dkthagruva.
