Professor Green launched a vape shop in Rochester
Published: 00:00, 24 August 2018
Updated: 08:00, 24 August 2018
A new e-liquid is available to vapers thanks to the combined efforts of rapper Professor Green and Rochester vape shop owner Scott Rozario.
Scott, 32, converted his mega-star friend Professor Green to vaping while living with him in London last year and welcomed the rapper and songwriter to his shop Vaperizzo in Victoria Street on Friday to launch the new "Unruly" e-liquid.
"He came off the cigarettes and stated vaping, but he didn't like any of the flavours," said Scott. "I said 'why don't you make your own?'
"I put it together but it's his pallette leading the direction."
The Rochester man said his own journey into vaping began after the death of his grandmother, June.
"I just wanted to convert everyone I met to vaping," explained Scott. "I lost my nan through smoking. I watched her pass away to a lung-related illness. I had been smoking for 14 years and decided enough was enough.
"I was working in the music industry, managing artists. One artist - DJ Chuckie - had started vaping. He sent me condolences and I said 'I've got to stop smoking', and he said 'you should try vaping'. We went to Caesars Palace and he took me to a vape store - I was blown away, and I made a decision that I wanted to start a vape store back home."
Having originally opened from 5pm to 10pm - popular demand meant Scott began extending opening times to 10am-10pm, and 10am to 8pm on Sundays, running the shop with the help of dad Floyd, mum Lisa, and brother Ashley.
"We're pretty accessible," added Scott. "Our shop is more of a lounge. We have music and every Thursday we have a Jamaican jerk night, where we order food from the Jerk cafe in Strood, and we all eat together and socialise.
"It's grown over the last few years into a really close community."
The same community enjoyed a great night on Friday with entertainment from rapper Dream McLean and DJ Harry Luda - and of course Professor Green.
"He came down and had pictures with people," added Scott. "He spoke to people about the juice and just had a good time. He's wicked, he's sound."
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Chris Hunter