Interview: Atlanta Based Rap Artist and Producer Kid Riko
Shout out to Atlanta based rap artist and producer Kid Riko who recently connected with DCWS for an exclusive interview to talk about his very DOPE new album “Reality Check”. We also find out whether it was easy or hard to produce the whole album all by himself, as well as what the new year holds for him creatively and much more.
After reading our interview, be sure to connect with Kid Riko on his social media and stream his new album “Reality Check” below.
Salute to you for the release of your new album "Reality Check". What does the album title represent to you?
"Reality Check" represents a few different points or events in my life, but mostly things that made me realise how messed up the world is on a smaller scale. Things that many of us, as everyday people, go through on a daily basis.
Would you say that self-producing the album made it easier to complete or harder?
Self producing an entire record can be both a plus and a negative. The bright side is that you can go at your own pace and really get into the record, making and placing things how you want. The downside is the possibility that your tracks may sound too similar to one another due to the fact that the entire record is your style, but that can depend on your audience's ears.
Some people love records with that consistent sound from track to track and others may like each track to be drastically different from one another.
Finish this sentence - "When someone listens to "Reality Check" for the first time, I want them to ..."
Hopefully find the record entertaining, and also relatable to things they have been or are currently going through. It's always someone going through something similar to or even worse than what we are.
You've mentioned that you started rhyming at the age of 12 years old. What do you remember about your first complete song and how would you say that your style has matured since then?
Honestly, I don't really remember the first complete song I wrote back then. I would usually write until I felt it was finished, then moved to the next. I would read back over them, but never really focused on memorizing them around that time frame. My style has drastically improved over time, but mostly when it comes to wordplay and lyrical ability in general. I don't use as much profanity as I did 7 years ago.
2019 is a whole new year. What do you look forward to the most this year from a creative standpoint with your music?
For 2019, I will be more productive than I was in 2018 and to continue to grow as an artist. Hopefully I am able to at least earn a spot in the final 5 nominations for the Independent Music Awards which takes place this year as well.