The latest from Richard is an addicting and incredibly honest full-length album that goes through a massive array of different hip hop and R&B styles that all have something a little different to bring to the table.
The Diary (Delux) album is packed with what feels like real life experiences and emotionally driven lyrics that serve as chapters in that artists life.
The tracks combine old and new school pop and hip-hop elements and are always really in your face in terms of the brutal honesty of it all.
I guess that's why its titled Diary after all.
Richard's flow is personal and unstoppable and at times he makes it all seem effortless.
The songs have a ton of bangers on it as well that all boast a ton of swagger and freshness so it's a great balance of these styles throughout the record.
This release also isn't without its many hooks and really fun catchy choruses.
The album also has tons of different genres embedded in it including dance, reggaeton feeling vibes, and even more.
The coolest thing about it is the varying characters that these songs feature.
The artist has a way of forming a different character and it happens every few songs so it's really awesome to hear those changes and surprises musically and vocally throughout the album.
With the release of such an in-depth album, we wanted to have a chat with Richard just to find out where this all came from and where it's all going.
RAG: Okay so let's start with the Diary (Deluxe) album. The record had an alluring set of different hip hop and pop styles on it! Where did this album come from? This album came from post trauma, but not like in a bad way. I mean in a way in which after you've done years and years of work as an adult and you just kind of reflect one day like, damn I really have been through some shit, like A LOT of shit haha. This album was an idea I had for some time, but it became clearer to me after my brother passed from an overdose that it was finally time to put it out.
RAG: I'm hearing some great styles on this release. Who are some of your biggest musical influences?
Any of my friends would be able to tell you this, but my top three for certain are Wayne, Nicki, and Gaga. I want to be a good rapper and writer, but I also want to be a great all around musician because of them I feel they are not just artists they live and breathe music. However, you can catch me listening to whomever I’m always looking for something new to play no matter the genre. RAG: So how did this all begin for you really? When did you fall in love with making music? Somewhere around high school. I had a really big move happen right before high school so I lost all my friends and had to rediscover myself at a point. Think at some point I gave up on re exploration and just got more into music, like I would spend HOURS in my room just me and headphones, sometimes in the dark sometimes not. It became like this safe haven for me, like. “You’ll be alright” and a constant. However, I think I was always in love with music, I’d be like the only ten year old kid in line at Walmart waiting for an album release or would always ask for albums on my birthday instead of toys. RAG: What's next for you as an artist? Of course I’m putting out another album, not too sure on the timeframe yet. I’m doing a couple national shows coming up here for some BIG artists, so looking forward to that. I also want to do more features as I’ve limited myself these past few years. Starting a podcast soon too to highlight other independent artists. RAG: What inspires you to write a song? Two things, a really dope beat like supppeerrr dope it needs to give me a certain feel. The second thing is an experience from my life. Sometimes I’ll go week’s without writing a single song then this one thing happens and I become like this musical faucet and just start writing. I’m even that way o features, I have to pull from my life experiences RAG: What are you doing when you're NOT working on music? I'm either working, or reading something about work. I work as a full time therapist so that is kind of a profession where you have to constantly research and read a lot. I love to travel, I am barely home sometimes lol, and of course spending time with my husband, we do all sorts of random shit together RAG: Who are you listening to right now? Right now, I would say I'm listening to a crap ton of Isaiah Rashad, his most recent album captured me in a way that has not been done in a long time. I am listening to a lot of Nicki too since she's dropping a lot of music lately. Like I said earlier, I really listen to everything so it is always hard to pinpoint who I am listening to at any specific moment, but those two have been consistent the last year at least as far as always on my playlist. I also have been listening to ALOT of underground artists as well, people send me their shit all the time and I add it to my playlist if it's dope RAG: Are you doing live performances? Yes, just started this year, been to three different cities so far on a lil mini tour I did. I got a performance coming up in St. Louis on June 26th at Blank Space and then I am on the East Coast in Connecticut and New Hampshire opening for Canibus and Ghostface Killa in late August. I am always looking for opportunities to expand my brand and get shows in other cities so please hit me if you are looking for artists to book. RAG: This album seems like a big undertaking. What kind of advice might you have for other up and coming artists out there?
I would have to say, get off the internet and get more into your experiences and let those influence you. Do not just write music for people, write it for yourself too and then those who relate will migrate towards it. And Please take your time, it took me four years to put this record out with sometimes no releases at all in my downtime, drop your shit on your own time, the experiences from life will tell you when it is the right time. RAG: Before we go, what would you like to say to fans of the music?
Thank you, when I started this I had a very low expectation for myself and I have exceeded well beyond where I'd thought I'd be. Even doing this interview is surreal because it shows that people are paying attention to me and it's genuine. I have met so many dope people from all over the world because of this music thing and I would not change a single thing about it. Be relentless in your dreams man, and sometimes it will just be you as the only believer, but you are enough.
FFM