Feature

In late 2006, Mobile rapper Marece “Rich Boy” Richards introduced the Port City hip-hop scene to the nation with his hit “Throw Some D’s.” This song hit the charts and steadily rose, peaking at Number 6 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 and within the top 3 on Billboard’s Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Song and Hot Rap Tracks.

By April 2007, Rolling Stone was singing his praises by listing him as one of the “10 Artists to Watch in 2007” and eventually placed him at number 37 on the “100 Best Songs of 2007. Most recently, BET chose him as the “2007 Rookie of the Year” at their Hip-Hop Awards.

On Dec. 14, Rich Boy returned to the Port City for an open red carpet event at the elegant Café Royal in LoDa, much to the excitement of fellow hip-hop artists and adoring fans such as Sharon Richardson, who saw Rich Boy get his start in music at the church they shared.

“He was a little boy playin’ piano and beatin’ on them drums,”Richardson says. “He had it goin’ on! Even back then, we enjoyed him.”

Even though this night was to celebrate Rich Boy’s Rookie of the Year award, he used it to promote other local hip-hop artists. Rich Boy has a vision for the future of the Port City hip-hop scene, and he plans to share his knowledge and involvement in the music industry to bring attention to these young artists.

“I just feel like it’s important for us to do big things like that this year, especially for the city,” explains Rich Boy. “We gonna take it to the top. We gonna show ‘em that we got class, and we got style. That’s how we’re doing it this year.”

Will 2008 be the year our music scene receives national attention? Rich Boy seems confident as do many of his fellow rappers. People like B.J. and Li’l Nardy of B.M.B. Entertainment have already found an audience with Rich Boy.

“We shared a studio, you know,” says B.J. “He listened to me; we chatted for a minute.” He and his partner Li’l Nardy have stayed busy “just trying to come up and get like Rich” and Nardy is quite optimistic when looking at the hip-hop scene as a whole.

“It’s on the rise, right now,’ says Li’l Nardy.

B.M.B. are not the only ones hard at work getting ready for a possible chance at stardom. “The Dirt Road Pimp” Rellik and Bullethead “Da Ambassador of Bay Minette” also have big plans

“Right now, we gotta a lotta stuff poppin’,” says Rellik. “We got a lotta great things happenin’ now comin’ up in 2008. My boy, Rich Boy, opened up the door, so we’re gonna follow that man’s lead and just go to a whole other level. We’ve got a lotta projects: my solo project, Bullethead the Bay Minette Ambassador project and we also have our duo album that’s going to be coming out as well. We gonna do all the discs in 2008, so most definitely be on the look out. Be well prepared cause it’s going down like none other, believe that.”

Many local musicians in other genres are finding challenges in gaining popularity on a local level as well as finding radio play on conglomerate and locally owned stations. With WBLX providing a forum for the hip-hop scene, tons of local support and clubs such as Club Illusions serving as venues, hip-hop artists like Rellik and Bullethead have taken their focus off of the Port City and set their sites nationally.

“As far as challenges, man, locally, we got a lotta support cause everybody knows it,” says Bullethead. “Me, personally, I’m a producer. I’m Rellik’s other half. I do a lot of his hottest tracks, as well as, I’m my own artist. As far as challenges, it really ain’t too many challenges locally if everybody supports everybody. Radio stations give support. We’re just trying to branch out to get outside of Alabama, you know, and just be heard as well as my boy Rich. We feel like we got a lot to bring the United States and the world, too. A couple of tracks I did with Rich, so we’re just trying to branch out and get in other areas.” With all the artists in attendance, the feelings concerning Rich Boy’s new found fame and Rookie of the Year award were consistent.

“I love it,” says rapper Fat Rat (“Mr. Jocking My Swag”). “It makes me feel good. Makes me feel like I won since he’s from Alabama. So, big shouts out to the boy, Rich Boy, much love.”

Fat Rat’s track “Jocking My Swag” has become a local favorite, and his mix tape “From P.A. to Dade County” (along with Brisco and Rick Ross) is on the streets. This local hip-hop artist has also aligned himself with the ideology of his contemporaries in attendance that 2008 will be the year that Mobile’s hip-hop will make its presence known on the national level.

“You see what Rich did, so you know what it’s lookin’ like next year,” says Fat Rat. “Big things are poppin’ around here. We’re trying to get exposure. Rich opened up the door; now we’re gonna take over.” Rellik and Bullethead also have big plans for the New Year.

“I most definitely see myself walkin’ down many more red carpets,” exclaims Rellik. “I see myself also grabbin’ myself one of those BET Awards with my dog. Grammy’s be on the look out, American Music Award, every type of awards show goin’ down, you will see the Dirty South boys in the building.”

In the meantime, Rich Boy does not plan on slowing down anytime soon. The public can look forward to an upcoming mix tape “Buried Alive” and his fifth single off of his self-titled debut, which features Li’l Wayne

Stephen Centanni is Lagniappe music editor. Contact him at scentanni@lagniappemobile.com.

Archives