Rucci: Music Industry New Favorite And Realist Artist
It's Rucci, like Gucci - but with an "R". You'll never forget it. I've met some of the most genuine people in the world living in Los Angeles, but they've all came from Inglewood or South Central.
Rucci is definitely one of them. I wouldn't put Rucci in the box of a "West Coast" rapper.
After speaking with him, I'm sure this will be an artist that's loved globally. Maybe it's his collaborations, music style, or his passion for the craft.
Needless to say, Rucci has something to show you about hip-hop in his own way. I'm excited for you to read our discussion and you'll see why I think he's going to be the next loved artist in front of and behind the scenes.
Nia Rice: So what's going on in Rucci's world right now?
Rucci: Good! We're getting ready to put out a deluxe.
NR: Okay! Let everybody know who Rucci is first.
Rucci: I'm Rucci from Inglewood California. I love everybody that loves me, and I make great music!
NR: I love it. Straight to the point. You do, man... I was listening to your album. How did your album listening session go?
Rucci: It went well, a lot of people came out.
NR: You seem to be very well respected out here in LA. They take care of their people so I can definitely see that.
Rucci: Yeah, they love me out here I can't ask for more love!
NR: I think some of your visuals are so dope and well thought out. How involved are you in it?
Rucci: I'm super involved. They ask me what I want to do in the video and I give them a summary. My team writes up the treatment. Then we do it!
NR: Okay. How did you get to that point? Why do you feel like you have to be so involved?
Rucci: Because I have done music videos without my plan and I didn't like them. These last few years I've been going crazy. I would try to do the impossible. I would always pull from the inspiration that I saw in music videos as kids.
NR: I feel you! People don't know how they used to do back-in-the-day with the nineties in the music videos!
Rucci: Exactly! That's the vibe I'm bringing back.
NR: Let's jump into that album now, I definitely want to talk about that. So you said you putting out a Deluxe?
Rucci: Yeah.
NR: What's that going to be like?
Rucci: 7-8 more songs, and more features. I made like over 300 songs, I'm in the studio every day making like 8 songs a day. So a lot of music that didn't make the album, I want to make sure I put on this deluxe.
NR: Your features are already crazy. Shordie-Shordie, Mazi, Blxst - which I love Blxst.
Rucci: He's an amazing artist. A lot of people don't give him the credit he deserves.
NR: You're saying you make 8 songs a day? That's amazing! Who are you making this music with?
Rucci: Oh...myself! haha
NR: So you're producing? Why do you choose that kind of recording style? I know some people, they need to be with their boys in the studio? Some people need to be alone.
Rucci:
When I dropped my first album it was all party music so I kept that vibe in the studio. But for this album, it was more personal so I wanted to be solo.
I wanted to take my time. I don't want to hear anyone's consent. When managers hit me up, I say, "oh yeah, forgot to tell you I'm in the studio".
NR: I love the song with Shordie Shordie with the reference to "Candy Rain", I noticed that you do a lot of nineties songs references.
Rucci: Yeah. I don't listen to current music today. When I make my music, I want you to be like, "That's timeless music".
NR: You a nineties baby?
Rucci: Yeah I was born in 92. But I should have been born in the 80s.
NR: The eighties? Who're your favorite artists from the eighties?
Rucci: LL Cool J - easily!
NR: So Fader calls you Inglewood's next big rapper. What type of pressure is that?
Rucci:
None, because I've been thinking like that about myself for a long time. I want to be California's next biggest rapper.
California - it'd be like pressure, but even then, I am super confident about my music. I won't be having that pressure on me cause I know I can get it done as long as I put out consistent music.
NR: What rappers outside of the California area have you grown close to since you've been signed? I was told all of your features are real organic friendships.
Rucci: Well artist like Shordie Shordie. He's from Baltimore. I met him on a tour a few years ago.
I never did music with him, we were just homies. Everybody I step in the studio with, I have to know them, I have to hang with them, and live life with them.
I'm not a huge fan of rappers, because they have ego problems. So I need to see that you're a REAL person. I need to know your background.
I don't want to do a song with a dude and find out a year later, he a snitch ass nigga.
NR: So, let’s talk about “Tako’s Son”, and using the inspiration from your father. What made you tap into that?
Rucci:
Basically my dad got deported and he wasn't living right, he was basically living in a shack. So I make this music for my dad to let the police in my section know - and the people - that he still around and we're turning his name into something positive.
I wanted to make sure that he's well respected and well known. But that shit blew up and I didn't think it would how it did.
NR: Was your dad involved in gangs as well?
Rucci: Yeah, my dad is actually the first Hispanic in a black gang in LA.
NR: Wow. Does that have any thing to do with your involvement with gangs?
Rucci: Too much. Yeah. That's where I learned, what I learned - because we go through soo much because of who my Daddy is.
I can't even do whatever I want to do because it's people that don't like my dad. My dad is like John Gotti, where I'm from.
NR: Does that have any effect on your music?
Rucci: A little bit, but I think I've grown up a lot and I've been in the music game 6 years now. I earned a lot of respect.
A lot of people who didn't like me at first, respect me now. I don't disrespect anybody. I be in my own shell, I'm not the one looking for something either.
NR: That's real. I always like to wrap up my interviews by asking this question. What do you want to leave for your legacy? What's the legacy of Rucci?
Rucci: To take care of everything and everybody with a smile on his face.
Check out Rucci Music & Socials:
https://music.apple.com/us/artist/rucci/895200840
