“There was no ‘before the music,’” says Compton-born, Grammy-winning rapper Roddy Ricch when I ask him about his time prior to becoming an artist. “It was all music. It’s one of my greatest inspirations and accomplishments.” You probably know who Roddy Ricch is. And even if you think don’t, there’s little chance you escaped the infectious eee err refrain from his huge 2019 single “The Box.” (Go ahead and look it up if you doubt me.)
Something I’ve found with the best rappers is that they’d rather let their music do the talking. The medium requires a heavy word count and deep introspection; it takes a lot of energy to tap into that. During our morning together, Roddy was reserved. I got the impression he was protecting that energy, which is honestly refreshing—especially in this era of oversharing.
Still, we managed to dig into a bunch of topics, from recording “The Box” in just 30 minutes to the unfortunate sartorial choice forced upon a sixth-grade Roddy by his mother. We also talked about his first significant clothing purchase, three non-negotiable albums he thinks everyone should listen to, and more.
Fit One
Photo credit: Christopher Fenimore
Jacket by Marni; shirt by Thom Browne; trousers by Melitta Baumeister; shoes by Alexander McQueen.
Photo credit: Christopher Fenimore
Photo credit: Christopher Fenimore
Photo credit: Christopher Fenimore
Photo credit: Christopher Fenimore
Photo credit: Christopher Fenimore
How did you first start rapping? How’d you first start making music?
First time rapping was over Rick Ross’s “Push It” off Port of Miami. My uncle used to record on Pro Tools back when it was Elite Pro Tools. We used to rap over Jeezy, Gucci Mane, Lil Wayne. That’s what everybody used to do. So, I rapped over Rick Ross. That’s probably how I came up with Roddy Ricch; probably in the back of my mind.
How old were you?
I was like nine.
Did you have an idea that you could make a career out of it?
No, I was just having fun. Still to this day, I’m not trying to make a career out of it. I just try to have the most fun I can. That’s the best way to be.
Fit Two
Photo credit: Christopher Fenimore
Jacket, shirt, tie, and trousers by Namesake; shoes by Celine.
Photo credit: Christopher Fenimore
Photo credit: Christopher Fenimore
Photo credit: Christopher Fenimore
Photo credit: Christopher Fenimore
When you wrote “The Box,” did you know what you had with it?
Yeah. It’s a feeling.
Did it come together quickly or take a while?
It’s just a feeling. It was 30 minutes though.
You wrote the song in 30 minutes?
Yeah.
And recorded it? That quickly?
[Chuckles.] That quickly.
In today’s rap industry, people drop tons of tapes and singles frequently. And even though you’re a huge artist and that’s probably expected of you, you don’t do that. Why?
Maybe I will. I feel like just during that chapter of my life, I just wasn’t hyper-focused on dropping a lot. I think it was more finding myself in the music every time, dropping music that I was confident in. Now I’m taking a different approach, trying to record differently every day, record new vibes and stay active. Just keep the love in it.
Fit Three
Photo credit: Christopher Fenimore
Jacket by Bottega Veneta; shirt by Zara; shorts by Dries Van Noten; shoes by Celine.
Photo credit: Christopher Fenimore
Photo credit: Christopher Fenimore
Photo credit: Christopher Fenimore
Photo credit: Christopher Fenimore
When did you first become interested in clothing and style?
When I was in the sixth grade, my mom made me wear these Payless shoes to school. I hated them shoes. I got laughed at. They were blue with an orange trim. I’ll never forget those shoes. Maybe that was the spark. I always want to look nice when I wear clothes. So over time you go through your phases with the homies, wearing what the homies wear, curlers and all the different little shit. Coming up in L.A., wearing what we wear, and robbing jeans, all that shit. Just streetwear a lot of times. I wanted to find comfort in my clothes because of that experience. You know what I mean?
I understand. I had a similar experience at the same age that stuck with me. I wore this outfit in sixth grade: khaki shorts with a Rocawear t-shirt. They lost their minds at school, roasting me for the shorts. Does anyone or anything specific inspire your style today?
Nah, nah.
Even from history?
Historically? I don’t take style from it, but I can appreciate how André 3000 dressed. I really did like his style during his time. It’s random, but I liked the aura that Jeezy gave off just in his world and his life. As far as rappers, that’s probably it.
Fit Four
Photo credit: Christopher Fenimore
Jacket, trousers, and shoes by Celine; shirt by Zara.
Photo credit: Christopher Fenimore
Photo credit: Christopher Fenimore
Photo credit: Christopher Fenimore
Can you remember your first significant clothing purchase?
True Religions. Back when I was 16, I had come up on some money. We went to the Citadel Outlet in L.A. and I just bought a whole bunch of True Religions. So much True Religion I had to put it in a black trash bag. My momma kicked me out the next week. That was my first big purchase.
What’s your most recent clothing purchase?
I don’t know. I buy clothes in bulk. When I shop, I don’t just buy one thing. The best gift I just recently received was a pilot hat with the fur in it. You know what I’m talking about?
A trapper hat?
Yeah, my girl just bought me one of them.
Where’s it from?
I don’t want to say. They’ll try to jack my swag.
Fit Five
Photo credit: Christopher Fenimore
Hoodie and sneakers by Bottega Veneta; shirt by Zara; shorts by Marni; tie by Kid Super.
Photo credit: Christopher Fenimore
Photo credit: Christopher Fenimore
Photo credit: Christopher Fenimore
Photo credit: Christopher Fenimore
What are three non-negotiable albums you think everybody should listen to?
Thriller. I’m from Compton, and I got to say, if you want to know a good modern understanding of what we go through throughout generation to generation, the plot might be different, but good kid, m.A.A.d city is non-negotiable for me to spin. And Please Excuse me for Being Antisocial.
What influence has Compton had on you and your music?
We’re just trying to make it a better place. I’ve been working with my mom and my family. We own a construction business and we just renovated our first home built in Compton. It’s a landmark. People have a certain stigma about it, but a lot of talent and a lot of intelligence and a lot of love comes from that city. Sometimes the bad just overshadows the good.
If you had to wear one outfit for the rest of your life, what would it consist of?
Sweatsuit. All-purpose. You could wear a sweatsuit anywhere. And if you got the right accessories, you straight. It’s gray because black might be too hot. Wear a Chanel trench, boom, you go elevated or you could dress it down. White tee, gray pants with some Air Forces or some Timbs, you can’t go wrong. If I had to wear that gray sweatsuit for the rest of my life, I’d be straight.
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