Riichylee Talks Fashion, Growing Up In The Bronx, New Single Russian Cream + More In Exclusive Sit Down Interview
Riichylee, an up-and-coming artist from the Bronx, New York, has quickly gained a strong following in his brief three-year career. With co-signs from artists like the late PNB Rock and YouTube visuals reaching 500k views, Riichylee has made a name for himself as an indie artist.
I had the opportunity to sit down with Riichylee at Hush Garden Cafe and Lounge in Queens to discuss his journey, passion for fashion, and new music.
Interview:
As I asked Riichylee to describe himself, the first words that rolled off his tongue were, “I’m the humblest.” He followed up with a playful reference to his upbringing as a “Dirty Bronx n*gga.” Hailing from the Freeman Avenue area of the Bronx, Riichylee described his childhood as “regular” and “cool,” with fond memories of frequenting the legendary roller skating rink, Skate Key.
We delved into the origin of his name, which combines his childhood nickname “Rich” with “Lee,” representing his Asian heritage.
“It comes from my grandmother spoiling me. People started calling me Rich, assuming I had a lot of money. Then when they discovered my ethnicity, they would say, ‘Oh, you have a Chinese name,'” Riichylee explained.
Riichylee’s passion for music began in middle school, where he developed a deep appreciation for battle rap. He was also influenced by musical legends like G-Unit, Dipset, The Lox, and Cassidy. However, listening to Riichylee’s music, you’ll notice an abundance of fashion references inspired by artists such as Pharrell, Andre 3000, A$AP Rocky, Young Thug, and Lil Uzi Vert.
Similar to these musical and fashion icons, Riichylee aspires to blend the worlds of fashion and music. Notably, Riichylee has already graced the cover of upstart fashion magazines, That Splash Mag and 86Blvd.
Despite finding early success in both the music and fashion industries, Riichylee emphasized that he would never fully abandon music for fashion, as there are lucrative opportunities in both fields.
You can check out Riichylee’s new single and music video for “Russian Cream,” which has already garnered over 130k views on YouTube.
The catchy track was inspired by Russian Cream backwoods.
Throughout the interview, Riichylee displayed a level of humility that is uncommon among artists. If you were meeting him for the first time, you would never guess the extent of his accomplishments in such a short period. However, spending time with Riichylee revealed his genuine care for music and his dedication to providing his fans with the best art he can create.
Riichylee is undeniably one of the most humble artists I have interviewed thus far. If you were meeting him for the first time, you would never suspect the incredible achievements he has accomplished in such a short time. However, through our conversation and spending time with Ri