New Stuff, Sellout - posted on May 25, 2012 by Rip

Rip releases lead single #LML

Recording Artist ‘Rip’ Releases new single #LML
Reflects on journey that led to it.

May 25, 2012 — Why would a kid who grew up in a struggling, single mother household, whose brother was murdered the same day his step dad walked out, and who was in therapy all before his 14th birthday come up with a song titled #LML (acronym for “Love My Life” or “Loving My Life”)? Today Recording Artist ‘Rip’ releases his lead single “#LML” from his forthcoming sophomore album entitled “Sellout”.

Rip grew up in a single mother, 2 bedroom household with 3 other brothers in a city just north of Chicago, IL called Waukegan. Enrolled in a failing public school district where Rip’s Caucasian ethnicity was the minority, odds of overcoming adversity stacked up against him. Dreams seemed like just that; dreams. “I clearly remember instances where my mom had to take a cash advance from her Visa just to pay the mortgage, and people from church always having to help out with fixing things on the house or helping buy groceries during holidays and even donating cars to the family” he explains. By the time he was 14 years old he experienced his mother go through 2 divorces, his brother being murdered and was in therapy for being a problem child. “I’ve experienced almost everything from seeing disconnection notices on the fridge to being ashamed that I was eligible for free lunches in school because of my mom’s income, so I would wait until all my friends got their lunches before I would get in line to get mine. It didn’t help that I was surrounded by gangs and drugs in school either.” It was around this time when he started experimenting with his love for music. He started off DJ’ing at 14, which turned into a love for recording himself freestyling to instrumentals on the B side of records, which then turned into a desire to produce his own original music. While still in High School, Rip created his own record label, RiP Records, and launched his website in 2000, before even earning a diploma. Still plagued by some of the ‘worst times of his life’, Rip remained focused on music as it was his only hope. By 19 he was diagnosed with depression by a psychiatrist, and within the next 3 years he would lose his #1 supporter– his grandmother, a potential child and his father suffered a massive stroke, who in turn lost his house due to the family’s inability to provide payments. Fast forward to 2010 where Rip was finally able to release his debut solo album “Fashionably Late”, a decade after starting his record label, RiP Records, in high school. With the mentality and outlook that his worst times in life are behind him, he is now able to fully focus on what he loves more than anything: Music. “When I decided to launch my label, and made the decision that this will be my life with no option to fail or plan B, I put nothing else ahead of my music career. I’ve sacrificed so many things including time with family and have lost many girlfriends along the way as well. I’ve invested every spare penny I have for that last 12 years into my career. Quitting isn’t even an option, it wasn’t an option half a decade ago” he explains.

So the answer still remains. Coming from the adverse conditions that he did, how does one write a song called ‘#LML’ (“Love My Life”)? Rip answers: “Coming from what I came from, it doesn’t take much to actually love and appreciate life. I’m making a living doing what I love right now, and since my brothers and I are all grown and out of the house, my mother is no longer struggling to raise all four of us by herself. I’m living my dream right now and that’s pretty much my recipe to enjoying life, no matter how little money I have. Do what you love and live within your means. I guarantee you happiness and you’ll love your life too,” he proclaims.

As far as his new album “Sellout”, he explains: “When you grow up like I did, ‘selling out’ isn’t compromising any beliefs to get ahead in life, it’s simply not wanting to go back to a life that you don’t want you or your future kids to ever have to live. That’s my opinion.”
‘#LML’ marks the third release from the album but is the first lead radio single being released. The up-tempo dance/pop sounding track is one of the few tracks on the album which is produced by Rip himself, who is also a working DJ/Producer in-the-know of what’s hot in today’s market. Most of the other tracks on the album are produced by certified Gold producer DJ Pain 1. In a market that is oversaturated with artists trying to make it, success comes down to two things: being able to market and set yourself apart, and knowing how to make a hit record. Rip’s sophomore album “Sellout” is due out Summer of 2012.

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