Hip Hop Congress

Ric She says: “I can’t survive without my radio.”

Ric She says: “I can’t survive without my radio.”

Indie Hip Hop artist Ric Shea is no Russell Simmons, but he is helping to progress the music, one mic at a time.

One thing is for sure: Hip Hop music has drastically changed since it’s late 1970’s conception. Nonetheless, there is something in the music that keeps listeners shawty snapping, thunder clapping, and rocking away. Call Ric Shea old school, but his goals as an artist are a bit different than those who are producing Hip Hop music today.

“I plan to take Hip Hop back to it’s roots,” he reflects. “When I was young, Hip Hop spoke a lot of the struggle. Now all artists talk about is their money. Money is cool, but I’d like to think [that] the next generation is more important.”

As a son of a jazz musician, the Chicago native understood the importance of quality music at an early age. The seed was planted when he saw his father’s first jazz performance before his sixth birthday. Since then, he’s been staying on his grind, while remembering the social responsibility he has to his listeners.

“I like to educate the kids, [and] that’s what Chuck D and Flava Flav did so well. Other artists followed, but we’ve gotten away from that. I would like to see us get Hip Hop’s essence back,” he said.

In the meantime, you can catch the conscious rapper making moves with some Wu Tang Clan members, hosting a party, or contemplating his next move in taking Hip Hop music by storm.

As for those who want to climb aboard Ric Shea’s train in taking Hip Hop to another level, he advises them to hit the books, first. “Study music’s icons of every era, then you’ll see where the vets of Hip Hop get their love from. We only love music because of the greats that came before us. That’s why you have your Jay-Z’s, and Big’s (Notorious B.I.G.), and Nas’ and Tupac’s.

Check out Ric Shea at http://www.myspace.com/ricshea