Our next feature in this series of “Bringing the Stars Closer to Earth” is on Lil Rick. This article will take an interview style format, with most of the responses coming from several different articles.
Before I ask anything else I have to know. How did you come up with the nick name Hypa Dawg?
[Laughs] I’m not sure to be honest. I would say it was my way of guaranteeing the audience non-stop hype from the moment I step on the stage. Taken from Trini Jungle Juice
Tell us a bit about the early years.
Those were some fun times. I used to love those catchy beats with a dominant bass and I would just sit and chant some lyrics over them. So people began calling me the dub chanting King. It was something I became really good at. Then before I knew it I was 16 and opening for people like Beenie Man, Buju Banton and Mad Cobra. Taken from Trini Jungle Juice and Caribbean Music Summit
Was this the catalyst that kick started your career?
Pretty much, yea. I started collaborating with the DJ/Music Producer Petter Coppin. He suggested to me that a career in calypso could bring me as much success as my dub performances and he was right. Our partnership just produced hit after hit after hit and just like that I was propelled onto the soca scene. Taken from Trini Jungle Juice and Caribbean Music Summit
There were some rumors about a hint of a rivalry between you and Edwin Yearwood. Can you shed some light on that?
To be frank there is absolutely nothing to shed light on. There was never any rivalry between me and Edwin and I think the song we did together, Friends, totally shot down that rumor. Taken from Trini Jungle Juice
So we hear Lil Rick is also quite the DJ.
For sure. No matter what I am doing with my own soca career I love to do DJ gigs on the weekends throughout the year. Taken from Trini Jungle Juice
What’s life like outside of the music?
It’s great. I have four wonderful children that I love and I try to be the most devoted father I can be to them. Also, I have used my brand as Hypa Dawg to launch my own clothing line – the Hypa Dawg Clothing Line. Taken from Trini Jungle Juice
Ahh. I see why they gave you the title Chihuahua Business Man.
[Laughs] Yup. I believe a career has to continually evolve. Taken from Trini Jungle Juice
We know you also work on harnessing the talent of your children, the Hypa Kids, as well.
Most definitely. I help them with writing, recording and developing their stage performances. Renee, aka Undadawg made his bow as a DJ in 2009 when we did a collaboration called Breakaway. Then in 2010 Rickara and Rinicko said they wanted to get involved in music too after watching their older brother in his element. So in 2010 they performed their first single ‘We Ready”. So its been great not only being a father but working with my kids professionally as well. Taken from Caribbean Music Summit and zoominfo
Tell us about the first time you performed Jones & Wuk Up.
Well as usual when your’re at a concert your natural instinct is to whip out your phone or camera and record. But within minutes of my performance, members of the audience had it uploaded on Youtube and Facebook and before I knew it this new dance I created was all over the internet. It was something else how it all happened but also shows the impact that my music was having on people. Taken from zoominfo
