Born Royce Bouknight II, Ripken who was known early on as Stretch Dinero aka Supastaxx, the punchline & wordplay Prince, who was also a skilled writer. During high school Royce would freestyle in cypher sessions & later on even participate in battles. When his cousin, a sort of big brother figure gave him a CD binder, it was undeniable that Royce had a passion for hip hop and rapping. After the release of his 1st mixtape “Dinero’s Town” which was pretty well received, it got him the notoriety of some of the premiere mixtape circuits on the underground scene. This landed him a gig on Develope Ent., which at the time was a entertainment group & talent developing team, which employed Royce for his writing services. After creating a following, and building a buzz for himself, Royce was able to make some connections, and branch off into his own network. A network that connected him with artists such as Northeast Beast, Veli 4.0, DC Flyz, Prince ChaChing, Mallorei Knocks, Agallah, Zac Alan & more. Royce Ripken has lived hard & he details it on his debut album “Home Run Ripken”, available on 4/20/18!!

1.) What elements and/or characteristics made you say to yourself that you wanted to do music for a living? Who are your influences/heroes/role models?

I listened to a lot of Tupac, Nas & DMX growing up, and they were my major influences. I could relate to their music, and lives, coming from the streets, and wanting to find a better lifestyle for myself and family. When I was in the streets, I lost many friends, and some family members. When my best friend was shot & killed in front of me, it was a sign, that I needed to get serious and focus on my music. Those same artists along with a handful of others kept me motivated and focused on my passion, which was the music.

2.) If you could compare yourself to an already established artist, who would that be and why? If you don’t like to compare yourself, then music-wise, what separates you from other musicians?

I prefer not to compare myself, due to controversy and everybody having their own opinions. But over the years, I’ve drawn comparisons to Cam’Ron, Juelz Santana, Big L, Jadakiss, Fabolous and The Game, due to wordplay & metaphors being a big part of my style. I like to say that I combined all of my influences and upbringing to create my sound & style.

3.) Everyone in life goes through adversity of some sort. Is there anything in your life that has any influence on the kind of songs you write? What is the most difficult thing you’ve had to endure on your path to becoming a musician?

There are many things that I’ve dealt with during my life, from early on in the streets, being stabbed, shot at (grazed), robbed, etc. I’ve been broke, jobless and only had my hustle to survive. I’ve spent hours in basements, sleeping on the couch at my friends and families houses. The hardest thing I’ve dealt with has been the loss of one of my close friends, my grandmother as a child, and more recently my grandfather. Death has never been easy for me. I find myself constantly thinking, and feeling, which in turn becomes writing and music. It has been my comfort during hard times.

4.) How do you prepare yourself to write certain songs? What is your song-writing and recording process?

I like to set a mood, lol, so I first get something to drink and having a few snacks. I’ll listen to a few new tracks to catch a vibe or feeling, then listen to a few throwbacks, mostly from some of my favorite artists but not always, to build some foundation, then I like to kick back with Mary Jane, and let her do her thing, while my mind begins to formulate the concepts for the music. If I want high energy or aggression, then I’ll set the same mode, but listen to hype or aggressive hip hop instead. It’s all about moods!

5.) Unfortunately the music industry is full of talented individuals who just don’t get any recognition for their talent and/or work. What do you plan to do to make sure you stand out and get noticed?

It’s funny that you say that, I have had this conversation on many different platforms and levels. I’ve come to the conclusion that, the one truly best way to stand out, is simply to be yourself, be the best version of yourself, put in the work, make the effort, remain humble and focused, and never squander an opportunity. You never know what doors could open up for you by simply just taking the chance! I pride myself in high risk, high reward, while always remaining humble and appreciative for all of the success I achieve.

6.) Would you rather be on a major label or would you rather stay independent? Why or why not? In regards to the music industry itself, do you think that the traditional music industry model as we know it is dead?

If this were 10 years ago, I’d say major, definitely. But the climate of the game has shifted drastically in the past 8 to 10 years, and more independent artists and labels are surfacing and becoming successful powerhouses. I’ve been following Nipsey Hussle since around 2008-2009, and his independent model has proven fruitful and successful for him and those who have followed. I plan to continue to follow that model. And if the majors come knockin, and the money and terms are good, then I’ll gladly negotiate business!

7.) How do you think the internet and social media affected the music industry and how musicians are able to market themselves? Social media is obviously an extremely important element in today’s world, especially when it comes to business, branding, marketing, etc. With that being said, do you think an artist will be able to survive in today’s music industry if they’re not social media savvy?

Nailed it!! Social media started as just a ripple, and has amassed to a giant tidal wave. Nowadays you see or hear a person on social media before you know what their talent or service even is. I think it’s possible to have some success without social media, but the reach will not be nearly as big or as rewarding as someone who is a total social star. You’ve gotta have that online presence these days!

8.) Artists who try to make music for the general public and make more money are usually seen as “sell-outs.” Do you see it that way and if so, what do you plan to do to make sure your music stays true to your brand and make a good living at the same time without having to “sell out”?

Sell-out is more so when you totally turn your back on your people and community. I don’t think it’s selling out to attempt to crossover and reach broader audiences, I mean it does equal more money. But I will say that a lot of artists are labeled as sell-outs just because they want to reach the broader audiences. I do think that’s a misappropriation of terms. We should support artists that have the ability to reach multiple communities and races. I will simply stay true to myself, being false or fraud is my #1 pet peeve, and I will remain true to myself and my brand.