Without many names to attach to Detroit’s music scene, Ritchie “Da Don” Knox steps up to represent his home town. Eastern Michigan University student Ritchie Knox has been rapping since he was a little kid, circa first grade. He’s always been a hype man for the rap game and was known as the top dog in his circle of friends, which explains the origin of his rapper name “Da Don”, meaning the man in charge. According to Ritchie, thousands of his albums have been sold hand to hand. “I’ve been out for a long time… about five years. It’s time I really get back into the business.”
He initially submitted music to a radio station to promote his fresh sound. After a disappointing call back from a local Detroit station, he realized he’d been ripped off, losing money and unique tracks. Despite this set back, Ritchie continued to produce music with fervor. For him, one of the biggest struggles in the music business is, “without a doubt, finding people to trust.” After being victim to music borrowing, keeping his identity has been a top priority and inspiration to his lyrics. Knox spits songs about working with your demons and being back in the music business.
Another factor that contributes to Knox’s music is “my past. It’s still part of me. A lot of people forget who they are, where they came from.
“But you have to do what you have to do to survive in the jungle,” Knox said. “At some point you have to adapt. I have sold drugs before, I have been in shoot outs before. I don’t do these things anymore. The Lord has taken me out. A lot of people don’t even recognize me now, I’ve changed so much.”
Since getting married and having a child, Ritchie Knox’s music has evolved from gritty to well-groomed. “I try not to cuss. I know my daughter’s listening,”Knox said. “When people listen to my music, I don’t want them to pick up a bad habit, I want them to learn some good ones…I don’t believe I’m the bad guy rapper.” He simply makes, “music for the normal person.”
Knox himself prefers the smooth songs of R&B, ‘60s jams and love songs because, “They’re not so perverse. Music isn’t even music anymore. It’s just advertising for sex.”
Some of his musical influences include the Temptations, James Brown, Aretha Franklin and Michael Jackson. “I listen to a lot of oldies,” he said. “I stay away from a lot of rap. It’s not for my ears.”
Ritchie “Da Don” Knox has recently released his album “Immunity,” representing how hard it is to stand out in the rap game and be immune to rapping stereotypes. “I don’t want to be called a rapper, I want to be called a musician. I want people to listen to me with open ears,” Knox said.
Some outstanding tracks on the album include “Wisdom,” an ode to enemies past, a seven verse narrative rap and “Monsters’ Bash,” which alludes to his older, grittier rapping style. He has a promotional video out on YouTube for the second track on the album, “Never Fall.” Knox aspires to be a renaissance man who can not only make music, but produce videos. “I’m in college and I have all these amazing resources and I want to utilize that.”
On the track “Black Boy White Boy,” Knox teamed up with mix master Binks of Top Joint Productions.
In Knox’s opinion, “The media promotes the wrong thing, promotes racism. ‘Black Boy, White Boy’ gives both sides of the story and creates unity.”
After collaborating with Knox, Binks was impressed with his talent and professionalism.
“I honestly wasn’t expecting the quality he brought. I work with so many artists. I don’t want anything to do with you after you leave the studio. But with Rick, it’s different. His music really inspires me. I only work with artists that inspire me.”
The most important task at hand for Knox right now is getting people to support his music. You can find his music on Rickdadon.Bandcamp.com or watch his Vlogs at Youtube.com/Ritchie720.
Ritchie advises listeners, “not to be afraid to try something different… If people just give it a try, I think they’ll like it.”
