DIY hip-hop artist Ricky Bravo recently released his album, TELEGRAM TITAN. The album dives into personal territory, covering his past with drug dealing, street violence, and betrayal, to navigating the challenges of crime and pursuing dreams. Bravo talked to NYOTA about self-recording the album, performing songs live in the future, and his advice for aspiring rappers.
When did you start to develop a passion for music?
I developed a passion for music at a very young age! I started making beats in 6th grade!
Who are rappers or musicians who inspire and push you to take your music to new places?
I’m very inspired by Young Thug, Wiz Khalifa and Future. Those are my top 3!
Your album TELEGRAM TITAN is self-recorded and engineered. What did you discover about yourself as an artist while working on it?
I discovered what makes my vocal sonics pop and that I’d like to focus on warm audio to make my music sound smoother.
TELEGRAM TITAN dives into your past experiences. Did you feel the album helped you process many things you’ve gone through?
Yeah, big time. It showed me how far I’ve come and how resilient I am. It makes me feel very powerful and unstoppable.
You recently released a video for the song “GO GIRL” from the album. How involved were you in the creative process for the video?
Everything I do, I’m hands on! I had a vision that I wanted to execute – Kaiyah and my homegirl Yana helped me execute to perfection!
A focus of the album is that you have to chase after success because it will not just be handed to you. How has that mindset aided you in your career so far?
It made me gain a do-or-die mindset. As a man, you must conquer everything that comes your way.
Now that the album is out, are you hoping to get in front of audiences and perform some of the songs live?
Of course! Performing is my favorite aspect of music; it makes me feel like I have a superpower because I can control the emotions and minds of a room for a while.
What advice do you have for aspiring rappers?
Don’t stop, keep creating, and stay consistent! Believe in yourself wholeheartedly.