RIY

RIY is a 21-year-old artist from South Bend, Indiana, building his identity through both music and visual art. For him, the biggest accomplishment is not just graduating high school, but really learning how to create a sound that feels like his own. Alongside music, painting and art have become part of that journey too, helping shape the way he sees himself and the way he wants to be seen. More than anything, RIY has grown into someone who wants to be a positive influence on the youth, which gives his story a deeper meaning than just making songs.

His inspirations say a lot about the kind of artist he is becoming. Musically, he points to names like Kanye West, Lil Wayne, Eminem, A$AP Rocky, and Playboi Carti, artists known for individuality, reinvention, and strong point of view. But outside of music, his grandparents have had just as much influence on him. He admires that they have always been themselves and never cared too much about what other people thought, and that mindset clearly shows up in the way RIY talks about art, life, and staying true to his own lane.

That authenticity has been tested through real loss and responsibility. RIY says one of his biggest struggles has been learning how to become a positive individual for his younger siblings while also dealing with the deaths of his older brother, his aunts, and a few close friends. One loss that especially stayed with him was his homie Spaz passing away on his 20th birthday. Still, music found its way into his life through the people around him. Growing up, friends like SOLOK, King Ace, and his godbrother Ant helped pull him toward it, and later artists like Jace23X, Shyne Zo, and Travo Fuego helped show him the right way to move and present himself as a musician. That combination of pain, guidance, and self-discovery is what makes RIY’s story feel real.

When he looks five years ahead, RIY sees a life that is still centered around creation. He imagines himself continuing to make music, continuing to make art, and living in Oregon while pushing himself to make the best work possible. It is not a dream built around chasing noise for the sake of it. It feels more like a commitment to becoming sharper, more original, and more complete as an artist. Whether it is through music or visual pieces, RIY wants to keep building a world that is fully his.