When it seemed like everyone else was losing hope, he's one of the guys who helped boost fellow Chicago rapper Twista to Platinum success. This effort earned him his first Platinum Plaque for his promotional campaign and now it's time to garner one for his own musical talents. As Chicago's own B96 WBBM-FM's music director Erik Bradley puts it, Rip is: "Driven, Ambitious, Hard working, Grass Roots & Savvy".
Josh Mallett, aka "Rip", was born to a European-American mother and a Mexican immigrant father. They divorced early leaving him to experience the psychological, emotional and monetary hardships of growing up in a single parent home most of his life. Growing up with an increasing love for hip-hop and rap music in a ethnically diverse city and attending a school district where whites were the minorities, Rip always felt like the 'underdog'. "People dont usually know Im half Hispanic unless I tell them", he explains. While earlier West Coast influences such as Warren G, Dr. Dre & Snoop Dogg were dominating the rap game, Rip was still trying to find his niche. He began his career DJ'ing at local house parties that evolved into freestyling and then writing raps by the age of 14. At this point, artists closer to home such as Twista, Do or Die & Crucial Conflict were heavily influencing his desire to be able to do what they do. That was to bring a distinct rapid sound & style to his flow heard nowhere else across the globe but in Chicago.
Lacking the experience and connections vital to make it in the game, Rip had nothing but pure ambition on his side. In 2000, at the fresh age of 18, he created his own independent label, RiP Records, and teamed up with longtime friend and aspiring recording artist, Alex "PR Thug" Copo, in a journey to successfully make a prominent name for themselves in the music industry. Rip did everything from writing, to taking up production and starting his own basic website for his label. "I built my career from the ground-up. I worked hard for everything I got, nobody handed me anything", he explains of the tedious work and misconception many people may have about his local success. "I didnt know jack about any of that stuff [web design], so I learned on my own. I didnt want to learn...I had to." Although Rip no longer runs his labels website, it was that original knowledge he gained on his own which would lead to one of the biggest jump-starts in his career.
In 2001, while continuing his own career, Rip launched Twista.net, a basic yet thorough fan site for Chicago's rising legend Twista. It became the first official Twista site to hit the net and became a hit to Twista fans everywhere. The site let the record industry know there was still a loyal following of real Twista fans there to support him. This opened many doors & opportunities for Rip, including a cameo in Twista's 'Overnight Celebrity' music video. "I never knew it would become as big as it did." explains Rip about the site. "My goal for starting the site was to expose the world to one of the people I who look up to and admire & respect, not to gain anything from it", he admits.
Since the launch of his indie label, Rip has released 2 manufactured albums and 3 promotional mixtapes. His latest mixtape series, "The Midwest ReMixtape" (vol. 1 & 2) has become his most successful release yet accumulating over 60,000 combined downloads worldwide and moved thousands of units in the streets of Chicago and surrounding areas alone. They feature some of Chicago's most respected artists such as: Qualo (Universal), The Legendary Traxster (CWAL), Jah Rista, Soundmaster T, Juice, E.C. Illa aka Whitefolks as well as Rip himself & fellow label mates PR Thug, Influence & DJ Baddmixx. With that ambition still instilled in him since the day he decided to create music, Rip got out and hustled hard and paid his dues. From hustlin' mixtapes by foot on Chicago's North & West Side to the notorious South Side and major cities outside of Chicago, there was no slowing down Rip or stopping his grind. By now he has gained a diverse fan base throughout the Midwest.
To date, Rip has opened shows for Platinum recording artists such as: Twista & The Ying Yang Twins and has shared stages with Do or Die, The Legendary Traxster, Johhny P, Jah Rista, Bizzy Bone (Bone Thugs & Harmony) and Public Announcement as well. In 2004 he worked his hustlin' magic networking with Chicago's own B96.3 music director, Erik Bradley, that later led him to doing an intro for on-air night personalities 'Stylz & Roman' and a custom song for the Chicago Bulls. He has also teamed up with Chicagos biggest urban radio station 107.5 WGCI's own nighttime personality & respected DJ, Mike Love (featured on MTVs Mixtape Mondays), impressing Mr. Love with a verse he submitted for one of the radio DJs mixtapes. "I met Mike Love at a club downtown Chicago and did what I do best...networked. When I contacted him a few days later he told me about a mixtape he was working on and said he needed a track for his mixtape. Less than 24 hours later I had a track sent to him. After receiving the track he told me that I 'had snapped and that it was very rare for him to reach out to someone last minute like that and get what he needs'. He told me I was 'officially part of his fam'", explains Rip of his current relationship with Mike Love. Out of all tracks submitted to Mike Love & DJ G-Spots "Midwest Invasion 2" mixtape, which featured some of Chicago's most promising up and coming artists such as: Lupe Fiasco, Rhymefest, Bump J & Juice to name a few, Rips became the intro track to the mixtape. Mike Love will host Rip's new promotional mixtape due out later this year putting his "stamp of approval" on him. Most recently Rip has collaborated with fellow Chicago rapper, Jah Rista, on the club banger "Aye" which he plans to heavily push to local clubs and radio first and then go regional with it.
With almost 10 years of laying down extensive ground-work behind him, Rip is still focused on his original ambitious route to success, delivering a unique distinguishable sound on the mic with his instantly recognizable voice. Creating a buzz throughout Illinois and the Midwest and gaining respect & recognition in Chicago (dubbed as the "City of Haters") where even the most respected have a hard time gaining support, Rip is sure to make his mark in the game, becoming one of the most newly inquired about artists in the streets of his domain.
"A lot of people can rap, but not everyone can hustle AND rap", declares Rip the self proclaimed ill-state representer, who's savvy business mentality helped him acquire the accomplishments he has earned to date. He is currently working on a 3rd album due out first or second quarter of 2007. With a charismatic personality and visually appealing image for the ladies, the multi-talented & cultural Producer, Recording Artist and Businessman undeniably has the drive, talent & mass appeal to make him an indisputable success in the entertainment industry. Anyone who would disagree is merely setting themselves up for future disappointment.
For more information, visit their website: http://www.myspace.com/rip2
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