An Aspiring DC Rapper Dreams Big

Rico White sits for a portrait in Georgetown before spending a night in the city with friends. White's music has gained popularity in the past year, and he hopes his career will continue to grow as he enters college in the fall. 

Photos and Article by Maddie Meyer

Rico White has his sights set on musical stardom. At age 18 and a high school senior, White already has a manager and a viral music video on Youtube with over 20,000 views.

Getting Started 

“I’ve always been interested in this, you have to understand music has always been a thing of mine” says White.  At the end of his freshman year at The Field School in Washington, DC, White began to produce his own songs. The Field school holds a heavy focus in arts and many of the students and faculty support his work. He finds inspiration in everything he experiences in life and works to translate those experiences into relatable songs. 

White looks through candy at a CVS in Georgetown for an afternoon snack.
He uses his everyday experiences and encounters as inspiration for his music.

The Process

He writes in his room, in the car, or whenever he has the chance. His songs involve themes of his family, friends, school, and life growing up in Washington, D.C. His songwriting always starts with an idea or a beat.

            “You get a certain feeling from the beat, then you write about that feeling, what events correspond to that feeling and you try to make it relate to the listener. You try and make the hook catchy, that’s my job” says White. And he does a good job of it too, his videos and mixed tapes have been very successful and drawn a lot of attention.

Successes So Far

His most viewed video “Work It” got the attention of a manager who has booked him a show at the popular South by Southwest music festival in Austin, Texas this spring.

            His most recent mixed tape by the name of “Juicy Juice” has been very well received and is available for download on datpiff.com. White works to promote his work on his Facebook and Twitter account, as well as by word of mouth.

            White is currently focusing on his musical career but in the future he hopes to expand his talents into other fields.

            “My ultimate goal is to be Kanye West level, be better than Kanye West in all fields that he works in, music wise, clothing wise, production included, just to be the best of the best of the best” White says.  

Plans for the Future

As for next year White has applied to five colleges; Ohio University, Ohio State University, Hofstra University, Old Dominion University, and Guilford College. He hopes to attend Hofstra University in the fall, and continue to make music.

            White has already recorded his next mixed tape but it does not have a release date yet.

            This charismatic and energetic young artist has a long path ahead of him until he reaches the level of stardom he desires, but is headed down the path to success. 

White walks through Georgetown with his friend Will Meyer, known as DJ Ameyerica. White and Meyer are planning on performing together at South by Southwest a music festival in Austin, Texas this spring.