Ray Rife

Ray Rife, real name Christopher Nicholson, is an emerging hip-hop artist from Long Island, New York. Growing up in Suffolk County, Brentwood, Rife was subject to gangs and street life not too well known to people living outside of Long Island. Academically gifted, yet still in the streets, he never allowed any negative influences to take control of him or his decisions. With a better future in mind for him and his brothers, Rife's parents moved their family to Charlotte, NC just a year and a half before he graduated High School. 

Always a fan of hip-hop, his favorite artist growing up was Method Man. It wasn't until 50 Cent's takeover where he began to write his own rhymes. Rife has studied all the greats and even those considered non-great, for he feels every artist on a major level has something he could learn from. His greatest influences include the aforementioned artists, also Jay-Z, Eminem, Nas, and Tupac. When you listen to him you can hear a grand combination of all the greats complimented by his own contagious delivery.

In 2011, Rife moved back to NY where he began to take his music career more serious after dropping out of college. He co-founded the group "Throwed Coalition" with his college roommates based out of Greensboro, NC. Since that time, the group has expanded to different cities throughout the East Coast that also include rap artists, Bahbi Bonez and Steeno.

Rife's first drop came in 2013 titled "Midnight in Heaven", a freestyle over Drake's "5 AM in Toronto" track. Following grand reviews from local and upcoming blogs, Rife was making his way with many claiming it to be the best verse over the Boi-1da beat. 

Later that year, he dropped his debut mixtape, "Road To Exile", which will go down as a lost gem for it didn't bring him to nationwide fame. A classic among those that listened, Rife was not discouraged and continued to work, confident people would catch on later. "Road to Exile" displayed Rife's growth as a true emcee including standout tracks such as "Art of War" and "Forbidden Opinion", which engaged his listeners fiercely and forced them into critical thinking. 

Now at 25, Rife is ready to push himself at full throttle and take away fans one by one with his unique sound of Boom Bap, 808's, and street bounce. He works endlessly for the reward in store for him is so much greater. Willing to make sacrifices, always willing to learn, his potential is limitless and expected to snatch the ears of all hip-hop listeners. This game will soon be his to steer, so put your headphones on and enjoy the ride.