User:RIPPA59ENT

Rippa of 59 ENT.

Hi, my name is Anthony Edwards. My stage name is “Rippa” or “Young Rippa” – It’s all the same to me. I switch my names back and forth depending on how I’m feeling when I’m doing a track. I got the name Rippa because after I performed a verse, people would ask, “Who is that? He’s ripping that verse!” And the name caught on.

No Hooks Was a project I was working on called “No Hooks – Part 2”, inspired by all the positive feedback I received to “No Hooks – Part 1”, which I released over one month ago. The concept of “No Hooks” is to show label companies and recording artists that you don’t need a hook to rap. I do have plenty of songs that have hooks; I just wanted to do something to showcase my talent that other artists aren’t doing. “No Hooks – Part 2” is scheduled to be completed by the end of November 2010.

Growing Up I owe a great deal to my family. I was born October 10, 1984, and raised by my grandmother, who stepped in to help my mother during a difficult time. My mother had me when she was just 13 years old. I am the oldest of my mom’s ten children; a total of seven boys and three girls. We are all healthy and grateful to be alive.

My mom struggled in the early years… times were tough, especially with so many kids. I remember we did not have the proper clothes for school because it cost too much since there were so many of us. My stepfather was not much help. He was very strict. I see it as he did not want us growing up doing what he did as a teenager: selling drugs, smoking crack, etc. My real father never played a part in my life. He was too busy stealing to support his crack habit.

I used to play sports when I was younger; I was not a hard head. I stayed busy with healthy activities. My grandmother would not accept me hanging around “thugs”. She always told me that was a “NO”. That’s why I think I am the person that I am today.

Looking Back at Music At the age of 14, I started catching myself rhyming all the time. I had trouble putting the words together. So I wrote them down on paper, then I would try to say them in a rhyme until I began to get good at it. I remember going to school and putting my lyrics in the homework box instead of turning in my school work. I never did it intentionally, but I was constantly writing.

My first rap group was with my little brothers, Toss, Bree and Tree. We called ourselves “City Limit Boyz”. At that time we didn’t have the funds to rent a recording studio, so we recorded at home using an old cassette player, and recorded our tapes over an instrumental beat. When the money did start to come in, we were hesitant to go to the recording studio, worried about what people would think of us or say about our tracks.

I did my first show at the age of 15 with my brothers at an old, adult club called “Club Heat”. We actually received a lot of recognition that night because we were the youngest people there. It was then that I fell in love with music and have been ever since.

Looking Ahead at Life One of the reasons I love music is because I want to make a better living for my family, and I believe that my music can get me there. I guess you can say people look up to me like I’m the “Big Dawg”. I am more of a provider than a taker. I love to see people smile; it makes me feel better. Of course, no one likes to see anyone unhappy. Besides, I have three beautiful kids: two boys and one girl. Their names are Anthony Edwards, Da’Naejah Edwards and Jermaine Edwards. I do not want them to grow up having to face the same challenges that I did. So I made a promise to myself - and to them - that someday their dad would be famous. And I am constantly working to keep it.

I know that one day it will happen for me, Lord willing. I will continue to strive for it until I am six feet under. So one day you might just see me on your television screen.

Rippa resides in Bradenton, Florida with his beautiful, soon-to-be bride, Kim Jones and son Anthony Edwards. He can be reached at 941-465-5486 or via email at tune-n-ripp@homatil.com