Bobby Raps

Bobby Raps
Birth nameRobert John Richardson
Born (1992-12-22) December 22, 1992 (age 31)
Saint Paul, Minnesota, U.S.
GenresHip hop
Occupations
  • Rapper
  • singer
  • songwriter
  • record producer
Years active2011–present
LabelsRepublic
Formerly of

Robert John Richardson (born December 22, 1992), known professionally as Bobby Raps, is an American rapper, singer, songwriter, and record producer.[1] He has been a member of Thestand4rd,[2] Audio Perm,[2] and Dequexatron X000.[3] He has produced and written songs for several notable artists including The Weeknd, Lil Wayne, Future, Gunna, Lil Uzi Vert and more.[4]

Early life and education

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Bobby Raps was born Robert John Richardson[5] on December 22, 1992, in Saint Paul, Minnesota.[6] While in high school, he started rapping and producing beats.[6] He graduated from Saint Paul Central High School.[7]

Career

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In 2011, Bobby Raps released his debut mixtape, Gimme Daps.[8]

In 2015, he released a collaborative EP with Corbin, titled Couch Potato.[9] Entirely produced by Bobby Raps, it features a guest appearance from Izell Pyramid.[10] City Pages described it as "a thoroughly haunting dose of ethereal hip-hop that sounds like if James Blake cut a record with Earl Sweatshirt."[11] The opening song of the EP, titled "Welcome to the Hell Zone", was included on Complex's "Best Songs of the Week" list.[12] The duo's live performances have received favorable reviews from City Pages[13] and Billboard.[14]

In 2016, Bobby Raps contributed to Watch the Stove, a viral mixtape campaign by Hamburger Helper.[15] He, alongside Dequexatron X000 collaborator DJ Tiiiiiiiiiip, featured on the opening track of the album.[16]

In 2017, he released his major-label debut, Mark, on Republic Records.[17] It includes production from Shlohmo and D33J.[18] Complex called it "[Bobby Raps'] strongest body of work to date."[19]

In 2020, his single and music video "Believe the Lie" were released. The video was directed by Alex Howard. Lyrical Lemonade described Bobby Raps as "multifaceted and can’t really be put into a box".[20]

In 2021, Bobby Raps released his album not scared anymore. It features guest appearances from Corbin and Casino Gwaup.

In 2023, Skrillex featured Bobby Raps on two songs, "Leave Me Like This" and "Don't Leave Me Like This" from his back to back albums Quest For Fire and Don't Get Too Close.[21]

Discography

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Studio albums

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Mixtapes

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  • Gimme Daps (2011)
  • Wicked City (2015) (with SinGrinch)
  • Weird Lil World (2018)

EPs

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  • Couch Potato (2015) (with Corbin)

Production and songwriting credits

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List of notable songs Bobby Raps has either produced, co-produced, or contributed songwriting.

2016

2017

2018

2019

2020

2021

2022

2023

2024

References

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  1. ^ Price, Joe (August 17, 2017). "Watch Bobby Raps' Cinematic "Desensitized" Video". Complex. Retrieved April 19, 2020.
  2. ^ a b Riemenschneider, Chris (July 7, 2017). "Twin Cities wiz kid Bobby Raps makes his major-label 'Mark' today". Star Tribune. Retrieved April 19, 2020.
  3. ^ Boller, Jay (April 1, 2016). "Hamburger Helper drops Watch the Stove mixtape featuring Bobby Raps, DJ Tiiiiiiiiiip". City Pages. Retrieved April 24, 2020.
  4. ^ "Bobby Raps". Genius. Retrieved May 25, 2024.
  5. ^ "Robert John "Bobby Raps" Richardson". Billboard. Retrieved July 2, 2020.
  6. ^ a b Yeung, Neil Z. "Bobby Raps – Biography". AllMusic. Archived from the original on August 20, 2020. Retrieved April 19, 2020.
  7. ^ Isa, Maria (November 4, 2014). "You Scream? Who Screams? Little Girls Scream for the Stand4rd". Star Tribune. Retrieved April 19, 2020.
  8. ^ Spencer, Jack (June 7, 2011). "Twin Cities rap mixtape roundup, Vol. 1". City Pages. Retrieved April 19, 2020.
  9. ^ Cooper, Duncan (June 1, 2015). "Download Corbin's New Couch Potato EP With Bobby Raps". The Fader. Retrieved April 19, 2020.
  10. ^ Bolton, Aaron (June 2, 2015). "Corbin and Bobby Raps, Rich Mattson, and more: This week's Minnesota record releases". The Current. Minnesota Public Radio. Retrieved April 19, 2020.
  11. ^ Mehta, Raghav (June 2, 2015). "'Hello Fuck Heads': Corbin and Bobby Raps Drop Surprise EP". City Pages. Retrieved April 19, 2020.
  12. ^ Price, Joe (June 5, 2015). "Best Songs of the Week: 5. Bobby Raps & Corbin – "Welcome to the Hell Zone"". Complex. Retrieved April 19, 2020.
  13. ^ Spencer, Jack (June 18, 2015). "Review: Corbin & Bobby Raps feed off Varsity crowd". City Pages. Retrieved April 19, 2020.
  14. ^ Leight, Elias (July 13, 2015). "Corbin & Bobby Raps Bring 'Couch Potato' to New York City: Live Review". Billboard. Retrieved April 19, 2020.
  15. ^ Boller, Jau (April 1, 2016). "Hamburger Helper drops Watch the Stove mixtape featuring Bobby Raps, DJ Tiiiiiiiiiip". City Pages. Archived from the original on April 4, 2016.
  16. ^ Roy, Jessica (April 2, 2016). "The unbelievably true story behind the April Fools' Day Hamburger Helper mixtape". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved December 6, 2021.
  17. ^ Madden, Michael (August 7, 2017). "Bobby Raps, Greg Grease, and more in this month's 10-song Twin Cities rap roundup". City Pages. Retrieved April 19, 2020.
  18. ^ India, Lindsey (July 7, 2017). "Bobby Raps Releases New 'Mark' Mixtape". XXL. Retrieved April 19, 2020.
  19. ^ Price, Joe (July 8, 2017). "Listen to Bobby Raps' New Mixtape 'Mark'". Complex. Retrieved April 19, 2020.
  20. ^ Adams, Danny (April 2, 2020). "Believe the Lie- [Bobby Raps]". Lyrical Lemonade. Retrieved May 25, 2024.
  21. ^ Paul, Larisha (January 18, 2023). "Skrillex Continues Singles Streak With Bobby Raps-Assisted Song 'Leave Me Like This'". Rolling Stone. Retrieved May 25, 2024.
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