It takes a lot of convincing and great music to get me as excited about an artist as I am about Atlanta’s, Rizz Capolatti. While you may not know his name yet, I promise that those days will soon be over as there’s simply too much talent here to look past. After a well-deserved co-sign from Metro Boomin following the release of Capolatti’s 2021 single, “HELLUTALMBOUT”, Rizz took some time away from the release circle to recenter and it seems to be paying off tenfold. Just last week on May 11th, Capolatti dropped his strongest offering to date, “At Da Ritz”, and I’m honored to have had the opportunity to talk to him about it. In our conversation, we learned more about the song’s creation, his come up in Atlanta, how he got his artist name, and more, so for any hip-hop heads out there looking to tap in with more heat coming up at the moment, be sure to check out our Q&A below!
__
Joe: Tell me a little bit about your early beginnings in music. When did you start rapping, what led you to want to be an artist, and who were some of your earliest influences?
Rizz: It was just a fun hobby foreal. Started out wit my god brother at like 12 years old on a usb mic and been making songs since then. It was really me just doin my best Lil Wayne impression tbh. Then Drake etc…just tryna show I could do it too.
__
Joe: I hate to be that guy to bring this up, but it does feel like a great time to be named Rizz given the trending popularity of the word. How did you get your artist name?
Rizz: Hahaha. Funny as hell cuz I been Rizz for over 10 years now lol. I went by J.Rizzy cuz anybody who really knows me knows me as J.R. but my patna Lefty & my home girl Liz would shorten it to Rizz a lot and I liked it so it stuck. It’s actually extremely fitting for me though with the meaning of the word. The Capolatti part came from me and my God brother trying to create a name for our brotherhood and being young and into gangster shit, of course it was Capolatti.
__
Joe: Love that! What was growing up in Atlanta like and how did it impact your music? Were a lot of people around you making music? Do you come from a creative family?
Rizz: It was fun as hell. It was like a ghetto utopia. I grew up in a time when the culture was still rich and thriving. Atlanta is like one big art school. The art of music, style, hustle, finesse, all of the above. So growing up in that definitely influenced the way I rap and my perspective on my sound. I try to put as much of that in it as possible. There was always music around me. My brother and sister are musicians too now. My cousins were in the 90s R&B group, Silk. My dad’s best friend from high school is Lil’ Scrappy’s dad. My pops coached Peewee Longway & his brother in little league baseball. My closest cousin’s best friend is Young Thug. I lived on the southside so I used to see TM88 & Southside at the BP on my way home from school. One of my neighborhood friends Trent created Crank Dat for Soulja Boy & Crank Dat Yank. I grew up seeing Latto promote her music at Southlake Mall. I been around the Dungeon Family for 10 years of my life now, so yes lol I’ve been surrounded by music.
__
Joe: From the outside looking in, you’re tapped in with a ton of inspiring creatives such as Monte Booker, Smino, and others. How important has it been to your progression as an artist to be surrounded by other promising and established creatives?
Rizz: Definitely helped me progress a lot. I would hear a gang of shit from them and be like yeahhhhh I gotta get better lol. All the different perspectives and approaches definitely help me expand my perspective in how I do what I do too! It’s a certain type of musicality I would be exposed to in Chicago and LA that I wasn’t used to and it helped me grow. Definitely some steel sharpen steel shit!
__
Joe: You seem to be in and around many creative communities – I’d love hear more about your label / collective, KIP CLIQUE! When did KIP CLIQUE become a thing and who is a part of it?
Rizz: Well far as the collective it’s a clique of us! Me and my boy KB created it as something to identify and distinguish who we were so when it came time to develop the label, I felt as if it fit for that as well. As far as the business side for now it’s my partner Profiet and my photographer/videographer, Emanuel. Looking to grow the business/label side more and fill more roles but we’ve been handling a lot of things to come! Definitely lookin to expand even further than just a label, more like a multimedia company and outlet for the culture.
__
Joe: That’s fire man! Okay, now to what actually matters most – the music! Your new single, “At Da Ritz”, is one of my favorite hip-hop records in recent memory from an up-and-coming artist. What’s the origin of the story behind this song and what are you hoping to accomplish with it?
Rizz: Thank you! I appreciate that. The song came about when I went to LA last year cookin wit the guys. It’s really just me having fun but there’s a lot of reality in it too. Touching on things I’ve done, am currently doing and things I want. I’ll let you decipher which parts are which lol. This song is definitely the start to a very consistent rest of the year from me. I’m trying to start my takeover right now.
__
Joe: I saw that you linked with the North Carolina legend, Groove, for this timeless instrumental. How did you all get linked and where (and when) was the song made?
Rizz: “HOW YOU LINKED UP WIT GROOVE?” Hahaaa damn I manifested yo question in the song lol. Groove my bro foreal. I’ve been close with Groove for years. Bro used to be pulling up at my spot off Simpson back in 2016-17. That’s my brother. I pulled up on him & Monte last year and was in wit them all summer and made that. I was in LA thinking bout them hotel days lol crazy times lol.
__
Joe: Man, y’all really snapped! I’ve heard whispers that a project may be coming in the near future from you… What can we expect from you in the coming months / what’s on the schedule?
Rizz: Swear you’ve heard whispers! Hahaha I’m cryin bra lol. Yea I think imma give the people an EP soon. I’m definitely droppin shit back to back for the people fasho! I think imma announce the name of the EP soon. Just stay tuned. This may be the soundtrack to the summer!
__
Joe: Can’t wait! I’m excited to continue to watch you grow and take over – this feels like just the beginning of a very long and successful journey for you.
Rizz: Thank you man I appreciate that a lot & I appreciate the opportunity to chop it up wit y’all bra. We gone go big the next time we link!
__
Joe: I believe it!!
__