Very few people in the Greek Hip Hop scene can claim they've seen all sides of the story. Underground cats whove managed to step up to a broader audience can be counted on the fingers of one hand, while mainstream acts that receive respect from the hardcore audience are even less. DJ Rico can proudly claim he has been on both ends.
For DJ Rico, everything started at the young age of 17, some 15 years ago, when he was spinning at local island clubs during the summertime. Hip Hop was at a virtually embryonic stage in Greece at the time, so DJ Rico got his name spread for knowing how to rock a party among the US crowds spending their vacations in Greece.
1996 found DJ Rico being one of the on-stage DJs of Active Member and the unofficial sixth man of NEVMA. With NEVMA's departure from the Freestyle Productions camp in 1997, DJ Rico became a full-fledged member of the group and started working on the production for the crew's next album, an untitled project thats still called The Black Album by fans, due to the projects cover. The record, which was released in 1998, was an immediate success in the Hip Hop cores throughout Greece, and DJ Rico established himself as the new force in beatmaking.
The follow-up was Otan Epistrepsoume sti Ghi (2000) - the White Album, as fans like to call it, finding NEVMA with one member less, yet bringing it stronger than ever. DJ Rico's work on the beats of that album was phenomenal, with tracks like To Maheri sto Kokkalo and Katazitite still being the crowd's favorites. It was clear that only a few people in the Hip Hop game could do what DJ Rico did.
In the year 2002, NEVMA shook the Hip Hop microcosm of Greece by announcing the joining of forces with Family The Label, Nikos NiVo Vourliotis' commercially successful record label, and the departure of two more members. DJ Rico showcased his skills once again in the, now a trio, NEVMA's fourth release, Ap' Aftus pu Latrevis na Misis (2004) or The Red Album, leaving no room for questioning about the groups status. NEVMA were still what the crowd loved - sharp rhymes, hypnotic beats and lively delivery. In the meantime, DJ Rico produced the smash hit Ginekes for Goin' Through (featuring TNS and Alexis Delta), as well as the monumental collaboration of NiVo with New York's Hip Hop legend Guru (of the Gangstarr fame), Afti ti Zoi (both in 2004's gold selling La Sagrada Familia). Around the same time, DJ Rico started spinning at the biggest clubs in Greece (such as Venue and Balux in Athens, Lido in Thessaloniki, a.o.), as a resident DJ of the Family parties.
2005 found DJ Rico laying the beat for Taraxias' club anthem TARAkunise Tus, while shortly after, he produced Goin' Through's new single, Kalimera Ellada (2006), an immediate hit that's still in the frontline of radio airplay lists, music television rotation and people's requests. In 2006, Goin' Through's new album, Vendetta was released, with DJ Rico laying the beat for numerous tracks, including the reggaeton anthem 12 Akrivos (featuring Ominus, Taraxias & Sifu VERSUS). Still spinning at clubs throughout Greece, you can listen to DJ Rico's party rocking mood every Tuesday at Rock n roll (Athens) and every other Thursday at Hotel (Thessaloniki).
Whats in it for the future? Apart from NEVMA's new which is out already , DJ Rico is also preparing his official mixtape, with appearances by Taraxias, NEVMA, a.o.
Stay tuned.
Bio by Boom Box Entertainment
