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Rico Havoc sits down for one of his most revealing conversations yet, taking us through the extraordinary journey that transformed him from a young dancer in Philadelphia's Dollar Boys movement to a musical innovator who changed the city's sound.
Born while his mother was incarcerated and with his father behind bars, Rico's early life under his grandmother's care in Southwest Philadelphia established the foundation for his resilience. When he emerged as a standout talent in the Dollar Boys—a youth dance movement centered around Jams skating rink—Rico was already building cultural capital without realizing it. These weekend dance battles weren't just entertainment; they were the breeding ground for an entire aesthetic movement that would eventually reshape Philadelphia's musical identity.
What makes Rico's story particularly powerful is how personal tragedy became the catalyst for his musical evolution. After experiencing violence on the streets, coping with his mother's dementia, and serving time in juvenile detention, Rico found his voice in the recording booth. His breakthrough hit "Lucas" wasn't just a song with a dance—it was the blueprint that opened doors for countless Philadelphia artists who followed.
Throughout our conversation, Rico draws important distinctions between his "derp" style and drill music, emphasizing that his art comes from processing trauma rather than glorifying it. "I don't make music to make people want to do stuff," he explains. "I make music to escape what I'm going through and to touch people." This philosophy has allowed him to continuously reinvent himself while maintaining an authenticity that resonates deeply with listeners.
Listen now to understand how one artist's journey through grief, incarceration, and creative evolution created ripple effects that continue to shape an entire city's musical landscape. As Rico himself puts it: "It's never over for me"—words that speak to the resilience that defines both his life and his art.

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