"A Ric Wilson record is equal parts kinetic energy and pensive sensibilities. The Chicago rapper’s tongue-in-cheek wordplay blends seamlessly with gospel-tinted melodies and big brass arrangements that’ll get your feet moving while you decode the complexities of his songwriting. The 26-year-old is a unique combination of his influences.-an expansive list that includes emcees, poets, and critical thinkers, from Stevie Wonder and Black Thought to  Eartha Kitt and James Baldwin. “They focused on making the best art they  wanted to make,” he says of his artistic muses. “Over time this helped them break down boundaries.” He adds D’Angelo, Erykah Badu, Macy Gray, and Jay  Electronica to the running list. “Those are the types of artists who inspire me.”

​

Creating the art you want to make sounds like simple advice, but it can be a hinderance in an industry that often rewards conformity over coloring outside the lines. Despite this, Wilson refuses to be boxed in, even if this approach didn't always serve him well in his early years. He recalls a specific conversation with a friend who told him, "Man your s*** is dope, but sometimes it sounds like you don't be paying atention to what other people are listening to." Wilson finally struck a chord in 2016 with his elastic single "Soul Bounce." That's when people were like, "Oh Okay, I see what you're doing. You got something going on here!" - Kwasi Boadi for Rolling Stone