Emo rapper RILEY has dropped his new EP, CHANGE, via Thriller Records. The Los Angeles-based artist, known for his whip-smart lyricism and catchy hooks, is back with seven new tracks featuring guest appearances by some of his friends in the industry. His first release since his 2022 full-length City of Angels, RILEY is excited to share the latest iteration of his sound with his fans.
Last night, the artist sat down with our very own Fish to talk about the start of his career and the meaning behind the record. Knowing each other since Warped Tour days, RILEY first started talking to Fish about releasing his own music in 2015 on Set It Off’s tour bus. Working as a professional tour manager at the time, he decided to kickstart his journey as an artist after being on the other side of the stage. And, surprisingly, some of the first demos he showed Fish were country songs!
“I want to be a country artist still, and now it’s like becoming a popular thing, but I just have some weird love for that country rap lane that’s been going on,” he says. “That would be tight.”
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RILEY strives to never pigeonhole himself, and CHANGE proves this through its sonic diversity. From straight-forward hip-hop tracks like “SPACE,” the first track Fish premiered last night featuring Lil Brows, to the guitar-driven pop anthem “GUCCI STORE” with Natalie Carr, the EP is a sneak preview into the artist’s creative mind. It also highlights his commitment to his craft, which can be heard through every vocal line and beat. Everything is intentional.
Rather than following the trends, his mission is to always create the art he wants to create. That is what CHANGE is all about.
RILEY adds, “I knew creatively what I wanted to make, so it was one of those things where I [thought], ‘I’m not going to just do something because the homies are doing it, or do something because I think it will get traction…I’m just going to make what I like to make.”
Listen to the full EP below!
