Rye Rye

Championed by tastemakers like BBC DJ Gilles Peterson and respected producer Diplo, Baltimore rapper Rye Rye arrived in 2008 with an effervescent style and some support from M.I.A. She was only 17 when a rap left on DJ Blaqstarr’s answering machine turned into a partnership. Blaqstarr introduced her to the Mad Decent label/studio/family and soon she would land on a remix of M.I.A.’s “Paper Planes” plus the Diplo track “Wassup Wassup.” Next, she signed with M.I.A.’s imprint N.E.E.T. and released her first solo track, “Shake It to the Ground.” By the end of 2008, she appeared on a remix of electro producer Adrian Lux’s track “Strawberry” plus the Count & Sinden single “Hardcore Girls.” She kicked off 2009 by appearing on the Fast & Furious soundtrack with the song “Bang.” Tours with M.I.A. and Die Antwoord followed in 2010, along with a video for a new single, titled “Sunshine.” Aided by producers Blaqstarr, Diplo, Count & Sinden, and M.I.A., Rye Rye’s long-awaited debut, Go! Pop! Bang!, was finished by the end of the year and scheduled to be released in early 2011. ~ David Jeffries