BEST GUIDE TO HIP HOP EVENTS, SHOWS & CONCERTS x SOCIAL NETWORK
Ricky B - Konpa
Haitian-born rapper Ricky B builds up Strong Nation with new single ‘Konpa’
BROOKLYN, NY – Ricardo Bauzile – better known by his stage name Ricky B – is an intelligent, ambitious, confident young artist who originally hails from Port-au-Prince, Haiti. He learned at an early age that “to live, you got to survive,” and for years he’s lived by the mantra presented to him by Tupac – “Only the strong survive.” He’s using that mantra as the foundation for his unique brand of music and art. And he’s showcasing that originality on his latest hit single “Konpa.”The song is a mixture of Island vibes with that Brooklyn Drill sound that Ricky B said is all about putting himself out there for the world to see. And as he presents himself, he also shines a light on Haiti and the culture of his home country. Paired with a laid-back video that shows a lot of character, the song is a perfect introduction to this colorful individual and his flashy artistic style and fashion-sense.
“It’s very beautiful,” he said. “I think it will be a step up for the Haitian culture and a good representation of that culture to an American audience. It’s not a song that over-does anything – in a sense it’s very calm and natural. But it’s also very colorful; especially the video. Fashion for me is a way of expressing myself – the way I dress matches my character. I’m very aware, self-focused and self-conscious. I do what I want, and I like to do things my own way. That’s what makes me happy, and this song is a way of celebrating that.”
In May 2011, before his 18th birthday, Ricky B migrated to New York, where he would attend and graduate both high school and college. He started to write songs in early 2017 after graduating college, and by 2018 he had launched his own clothing brand, Strong Sense. Eventually he launched his own record label and started releasing mixtapes in 2019. He hasn’t looked back since, and said rap is just one of many forms of expression that he hopes to become known for.
“Hip Hop has always been the best outlet for Black folks to both express themselves and capitalize on their intellectual properties,” Ricky B said. “The question is: Why wouldn’t I do this? Coming to this country, I really felt like an outsider. I didn’t speak the language and didn’t understand the culture. Haiti is my heritage. I knew what it was like there, but not in the U.S. But I kept remembering the Tupac quote, ‘Only the strong survive,’ and I embraced that mentality. As long as I’m strong, I will survive and get to where I want to go. That meant so much to me when I came to the U.S. and I have clung to that idea ever since. That’s why I created Strong Nation, and it’s what I’ll focus on with my new EP later this year.”
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QwT0ys29Yb0]
To listen to Ricky B’s music, or to follow him on social media, please visit the following links:
https://www.facebook.com/theonlyrickyb
https://twitter.com/thestrongricky
https://www.instagram.com/theonlyrickyb
https://www.tiktok.com/@theonlyrickyb
https://music.apple.com/us/album/konpa/1581852219?i=1581852220
https://music.apple.com/us/album/konpa-single/1581852219
https://soundcloud.com/rickybmusic/konpa
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hY7acSjmDu8
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QwT0ys29Yb0
https://unitedmasters.com/ricky-b
Views: 44
Best guide to hip hop, soul, reggae concerts & events in San Francisco Bay Area, Los Angeles & New York City + music, videos, radio and more
Subscribe to E-Blast
WIN TICKETS
Don Carlos
Friday, June 12 @ The Chapel, SF
J Boog
Tuesday, June 16 @ UC Theater, Berkeley
DaBoyDame w/ Keyshia Cole, Plies +more
Friday, June 19 @ Fox Theater, Oakland
Buju Banton & Stephen Marley
Saturday, June 20 @ Fox Theater, Oakland
Khalid
Friday, June 26 @ Greek Theatre, Berkeley
Thee Sacred Souls
Saturday, Aug 15 @ Greek Theatre, Berkeley
Jungle
Wednesday, Oct 7 @ Greek Theatre, Berkeley
Connect
Featured Content
Featured Videos
Photos
Latest Activity
James Artissen - Blank Face
Grammy-Nominated Singer/Songwriter, and Producer James Artissen returns with a dark, emotionally gripping new release, "Blank Face," arriving on all streaming platforms July 24th. Blending haunting melodies, cinematic production, and raw vulnerability, the single captures the tension of hiding pain behind a disconnected expression. Driven by atmospheric production and…See More
Kota The Friend
June 27, 2026 from 7pm to 11pmKEV CHOICE ENSEMBLE
June 26, 2026 from 7pm to 11pm
Kota The Friend
June 27, 2026 from 7pm to 11pmKEV CHOICE ENSEMBLE
June 26, 2026 from 7pm to 11pm
J Boog at THE UC THEATRE, Berkeley
June 16, 2026 from 8pm to 11:30pm
ENTER TO WIN A PAIR OF TICKETS. WINNER WILL BE DRAWN RANDOMLY AND ANNOUNCED 2 DAYS PRIOR TO EVENT. June 16, 2026 J BoogTHE UC THEATRE 2036 University Ave. Berkeley, CA Doors: 7:00 pm. Start: 8:00 pm All Ages >> BUY TICKETS…See More
Don Carlos at The Chapel, SF
June 12, 2026 from 8pm to 11pm
ENTER TO WIN A PAIR OF TICKETS. WINNER WILL BE DRAWN RANDOMLY AND ANNOUNCED 2 DAYS PRIOR TO EVENT. Friday, Jun 12, 2026 DON CARLOSThe Chapel, 777 Valencia Street, San Francisco, CA Doors: 8:00PM | Show: 9:00PM>> BUY TICKETS…See More
© 2026 Created by Ren the Vinyl Archaeologist.
Powered by
