When the Holy Spirit teams up with hip hop, it makes for a dynamic collaboration of Gospel Rap; a process RIFICA refers to as “the Holy Spirit downloading the lyrics to his brain.” This partnership in music attracts all ages of believers and non-believers the same. RIFICA showcases this spiritual encounter in each of his albums: Motivation, The Standard, and The Death of Me mix tapes. His unique style of artistry is both versatile and nonconforming. Known for his interactive “line dance” tracks, RIFICA creates a high energy atmosphere that would make anyone get up and join. Gospel Step, Gospel Wobble, and The Righteous Shuffle, are major hits in the Christian community and embrace the concept that you can have fun in the Lord, a great time in church, and that it’s exciting to be in Christ. These words RIFICA tells his supporters as he travels throughout Texas and other shows spanning across Denver , CO, Baton Rouge , LA and Myrtle Beach, SC.
Prior to recording his first album, RIFICA would feature on various artist songs, with his first being with Mic D and Disciples of Prophecy on the DOP 2k3 album. Later, the successful relationship would serve as a positive force of change. After hearing from Mic D, and the industry response to his original name, MastaBalla, it was suggested he choose a different alias. In that moment God brought the name to remembrance and it’s meaning to the acronym RIFICA (Righteous In Faith InCrease Abundantly). This modification would eventually develop RIFICA’s brand and shape him into the artist he is today. Since then Rif , is proud to have worked with artists such as Educator, Immortal, Poetic Prophet, BSloan and Mike Dixon.
When you hear the sounds in his albums, everything from the beat to the lyrics, expect to hear real life applications. From discussing his childhood life of joint custody while growing up on both sides of the track in Houston , TX ; RIFICA’s parents divorced when he was 5 years old. Consequently, he experienced a somewhat unbalanced childhood…..Or it could be described as the perfect balance for what God planned to do in and through his life. These pastimes from his childhood including recaptures of “the college life” in The Motivation album are like stages of fragmented pieces of clay molded by the hands of the Potter.
When looking back RIFICA knows he has come a long way from his very first demo, which involved a recording of himself rapping to a homemade beat made with a karaoke machine, tuba, keyboard, and drum machine recorded on a cassette tape. He makes sure his supporters know that it wasn’t his own doing as he always says “All Glory Go to God None to me”. RIFICA is currently working on his third album “Fresh Manna”. His supporters should expect to receive some fresh artistry on this junior project with several hot collaborations featuring Riley, Rev. Rob, Donovan Charles, Briana Amor and several other anointed artist. RIFICA is truly a young entertainer after God’s own heart, striving to be the standard of righteousness to a generation without a God Consciousness.
RIFICA wants us to always remember the righteous in faith increase abundantly and every Christian is RIFICA because every Christian should be righteous in Faith increasing abundantly …
It’s not about me
Exposed Vocals: How did you hear about Exposed Vocals? What made you decide to sign up?
RIFICA:
I found out about Exposed Vocals on Twitter. The moderator of your Twitter account invited me to email my music and bio to your company.
Exposed Vocals: So tell us your story. Where did you grow up? What made you decide to become an artist?
RIFICA:
I grew up in Houston, TX. I knew I wanted to be some sort of artist from an early age. I always enjoyed being on stage. I knew I wanted to be an actor, singer or rapper. My oldest step brother was rapping back in the early 90’s. John was constantly making homemade demo tapes. I believe I was influenced by him. He helped me write my first rap when I was 8 yrs old. Of course, it was very different content than what I rap about today. Back then gangsta rap was very popular. The rap he helped me write was consistent with the times. After we were done writing the rap, I recorded it on a tape recorder. Then, I would occasionally rap it for my classmates at the lunch table. They would always give me their undivided attention when I began to spit at 3rd grade lunch so I guess it was an ok rhyme.
Exposed Vocals: How did you come up with that name? What was your inspiration behind it?
RIFICA:
Originally I went by the name Masta Balla. I attempted to bring that name into Christian Hip Hop. However, Mic D of Nu Camp Entertainment, who discovered me, said that people were not feeling my alias when he would tell them about me. He suggested that I change my stage name. When we got off the phone immediately I heard “RIFICA” in my spirit. Not too long after that,the Holy Spirit let me know that RIFICA is an acronym that would stand for Righteous In Faith InCrease Abundantly.
Exposed Vocals: What do you think about online music sharing? Do you ever give your music away for free? Why?
RIFICA:
I’m ok with platforms like Soundcloud and Reverbnation. These platforms give us an opportunity to share our music with people who otherwise would never be exposed to our music. It’s similar to back in the day when you would sample a CD or tape in a music store to see if you wanted to buy it or not. Really, if someone has never heard of you it’s good to give them a free sample that will make them want more. I like iheart radio, Jango, and Pandora also because they play independent artist regularly in rotation on major artist stations. Everything is currently going to internet radio anyway. AM and FM radio is slowly being phased out.
I do not like streaming services that stream an artist entire album on demand and the artist only makes a fraction of a cent per stream. They are good for consumers but not good for the artist. It cost us artist thousands of dollars to produce this music. Because of these music on demand monthly fee streaming services being available, a lot of people are streaming artist albums instead of buying them; which is very discouraging and takes money out of artist pockets.
I’ve given away a lot of music; especially to DJs , Pastors and Youth Ministers. Occasionally, I feel led to give away my CDs to people I meet at shows. I give it to them if they can’t afford to buy it or in passing. In 2012 and 2013, I made two free mixtapes titled Death Of Me Mixtape Volume 1 and Death of Me Mixtape Volume 2. I made them because I wanted to give away some free music. Giving away music is a great way to build your fan base! Two notable platforms I used to do this are Band Camp.com and Dat Piff.com . Below are two of the most popular songs from each mixtape. Each song is available for free download!
Exposed Vocals: Since everyone was a start-up once, can you give any smaller or local bands or artists looking to get gigs and airplay some tips?
RIFICA:
From your pictures to your music to your videos, make sure you present yourself in a professional manner. If it’s not professional looking to the highest degree you can afford, do not put it out there. Also, have a strong social media presence. Those two things will make you stand out amongst the pack of independent artist. I cannot tell you the amount of opportunities for shows, radio airplay, and interviews I have been offered just because of the way I present myself through social media. In this day and age, independent artist have the power. We can introduce our music to thousands of people daily all over the world. We can do that because of social media. Major labels are no longer needed to get your music in front of the masses.
Exposed Vocals: Do you ever make mistakes during performances? How do you handle that?
RIFICA:
Yes I have but I just keep going. It’s rare but occasionally it happens. Maybe the audience won’t notice if you keep going. Never stop or tell the sound man to start a song over and if your music drops out just keep going acapella.
Exposed Vocals: Do you tour? Anything interesting happen on tour that you think our readers would enjoy hearing about?
RIFICA:
Once I was on a Texas tour, with another artist and a band. I have not toured a lot. However, I’ve rapped all over Texas. I create my own opportunities to rap in other states. I will continue to do this but I am looking forward to churches and organizations to start bringing me out of state and out of the country. When I am planning to go on vacation, I contact people , artist, and ministries in that particular location I am traveling to and see if they are having any events where I can minister through rap. So far, I had the opportunity to rap in Baton Rouge, LA, Myrtle Beach, SC, and Denver, CO by doing this. In the next few months I will be rapping in the US Virgin Islands.
Exposed Vocals: Where do you usually gather songwriting inspiration? What is your usual songwriting process?
RIFICA:
You really ask some in depth questions. This is the most detailed print interview I have had to date. I get all my inspiration from the Holy Spirit. I call him my Holy Ghost writer. Usually, I get ideas for various songs while going about my day. When I get those ideas I make sure I put them in my note pad in my phone so I don’t forget them. When I am about to start a project I purchase several beats that jam. Once I have my topic for a beat I pray and then sit and listen to the beat on repeat. A lot of times, I hear rhythms of how the cadence of my words will go first. Then, the Holy Spirit gives me the lyrics that will be said in that particular rhythm. This goes on until I have a full song. More often than not, I write my hook before I began writing the verses.
Exposed Vocals: Do you have a band website? What online platforms do you use to share your music?
RIFICA:
Yes my website is http://rifica.net. My website has links to all of the platforms where I share my music. I share my music on Soundcloud, Reverbnation, Datpiff, and Youtube.
Exposed Vocals: What are some really embarrassing songs that we might find on your mp3 player?
RIFICA:
Maybe Faithfully by Journey, Forget You by Cee Lo, Sleigh Ride by TLC, Oh Santa by Mariah Carey, and All I want for Christmas is You by Mariah Carey
Exposed Vocals: If you were given half a million dollars and a year off, what would you do? How would you spend it?
RIFICA:
First, I would pay my tithes on it of $50,000 to my church Victorious Living Christian Center in League City, TX. Next, I would put $50,000 in my savings account. Then I would pay off all my debt, my house, car, my wife car and house, and our student loans. The last $100,000 I would live off of half and invest the other half in my music career. The investment would be mainly in the areas of promotion, music videos and my senior album “Selah”.
Exposed Vocals: Any planned studio upgrades? What are you working with now?
RIFICA:
I do not record myself but I will always use a studio with the highest quality equipment possible available to me.
Exposed Vocals: How do you find ways to promote your music? What works best for you?
RIFICA:
I find most of the platforms to promote my music on Reverbnation and Twitter. Target marketing works best for me. By that I mean getting my music in front of people that are most likely to like it or buy it. Most of this is done on the internet through social media and using the correct tags on online ads I run. Also, I am constantly building my email list and staying in touch with the people on that list works.
Exposed Vocals: If you could perform anywhere and with any artists (Dead or Alive) where and who would it be with? Why?
RIFICA:
I would want to perform with James Brown at NRG Stadium in Houston, Tx at the Super Bowl next year. To me, he was a great performer. Other great performers were inspired by him, like Michael Jackson. James Brown put on a great show and his music jammed. Really if you think about it and analyze his music, he could be considered the first rap artist. James Brown is actually the father of Hip Hop. His band played various ostinatos while he rhymed melodically.
Exposed Vocals: So, what’s next? Any new upcoming projects that you want to talk about?
RIFICA:
My new album Fresh Manna just dropped on Christmas Day. It is available on itunes, Google Play, Amazon and http://rifica.bandcamp.com. So, mainly I will be promoting and riding the wave of that for the next year. Below are the 3 singles that I released from my latest album before it dropped. You will hear the variety the album brings to the table in these 3 samples.
Exposed Vocals: If you weren’t making music, what would you be doing?
RIFICA:
I would be the commissioner and founder of the Professional Marching Band Association.
Exposed Vocals: Do you remember buying your first album? Who was it? What was going through your head?
RIFICA:
The first album I ever remember buying was “The Last Don” by Master P. I was really feeling the whole No Limit camp back then when I was 14. My favorite song from the album was Make Em Say Uhh Part 2. I actually bought the tape in New Orleans at the Virgin Record store in the French Quarters the Summer of 1998. Back then, I was not a Christian Rapper. I was still real big into Dirty South Rap.
Exposed Vocals: How do you juggle the rest of your responsibilities while trying to stay ahead in your music life?
RIFICA:
Mostly, I do the majority of my music business stuff in the evenings, weekends, summer, winter and spring break. I am a music educator. Therefore, I make the most of my time off. Honestly, at some point all day every day, I am doing something to move forward in my music career. A lot of this is done on my smart phone.
Exposed Vocals: What should fans look forward to in 2016?
RIFICA:
More interviews, international shows, and hopefully one or two music videos for songs on the Fresh Manna Album. I’m thinking about doing one for “Instagram” and “Different”.