Quick Facts
Biography
Rick Rock (born Ricardo Thomas) is a hip-hop music producer originally from Birmingham, Alabama and based in Fairfield, California; approximately 44 miles west of Sacramento and 47 miles east of San Francisco.He is a founding member of the former rap group Cosmic Slop Shop and The Federation (band) with fellow rapper Doonie Baby, and is regarded as a pioneer of the hip-hop subgenre Hyphy.
Late 1990s
Rick Rock began to make a name for himself in 1996 when well known Vallejo Producer Mike Mosley invited him to come to the studio to meet E-40. E-40 had originally planned on using a beat produced by Mike Mosley, however due to Mosley's tardiness, Rick Rock used that time as an opportunity to showcase his talents. He went on to produce two tracks featured on E-40's Tha Hall of Game including the song "Record Haters" a diss track directed to NYC rapper AZ (rapper) and basketball player Rasheed Wallace. E-40 then introduced Rick Rock to Tupac Shakur where he and Mike Mosley co-produced two additional tracks "Tradin War Stories" and "Ain't Hard to Find" from the album All Eyes on Me. Around that time Rick Rock also contributed heavily to fellow bay area artist Spice 1's Immortalized album.
Early 2000s
Rick Rock's popularity grew in the early 2000s after Jay-Z released the hit single "Change the Game". From there, Rick Rock went on to produce "Can't Deny It" for Fabolous, and "I Don't Do Much by Beanie Sigel. In 2002 Rick Rock reunited with Vallejo producer Mike Mosely and produced the songs "Godzilla" featuring E-40 and Pizzo and "The Sickness" by Federation. Both songs were featured on Mike Mosely's compilation album Major Work The Soundtrack. In Spring of 2002, Rick Rock produced "Automatic" featuring Fabolous, which became the lead single for E-40's album Grit & Grind. In 2003 Rick Rock gained more commercial success working with New York-based producing hits "Make It Clap" for Busta Rhymes "If I could Go" for Angie Martinez and "Breathe, Stretch, Shake" for Mase. Following his commercial success, Rick Rock became a sought after producer on the West Coast producing underground tracks like Keak Da Sneak's "T-Shirt, Blue Jeans, & Nike's", "Back it Up" by Ras Kass, "Whip Appeal" by Bambino Brown and producing over half of the songs featured on B-Legit's fourth album Hard 2 B-Legit. In 2003 Rick Rock founded his own label Southwest Federation and signed The Federation featuring fellow Cosmic Slop Shop alumn, Doonie Baby and additional rappers San Diego Native Battle Loco and Harlem native El Dorado Red. El Dorado Red is the only rapper other than The Federation to release an album on Rick Rock's label with the release of East Side Rydah Vol. 1.
Discography
Studio albums
| Title | Album details | Peak chart positions | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US | US R&B/HH | US Rap | ||
| Rocket |
| — | — | — |
Albums with Rick Rock production
- 1996: All Eyez on Me by Tupac Shakur
- 1996: Tha Hall of Game by E-40
- 1996: Seasoned Veteran by Richie Rich
- 1997: Unpredictable by Mystikal
- 1998: The Element of Surprise by E-40
- 1998: Fearless by Marvaless
- 1999: Immortalized by Spice 1
- 2000: The Dynasty: Roc La Familia by Jay-Z
- 2000: Loyalty and Betrayal by E-40
- 2000: Restless by Xzibit
- 2001: The Reason by Beanie Sigel
- 2001: Ghetto Fabolous by Fabolous
- 2001: Thug Lord: The New Testament by Yukmouth
- 2002: Blood Brothers by Kastro & E.D.I. of Outlawz
- 2002: Ghetto Heisman by WC
- 2002: If I Could Go! by Angie Martinez feat Sacario & Lil Mo
- 2002: Grit & Grind by E-40
- 2002: Hard 2 B-Legit by B-Legit
- 2002: West Coast Mafia by C-Bo
- 2002: It Ain't Safe No More by Busta Rhymes
- 2002: React by Erick Sermon
- 2002: Born to Reign by Will Smith
- 2002: Man vs. Machine by Xzibit
- 2003: Street Dreams by Fabolous
- 2004: Tical 0: The Prequel by Method Man
- 2004: Welcome Back by Mase
- 2005: Block Movement by B-Legit
- 2005: Cash on Delivery by Ray Cash
- 2005: Institutionalized by Ras Kass
- 2006: Everready (The Religion) by Tech N9ne
- 2006: Tha Blue Carpet Treatment by Snoop Dogg
- 2006: My Ghetto Report Card by E-40
- 2007: Ultimate Victory by Chamillionaire
- 2007: T.H.U.G.S. by Bone Thugs-n-Harmony
- 2008: Ego Trippin' by Snoop Dogg
- 2008: T.O.S: Terminate on Sight by G-Unit
- 2009: Before I Self Destruct by 50 Cent
- 2010: Revenue Retrievin': Night Shift by E-40
- 2011: Doggumentary by Snoop Dogg
- 2012: The Block Brochure: Welcome to the Soil 1 by E-40
- 2012: The Block Brochure: Welcome to the Soil 2 by E-40
- 2012: The Block Brochure: Welcome to the Soil 3 by E-40
- 2012: Napalm by Xzibit
- 2012: History: Function Music by E-40 & Too $hort
- 2012: History: Mob Music by E-40 & Too $hort
- 2013: Demonstration by Tinie Tempah
- 2014: Sharp On All 4 Corners: Corner 1 by E-40
- 2014: Sharp On All 4 Corners: Corner 2 by E-40
- 2015: Mudface by Redman
- 2016: The D-Boy Diary: Book 1 by E-40
- 2016: The D-Boy Diary: Book 2 by E-40