If you have been following social media over the past year, you might have noticed 20-year-old production talent Ryder. Known for his self-described ‘skeptacore’ style, he has redefined grime music from fresh perspectives. His work has gone viral multiple times.
Now, Ryder expands his sound with his new EP, RYDERHOOD. This project showcases his range and features collaborations with top MCs such as East London’s CIEL and Luton’s BXNS, who is linked with XL Recordings. The EP introduces Ryder as an impressive studio force, despite his young age.
Ryder explains the idea behind RYDERHOOD:“The goal is to bring artists into my world of production. But I don’t want them to change their style. Instead, I want to highlight parts of their talent that are not often seen, through different production.”
Clash spoke with Ryder about some of his grime and UK rap inspirations. He shared:“I only discovered deed0t earlier this year after a friend showed me his music over FaceTime. Tracks like ‘4 Door,’ ‘Real Friends Freestyle,’ and ‘Everyone Bleeds’ have been on repeat ever since. He’s definitely a hidden gem. I haven’t heard anyone quite like him.”
Ryder also named Skepta as a major influence:“This one is simple — my favorite Skepta track comes from my favorite Skepta album. He is the undisputed king.”
He praised another artist for his unique sound:“It feels like a new era. Among all the artists I listen to and have worked with, he has a rare talent to capture the raw energy of a recording and keep it all the way through the final mix.”
Ryder expressed admiration for BexBlu:“I’m a huge fan of BexBlu’s smooth and soulful music. The sonics, musicality, and flow of his tracks are impressive. It would be amazing to see him collaborate with someone like Westside Gunn or Conway from the US.”
He also mentioned Chiedu, a legend from his hometown of Hull: “It’s inspiring to see someone from my city achieve success while staying true to their roots. As he says, ‘I ain’t forgot where I came from, I’m too passionate.’ Enough said.”
Ryder highlighted Nathan, one of the UK’s most influential producers: “Nathan’s rise has been incredible to witness. For almost a decade, I have believed he is the most original and underrated producer around.”
Ryder also recalled a song that impacted his early producing years: “I first heard this track on SoundCloud in 2017. I was about 12 or 13. I played it nonstop while going to and from school. It had a huge influence on my first few years making music.”
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