Rich the Kid

Rich the Kid – Life, Career, and Famous Quotes

Rich the Kid (born July 13, 1992) is an American rapper, songwriter, producer, and label founder known for his mixtapes, commercial albums, and drive for artistic independence. Explore his biography, career, influences, and memorable quotes.

Introduction

Rich the Kid is a rapper whose rise from mixtape circuits to mainstream charts embodies ambition, hustle, and resilience. Though he comes from the rough-and-tumble world of hip-hop, he also works behind the scenes as a label founder and collaborator. His story is one of navigating artistry, commerce, and personal challenges, while striving to define his own legacy.

Early Life and Family

Rich the Kid was born Dimitri Leslie Roger on July 13, 1992, in Queens, New York City. Haitian descent and grew up speaking Haitian Creole.

When his parents divorced, Dimitri moved with his mother to College Park, Georgia, around age 13.

In his youth, he listened to East Coast legends like Nas, Jay-Z, The Notorious B.I.G., 2Pac, and after moving south, he also embraced Southern hip-hop such as T.I. and Young Jeezy.

His first rap name was Black Boy Da Kid, before he later changed it to Rich the Kid.

Youth and Musical Development

Growing up between New York and Georgia, Rich the Kid had a dual exposure to distinct rap traditions. He absorbed lyrical rigor from East Coast rap and melodic/trap sensibilities from Southern hip-hop.

During his teenage years, he began honing his craft—recording, collaborating, and building a presence in mixtape culture. His early mixtapes allowed him to experiment, gain local traction, and form connections with key collaborators.

Career and Achievements

Early Mixtapes & Breakthrough

Rich the Kid’s early output focused on mixtapes, which remain a backbone of his discography. In 2013, he released Been About the Benjamins, marking an early formal entry.

He also collaborated with Migos on a series Streets On Lock mixtapes, which helped him establish connections and visibility in the rap community.

Over the next years, he released mixtapes like Feels Good 2 Be Rich, Rich Than Famous, Flexin’ on Purpose, Trap Talk, Keep Flexin, and more.

Label and Business Moves

In 2016, he founded his record label Rich Forever Music. Famous Dex and Jay Critch.

His label also released compilation mixtapes (e.g. Rich Forever, Rich Forever 2, Rich Forever 3).

Commercial Albums & Chart Success

Rich the Kid signed with Interscope Records in 2017.

His debut studio album, The World Is Yours (2018), was supported by singles like New Freezer (featuring Kendrick Lamar) and Plug Walk. The album peaked at No. 2 on the Billboard 200 chart.

Subsequent albums:

• The World Is Yours 2 (2019) – peaked at No. 4 on Billboard 200

• Boss Man (2020) – charted but more modestly (No. 24)

• Life’s a Gamble (2024) – marked a resurgence in his career, especially with the success of “Carnival” (with ¥$, Playboi Carti, Kanye West, Ty Dolla Sign) topping the Billboard Hot 100 for him.

He has also released collaborative mixtapes:

• Nobody Safe (2020) with YoungBoy Never Broke Again

• Trust Fund Babies (2021) with Lil Wayne

Throughout, he has shifted between labels (e.g. leaving Interscope, then signing with Republic Records, later with Rostrum, etc.).

Notable Moments & Challenges

• His single “Carnival” (2024) gave him his first Billboard Hot 100 #1 hit.

• He has faced public and legal controversies, including divorce proceedings and accusations of domestic abuse.

• In 2018, a home invasion resulted in his hospitalization.

• He also survived a serious UTV accident, which injured his hand.

Historical Milestones & Context

• The mid-2010s mixtape era, especially via platforms like SoundCloud and streaming, paved the path for Rich the Kid to build an audience organically.

• His founding of Rich Forever Music reflects a trend of artists seeking more control over their careers rather than being solely dependent on major labels.

• His success with The World Is Yours in 2018 placed him among a new wave of trap/rap artists balancing mixtape credibility with chart performance.

• The #1 hit of “Carnival” shows his persistence and ability to evolve and adapt to current trends.

• His public controversies mirror the challenges many high-profile artists face in the intersection of personal life and public persona.

Legacy and Influence

Though still active, Rich the Kid’s contributions already point to several legacies:

• He represents a model of artist-entrepreneur: balancing music creation with label management.

• Through his label, he has elevated younger artists (e.g. Famous Dex, Jay Critch).

• His career demonstrates how mixtape culture can translate into commercial success in the streaming era.

• “Carnival”’s chart achievement may cement his status as not just a mixtape figure but a mainstream force.

Personality and Talents

Rich the Kid is often viewed as ambitious, self-assured, and entrepreneurial. He balances braggadocio with introspection in his music.

He frequently speaks about authenticity and loyalty:

“I just feel like everyone should be working together and congratulating, be big upping each other instead of getting in they feelings and being jealous at younger cats.”

“If I’m not on tour or doing a show, I’m in the studio.”

He also emphasizes that his fans and listeners are central to his creative decisions:

“If the kids like it, my fans like it — whoever this music pertains to, if they like it, it’s for them. That’s what this art is for.”

These suggest a work ethic rooted in consistent output, audience connection, and resisting complacency.

Famous Quotes of Rich the Kid

Here are some standout quotes from him:

• “I’m not mad about it.”

• “Everybody seen me talking to Frank Ocean, so they know something is coming … just wait on it.”

• “By now, people should know who I am. I have established myself as Rich the Kid, so people respect me.”

• “You don’t have to work with everybody and be on songs with everybody just to make it.”

• “There’s no other rapper that will drop a better album than me. No one.”

• “I listened to a lot of Jay Z and Nas … so I was always New York-influenced. I think I have that New York flow.”

• “If I’m not on tour or doing a show, I’m in the studio.”

• “I just feel like everyone should be working together … instead of … being jealous at younger cats.”

These reflections show his confidence, competitive drive, and respect for collaboration and mentorship.

Lessons from Rich the Kid

1. Hustle consistently. His quote about being in the studio when not on tour reflects a belief in constant work.

2. Loyalty and uplift others. He encourages congratulating younger artists rather than resenting them.

3. Own your brand. Establishing “Rich the Kid” as an identity and founding his label shows the importance of ownership.

4. Select collaborations wisely. He notes you don’t need to partner with everyone to succeed.

5. Believe in your art. His confidence in dropping the “best album” reveals that vision and belief fuel creative risk.

Conclusion

Rich the Kid’s journey—from Queens to Georgia to chart-topping success—is a testament to adaptation, ambition, and self-determination. He has navigated mixtape culture, label politics, collaborations, controversies, and reinvention. As an artist and entrepreneur, his path emphasizes that in modern music, resilience counts as much as talent.

If you’d like, I can pull together a full lyric-based analysis of one of his albums (e.g. The World Is Yours) or map his influence across newer generations of rap. Would you like me to do that?