Riot USA ’22
RiotUSA is a producer, songwriter, and recording artist, who recently signed a global publishing deal with Warner Chappell Music (WCM).
RiotUSA is recognized for his pivotal collaboration with rapper Ice Spice (whom he met at Purchase), whose work helped spur her meteoric rise.
He’s currently working with artists Ken [Carson], Lil Yachty, Scheck Wes, and again with Ice Spice on her debut album, according to Billboard.
Three of Ice Spice’s hits produced by Riot—Deli, In Ha Mood, and Princess Diana (with Nicki Minaj)—recently went platinum, according to The Recording Industry Association of America.
In 2023, Boy’s A Liar, Pt. 2 (with PinkPantheress) went platinum, and Munch (Feelin’ U) went gold.
“Stop Playin’ With ‘em RIOT”
When Ice Spice stood to accept her Best New Artist award at the MTV Video Music Awards in 2023, the first person she hugged was her producer, whom she gratefully acknowledged moments later, “I want to thank my producer Riot for making the best music with me.”
Backstory
Born in Manhattan and raised in the Bronx, NY, Riot first learned to play the drums at eight years old, which formed a solid foundation for his music career. He was surrounded by music from an early age—his father is DJ Enuff on New York City’s venerable hip-hop radio station Hot97, and his mother also worked in the music industry.
Riot and Ice Spice met during their first years at Purchase. Both from the Bronx and sharing the same major, Communications, they would cross paths in class and on campus (known then as Ephrem Lopez Jr. and Isis Gaston). The music came later.
Thriving Music Community
While Riot wasn’t a music major, he thrived on the music community vibe here, spending much of his time in the music studios surrounded by musicians.
“It just so happened that everybody that was around us had a passion for music, so we ended up connecting on that. When I did find out that she did music, I definitely saw something and heard something,” Riot told Billboard. He encouraged her to rap.
“The first thing she sent me was on a drill beat. I was like, ‘Not only do I not know any rappers that are female, but this is somebody who’s doing it on a whole different kind of beat … This could be something,’” he explained to Billboard.
While drill music can be controversial for its violent lyrics, Ice Spice brings a different sensibility, often writing about relationships.
“She’s relatable and bringing a new voice for the women. Not just women, for everyone,” Riot told the Finals blog.
“As I was growing, she was growing, and we just kept it in-house and are growing together. She’s the one that told me to sample In the Name of Love, so it’s definitely a collaborative process,” he told Finals.