MY BROTHERS KEEPER | Ricky Bats and Fredro Starr
Interview / Photograph TERRELL “ReaLife” Black
Bridging Hip Hop’s Past and Future: Ricky Bats Drops “100 Bats” produced by Fredro Starr
Prepare for an album that bridges Hip Hop’s past and future as Bronx rising star Ricky Bats drops his new album “100 Bats,” produced by legendary Queens rapper Fredro Starr of Onyx. Ricky, having toured with Onyx and collaborated with Fredro Starr multiple times, brings a fresh, innovative style to the project. This collaboration promises a unique blend of gritty, hardcore rap and new perspectives. Expect hard-hitting beats, lyrical prowess, and unmatched energy as Ricky Bats shines under Fredro’s seasoned guidance, showcasing the evolution of Hip Hop. With tracks like “Good Loving” and “Licking Off In Hip Hop” already generating buzz, this album seems to be just what the streets need.
Ricky Bats has already made significant strides in the Hip Hop community. He has records with Hip Hop heavy hitters including Uncle Murda, Maino, Sheek Louch, and Cortez. His growing presence has been marked by notable features on platforms such as “Showoff Radio with Statik Selektah”, This is 50: DJ Thoro’s “Hottest In The City,” “Ridin’ Out Freestyle” with Hot 97’s DJ Magic, and “Sway In The Morning Friday Fire Cypha.”
I caught up with Ricky Bats and Fredro Starr to discuss the upcoming album and what fans can expect from this powerhouse collaboration.
VALIDATED: This is your fourth interview and third cover with Validated. It’s artists like you that motivated me to create this platform. We at Validated appreciate you!
RICKY BATS: Thank you for allowing me to grace the cover once again, but this time it's even more special because it's with the team.
VALIDATED: Billy Danze of the legendary Brooklyn duo Mash Out Posse mentioned you on his Instagram live stating, “I pay attention to the shit that you do bro. A lot of the shit that you do is super fucking dope and I see the grind so I appreciate you for that too. I get inspired by that…” What does it mean to you to know that your work is on the radar of Hip Hop legends?
RICKY BATS: First off, I want to say shout out to Billy Danze. Growing up listening to their music (M.O.P) was an inspiration for me, and for him to give me some flowers that day on IG Live was super dope as fuck. I just know I’m on the right track and have been for a while now.
VALIDATED: His comments are a testament to your artistry, brand and work ethic. With that being said, what keeps you motivated musically?
RICKY BATS: What keeps me motivated musically? It's music… Music is my therapy... And for my fans to say my music touches their soul because they could relate to what I'm writing keeps me focus. I mean, I go through phases of real rap, rap concepts, female songs, and just being creative with some of the records I do. I've been through so much in life. I just don't want to talk about it through one style of rap. I've put so much work in the past 10 years since I've been home. I just can't quit now. That's why I keep going.
VALIDATED: You’ve been working with Queens legend Fredro Starr of Onyx for a couple of years now, including touring, production, etc. From the outside looking in it’s more of a brotherhood than a co-sign but what does his support mean to you?
RICKY BATS: Yeah, thats my big brother! I’ve been working with Fredro for more than a couple years now. Shout out to Johnny Vulgar my brother. He's the one who put that together. Since the first day, Johnny invited me to a show where Onyx was performing at in New York we clicked. Some time after we got into the studio in Harlem, recorded "Everyday" with Hard Luck and a couple other notable records I did, and the rest was history.
VALIDATED: How did you first connect with Ricky Bats and which of his records were you feeling the most?
FREDRO STARR: My friend Jonny Vulgar introduced me and Bats, we had a podcast called "Rappers and Ballers" and Bats was the guest. I heard the song and saw the video for "On my Block", it reminded me of the Onyx record “Throw Ya Gunz".
VALIDATED: You’ve been collaborating with emerging artists for years, including 50 Cent and DMX early in their careers, and more recently, Harlem's UFO Fev and the Bronx's Gotham City Boys General, Ricky Bats. What motivates you to collaborate with emerging artists, and when did you decide to start doing this in your career?
FREDRO STARR: I just love Hip Hop and new artists that bring the passion to the game, Bats has that passion. His story is real and he has a lot to express through his music.
VALIDATED: What was it about Ricky Bats that made you want to work with him initially?
FREDRO STARR: Bats story is interesting, it was nothing forced. He is a real spitter, bringing that street shit. You could tell he is cut from that 90's cloth. He reminds me of Sheek Louch from the LOX.
VALIDATED: Next month you drop the “100 Bats” album produced by Fredro Starr, what inspired the collaboration?
RICKY BATS: Fredro was just sending me a whole bunch of fire beats and I was just knocking them out. It got to the point where I had a whole bunch of records, and he was like, we should just put an album together.
VALIDATED: How did you approach songwriting during this collaboration?
RICKY BATS: I let the beat speak for me. The process of me writing is, I don't write most of the time. I just go in the booth, speak whatever comes to mind, whatever the beat says to do that's how I normally approach it.
VALIDATED: What was the creative process like for this project “100 Bats”? Did you work together in the studio, or was it a remote collaboration?
FREDRO STARR: “100 Bats” album was done in the studio together on most of the tracks. I produced the beats and Bats records, mixes and masters his own music and shoots his own visuals.
VALIDATED: How would you describe the chemistry between you two while working on this album?
FREDRO STARR: The chemistry is like science, when you add certain chemicals together, there is an explosion, like Dr Dre and Eminem, DJ Premier and Guru, Fredro Starr and Ricky Bats.
VALIDATED: Were there any specific influences or inspirations that guided the sound and theme of your collaboration?
FREDRO STARR: We wanted to bring that New York Hip Hop sound back, Boom Bap. The beats I produced were all samples, no keyboard sounds. Bats made sure all the records were different to make a classic album.
VALIDATED: Can you give us any details about the project?
RICKY BATS: I have a dope RnB artist on four of my tracks, her name is Brigavelli. She's on “Loyalty”, “The Doctor”, “Talk About It”, and “Gotta Make My Mind Up” featuring R Hoody… Another dope artist I'm working with. Stay tuned because he got some heat coming too.
VALIDATED: What can the fans expect?
RICK BATS: The fans could expect fire productions, upper echelon bars, concepts, great vocal range from Brigavelli, along with street and radio anthems.
VALIDATED: You dropped a couple records from the album already including “Good Loving” and “Licking Off In Hip Hop”, what’s been the response to those records?
RICKY BATS: “Good Loving” was a good female record. One of the first of the Dro beats that tipped off the thought of an album. We shot the video on Beverly Hills Boulevard in California. Shout out to Scrip Scott, he killed that record.
"Licking Off In Hip-Hop" has been getting a great response since it dropped featuring Da Infamous Amaduez. We shot the video in the Bronx. Fredro came out, Sticky Fingaz was there and Ching Bing of Chinglato Farms amonst a bunch of other artists. It’s a dope video, check it out! It’s on all platforms.
VALIDATED: My favorite records from the album are “Loyalty” and “Appetite.” Which one is your current favorite?
RICKY BATS: I’d say "Loyalty” and “How Real Is That" for now. But it fluctuates from the other records depending on my mood at the time.
FREDRO STARR: My favorite records are “Loyalty”, “100 Bats” and “Ladies and Gentleman”, that record reminds me of the park jams back in the days, straight banger!
VALIDATED: What’s the next record/visual dropping off the album?
RICKY BATS: “How Real Is That” is the next record to drop off the album. I felt like that record has a different vibe, more of a modern Hip Hop vibe with my twist. Fredro told me he played that song back a bunch of times. Lol
100 Bats “How Real Is That”… There's a video for it, it should be released by the time this article is published. It’s directed and edited by me, camera operated by Drew Wolf from Gotham City Boys.
VALIDATED: What advice would you give to up-and-coming indie rappers looking to collaborate with established artists?
FREDRO STARR: Up and coming rappers should collaborate with establish artists that are on the same frequency, on the same vibe. Just like ONYX and DMX, very similar but different.
VALIDATED: You’re performing at the Yung N Lit Music Fest in Charlotte, NC August 24th, but what else can you tell us about it?
RICKY BATS: I'm gonna put on a great show like any other show, and y'all should go check it out.
VALIDATED: Other than the album and the live performance, what does the remainder of 2024 look like for Ricky Bats and Fredro Starr?
RICKY BATS: Higher personal growth, elevation through movies, music, and family. Keeping a peace of mind in this crazy world.
FREDRO STARR: God willing the God is chilling for 2024.
VALIDATED: Where can everyone support everything you guys are doing from touring to music and everything in between?
RICKY BATS: My social media on all platforms is @RickyBats, the website is www.rickybats.com and check out the team at @GothamCityMusicGroup and Youtube: Gotham City Boys / Born a True Spitter.
FREDRO STARR: www.OnyxHQ.com is the website 100 MAD is the label. Hit us on Instagram @Onyx_HQ for daily content.