Ray Riley is making waves in the hip-hop scene, influenced heavily by his roots. Born in San Diego, he is the son of MC Willy Will, a member of the local rap group Legion of Doom from the late ’80s. With solid support from his father, Riley has embarked on his own musical journey over the past eight years.
“He loves hip-hop,” says Riley, referring to his father, “and I was infatuated with it as well, because I was around it. That’s what really sparked the whole thing for me. When you first start out, it’s not very good. But he heard something in there that gave me the confidence to keep going. He shoots it to me straight. At the end of the day, we both have the same goal. We both want to put out the best material possible. We don’t always agree on everything. He’s my biggest fan and my biggest critic.”
Initially, Riley aimed to pursue athletics, even playing college football before music changed his trajectory. He shares a special bond with professional boxer Kurt Scooby, a former college teammate. Recently, he performed a live musical intro for Scooby during a fight at Sycuan Casino. This experience held personal significance for Riley, as he had reached out to Scooby when his music career was still emerging.
“A couple years ago,” Riley recalls, “I reached out to him. This was when things were still in their infancy. Then he reached out to me the week of his most recent fight. When I walked him out, it was a full circle moment.” Scooby ultimately triumphed in that bout.
Riley’s artistic aspirations extend far beyond the borders of San Diego. He confesses, “I don’t think I fit in anywhere. There are a lot of artists I really like here, but I feel like it’s very separated and divided as far as collaborations are concerned. There is a support system here, but I feel like it’s very small, and it’s met with a lot of resistance. The goal for me is not to stay here, but to put this area on the map, because there’s so much talent here, and then just bring everything back. I feel like I’m trying to stand out, not fit in.”
As the music industry evolves, Riley has decided to shift his focus on releasing singles this year. “I’ve put out a lot of albums,” he explains. “This year I’m trying to be consistent with singles. To me, as a guy who’s up and coming, it doesn’t make sense if I’m trying to grow my fan base to put out ten songs, then wait a year and put out ten more songs. If I have songs I feel like I believe in, I’m going to put them out. That’s what I’ve been doing every month.”
His latest single, “Drive Slow,” debuted on March 27, showcasing Riley’s self-reflection, vulnerability, and versatility. “That song was about learning who I am, trying to grow in areas where I feel I need to be better in. Also, with these types of songs, it widens the variety in the catalogue. When you listen to my music, there’s all types. One thing I take pride in is I can dribble with both hands. I can give you super lyrical bars, but I can also make songs where I’m really expressing myself that people can relate to.”
As Ray Riley continues to carve his own path in the hip-hop world, listeners can expect a unique blend of heartfelt lyrics and impressive lyricism, firmly establishing himself as an artist to watch.
image source from：https://www.sandiegoreader.com/news/2025/apr/17/ray-riley-comfortable-with-being-uncomfortable/
