WHO IS
Through raw storytelling and music inspired by his own life, Rico is set out to give the world a closer look at the experiences, choices, and circumstances that shaped him.
ABOUT RICO RAZI
EVERYTHING TO KNOW
HOMETOWN
MOSS POINT, MS
Year of First Release
2000
PUBLICLY KNOWN BY
RAZI, RICO, RICO RAZI
Dale Ricardo Easterling Jr., professionally known as Rico Razi, was born on October 7, 1998, in Moss Point, Mississippi. Growing up along the Mississippi Gulf Coast, Rico experienced firsthand the challenges of his environment and the influences that would ultimately shape his life and music.
Raised by his mother alongside his three brothers, Rico’s childhood began to take a different direction around the age of 10. Growing up in Escatawpa, Mississippi, he was surrounded by neighborhood influences, including the local Piru Blood gang, with which his older brothers were affiliated. Between the ages of 10 and 15, Rico became increasingly involved in street life, engaging in risky behavior that eventually led to him being kicked out of his mother’s home.
Following this, Rico relocated to Moss Point to live with his father, Dale Ricardo Easterling Sr. This transition introduced him to a different side of life along the Gulf Coast. Observing his father and older cousins navigate the street economy across multiple cities, Rico witnessed firsthand the realities of fast money, influence, and the consequences that accompanied that lifestyle.
At 15, Rico experienced a frightening incident that would leave a lasting impression on him. While home alone one night, he heard glass shatter in the living room and believed someone was attempting to break into the house. Fearing for his safety, he retrieved firearms from his father’s bedroom. A confrontation followed, and shots were exchanged before the intruders fled. Fortunately, no one was injured. A similar incident occurred months later, prompting the family to relocate from the area.
Although music was not initially part of Rico’s plans, his experiences continued to shape his perspective. It was not until his senior year of high school that he began rapping. Inspired by the environment he had grown up in and the life he had witnessed firsthand, Rico started recording songs and shooting music videos that reflected his reality.
Following his 19th birthday and high school graduation, Rico’s life took another significant turn. On July 13, 2018, federal agents from the FBI, DEA, and Metropolitan Enforcement Team (MET) executed a search warrant at his father’s residence in Moss Point. Rico, his father, and his cousin, Taurus Richardson, were arrested in connection with a drug-trafficking case. According to the original account, authorities recovered cocaine, marijuana, marijuana brownies, oxycodone pills, a .45-caliber Glock pistol, and approximately $100,000 in cash.
By 2020, Rico was still fighting the case and preparing to share his story with the world through music. What began as an unexpected creative outlet had become a way to express his experiences, reflect on his past, and give listeners insight into the circumstances that shaped him.
Today, Rico Razi’s story is rooted in lived experience. Through his music, he aims to bring his perspective to the forefront, offering listeners an unfiltered look into his journey, his environment, and the experiences that have influenced the artist he is becoming.