Rittz | |
|---|---|
| Birth name | Jonathan Matthew McCollum[1] |
| Also known as | Rittz the Rapper[2] |
| Born | (1980-08-16)August 16, 1980 (age 44)[3] Waynesburg, Pennsylvania, U.S. |
| Origin | Gwinnett County, Georgia, U.S. |
| Genres | Hip hop |
| Occupations |
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| Years active | 2007–present |
| Labels |
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| Website | www |
Jonathan Matthew McCollum (born August 16, 1980), better known by his stage nameRittz, is an American rapper. His debut albumThe Life and Times of Jonny Valiant was released on April 30, 2013, rising to number 8 onBillboard'sHot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart. His next two albums,Next to Nothing (2014) andTop of the Line (2016) peaked at number 3 on the same chart. His fourth album,Last Call (2017), hit number 43 on theBillboard 200. All of these were released underTech N9ne'sStrange Music label.
Rittz fulfilled his four-album contract with Strange, then formed his own record label, CNT Entertainment, through which he releasedPut a Crown on It in 2019.[4] The album reflects Rittz's battle to free himself from drug and alcohol addiction.[5] The album hit number 6 onBillboard'sIndependent Albums chart.
Rittz was born inWaynesburg,Pennsylvania, on August 16, 1980, and moved with his family to the suburbs ofGwinnett County,Georgia, when he was eight years old.[6][7] His parents were intensely interested inrock and roll, ensuring that he and his siblings were exposed to musical instruments and recording studios from a young age.[7]
Around 2003, after numerous disappointments, Rittz's musical career stalled. "I won Battlegrounds on Hot 107.9, got retired and shit and felt like I was 'bout to make it. But, so many industry up and downs, with managers, contracts…" He was broke, feeling dejected, living with friends, and ready to resign from the rap game. However, in 2009 he was contacted by the rapperYelawolf, and this led to financial support. "I had some money behind me." Rittz says, "Everything was going good and then everything fell out, at the same time, I'm getting older, thinking it's time to hang it up. This isn't gonna happen and that's when Yelawolf put me on 'Box Chevy'."[7] Rittz stated in a 2013 interview that he had supported himself by working various "nine to five" jobs, such as in the restaurant industry. Rittz also went on to say that he would commonly tell people he was a rapper, even when he was not active.[6]
Rittz's career breakthrough occurred with the release of Yelawolf's 2010 EP track "Box Chevy".[8] Since then, he has frequently collaborated with Yelawolf, and the pair toured together on the 2012 Slumerican Tour.[9] Rittz is also widely known for his 2011 mixtapeWhite Jesus.[10] In 2012 he took his favorite songs fromWhite Jesus and added a few new songs and re-released it asWhite Jesus: Revival.[11]
Rittz signed to Tech N9ne'sStrange Music in 2012.[12] Rittz and Tech N9ne immediately began working together, releasing the popular collaboration remix of Rittz's "Bloody Murdah" shortly after Rittz joined the label.[13] He released his solo debut,The Life and Times of Jonny Valiant on April 30, 2013.[14] On October 15, 2013, Rittz appeared with fellow rappersWax,Rapsody,Emis Killa andJon Connor in the first cypher at the2013 BET Hip Hop Awards.[15]
In April 2014, Rittz announced via Facebook that he would release his next albumNext To Nothing on September 9, 2014.[16] In an August 2015 interview with NEHipHop, Rittz announced that he would be releasing an album in May 2016, titledTop of the Line.[17] In July 2017, Rittz announced that his next album would be titledLast Call and would be released on September 29, 2017.[18]
Following the release ofLast Call, Rittz had fulfilled his contractual obligations to Strange Music and decided not to renew his contract, amicably parting ways with the label. He founded his own label, CNT Entertainment.[19]
Studio albums
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