Standing on my couch spilling Hennessy and getting too buck is where Ripparachie’s new album Trippy Cunt has taken me. From curving the trade to running off on the plug, Ripparachie pulls you into the world of a young femme gay rapper navigating Atlanta’s trap scene. Pulling in features from Lord Narf and Cakes Da Killa they raise each other’s energy bar for bar, contributing to two standout tracks in “Please” and “Poppinin”. We had the opportunity to chat with Ripparachie so they could “Cunt Walk” us through how Trippy Cunt came to be. But first, listen to Trippy Cunt below:

<

This project has such strong energy, it took me back to the first time I listened to artists like Crime Mob and Waka Flocka. Who are some of your influences when it comes to making music?

My influences are from that era of music. Like the Trapaholics mixtape era. That’s the music that would change the whole vibe in the party and everyone just starts turning up. I’d say the Brick Squads, Three 6 Mafias, Lil Kim, Dipset, No Limits would be the influences. I’ve always been the party type so anything that had me dancing or someone dancing on me is what my energy comes from.

When did you first realize you wanted to make music and how did you come up with the name Ripparachie?

I was raised around studios because my dad was a producer and also had a club. I really started focusing on music when my mom got me a copy of Ejay (was a program to make music with) and I started with a PS2 microphone. The name comes from my first stage name Lil Rippa. The Rachie part came later when my late brother started calling me Rachie ’cause of the flamboyant colors I wore. I later put them together and started going by Ripparachie on Myspace. Someone said it sounded gay and too much like Liberace. What they didn’t know at that time was that I was gay gay.

Being a feminine gay man in trap music must come with its challenges. Can you share any difficulties you face with gatekeepers or peers in the industry?

The main problem I face is that people will support me behind closed doors, but when it’s time to show it on their online presence they are scared of what people will think of them for supporting an artist like me. They support the lyrics but not the image of this trap rapper in booty shorts. When it comes to LGBTQ platforms, I always feel like it’s shade when it comes to trap music, but I understand it. Most trap is homophobic and all that jazz. I always feel like I am too cunt for the rap scene but not enough for the queer platforms. They act like some of the gays aren’t really out here in the field risking it with the trade.

The title of your latest project is Trippy Cunt. Was this project inspired by any personal trips you had (natural or otherwise-induced)?

Well, it started with my brother Kaddy Kobain moving to Atlanta. I had basically stopped recording and dropping music at that point. He was like we need that old Rip back. That Rip that don’t give a fuck and carrying with the flows. We had the project almost done and then I scrapped most of the songs to make the tracklist spell out TRIPPY CUNT. More than half of the project we came up within one day. I wrote every hook that day and just started knocking the songs out as I got the experience to talk about what I did on the project. That’s why it’s no cap in my rap. No shade.

Will we be getting a “Cunt Walk” tutorial?

That’s a good idea. I made a video exclusively for y’all! I will be shooting some videos for this project. So “Cunt Walk” just might be one of them. This actually was the first song recorded for this project. I had to re-record the verse (which was a freestyle) because my voice had changed over the years I guess.

“You” feels like a very personal song and does such a great job of painting the picture of someone willing to risk it all for a person who maybe doesn’t realize it or appreciate it. Can you share the story behind this track?

So really I wrote the verses looking in a mirror. However, I am talking about real-life situations with someone I love too. We was going through it because I was in the clubs every night and also traveling. I was doing it for me but also him. But mainly for me. Some people think when you focus on you it’s selfish. So I am talking to myself in most parts but saying it’s about someone else.

With Atlanta being one of the queerest cities in America, did moving there provide more of a safe space for your creativity?

I didn’t realize it was the queerest, but I definitely moved here in 2015 to get away from the Mike Pence-ran Indiana. When I got here it wasn’t all peaches-n-cream. I was used to the Midtown area when I’d travel to Atlanta to record, but when I moved here I moved to Old 4th Ward, which wasn’t gay friendly at all at the time. With gentrification, the area has gotten nicer for certain classes of folks, but still.

Atlanta helped me grow into the person I am today, so I am grateful. Atlanta helped me realize I could be me and still be amongst everyone from the shooter to a scholar. Atlanta has become my second home (I’m from Indiana) and there’s a lot of people in this city that love me. When I first started hitting the after-hours (car wash) there weren’t any flamboyant gays on the scene. I stood my ground and helped open more safe spots for the LGBTQ+ community. 

One of my favorite tracks is “Poppinin’” with Cakes Da Killa. How did that collaboration come together?

This was during the time Cakes was living in the south. We used to tear through the clubs and after hours. It was one of them mornings after the carry and I had the “Poppinin'” hook but no verses yet. The beat gave me east coast vibes anyways so it was only right for my Big Apple sis to get on this bop. We drank hella wine and took turns with the parts in the verses. We bounced the ideas back and forth and just gave them what was really going on. If you listen to the end you can hear Cakes ask about all the adlibs. We was just lit and vibing. 

Are there any digital performances or new collaborations we can look forward to in 2021?

I actually just released another project. It’s an EP with 4 songs called “Booting Up The City” and I have features from Lord Narf, Cakes da Killa, Divoli S’vere, Losa, and DJ .WAV. This will be the start of a series. You can check it out here. In 2021 expect more visuals, more projects, more beats, more everything. Shit, I might start Onlyfans if y’all don’t stream this project enough. Who knows what is next in this world. I would love to do more performances though.

Stay tuned with the adventures of Ripparachie on Instagram.

Interview by Gustavo Oliver.