In the three-odd years since “Larry Bird” first appeared online, RiFF RAFF has engaged in an uphill battle to keep the punchlines churning. His earlier work that broke through the digital noise-records like “Larry Bird”-still possessed the feeling of forward motion, even if it just took the listener into strange little stoned circles. It’s arbitrary pop culture juxtaposition, like Peter from “Family Guy” saying, “You know what I haven’t had in awhile? Big League Chew.” RiFF RAFF wasn’t always this limited. As on “How to Be the Man”: “Might hit the club and it’s the white Danny Glover/ Rap game Uncle Ben pulling rice out the oven.” What does this mean? Absolutely nothing. On Neon Icon, his rap style has atrophied into a game of hip-hop Madlibs, the “White _” and “Rap Game _” one-liners that have so bolstered his Klout score.
He’s a troll, drawing accusations of minstrelsy, sparking thorough investigations into his background and receiving coverage that fawned over his “brilliantly absurd” lyrics and “rangy, Dadaist luxury rap.”Īlthough he calls himself the “white Gucci Mane with a spray tan,” his lyrical prowess plumbs a much shallower pool than Gucci’s. His profile rose: he likely inspired James Franco’s role in Spring Breakers, then appeared on “One Life to Live” impersonating James Franco. Stylistically, his music originated in Houston’s laconic Swishahouse punchline style personality-wise, he has a flashy appearance, garish tattoos, and absurdist wit-often in his music, but even more frequently on Twitter.
But as a primordial piece of internet culture, RiFF RAFF’s star truly congealed in a wave of digital flotsam that crashed onto social media and YouTube around the turn of this decade, replete with collaborations and co-signs from Lil B, Lil Debbie, and Soulja Boy.
RiFF RAFF first reached the public eye on a reality show, MTV’s “From G’s to Gents”.
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