He writes songs and sings in different genres including Hip Hop, Soul Hop, and Jazz. He is also a Hop Rap artist who juggles his musical career with acting as an MC for events. A recent highlight for him was producing his first recorded project a mixtape entitled "Poetry in Motion Renaissance".
The tape features local musicians and musicians from abroad. As he is trained in graphic art he was able to do the album art work on the cover. He organised collaborations and wrote all the lyrics. "I made beats, did the production and mastering and distribution.
The mixtape also features re-mixes of well known songs," explained Elrico. The Six feet under the ground song and other songs are sassy, foot stomping good and the collaborations leading to a sophisticated end result. There also songs that are more of the hypnotic variety.
On a national front, El Rico did the signature song for the Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) Fighters Anthem for Joe Blikzem (clothing) with Jimmy Bonez in 2009. Rap fans can listen to the song on the Joe Blikzem website (www.joeblikzem.co.za) . (Other websites he appears on include www.revebnation.com/elrico.)
This determined young man always loved music and started singing whilst at school in 2004. After he matriculated from York High in 2007, he began a Hip Hop Movement in George gathering local artists to develop the culture, with well-known artists on the Garden Route. He is working steadily on realising his dream of recording his first CD and will soon have enough songs to do so.
He has performed at many concerts here and in Port Elizabeth including a Bob Marley Tribute Concert. His most recent performance was at the Knysna Speed Festival concert, and at the after party held in Zanzibar in Knysna where he did rap songs.
He works with three local recording studios including Zodiac Studios. He has made radio appearances with Eden FM presenter Zaakirah Mohamed in 2009.
This part-time wallpaper installer raised by his mom, Irene Aerts said in conclusion "An EP version of my Poetry in Motion mixtape is going to be released and we are working on a new Joe Blikzem Clothing Theme Song this year." Making it in the music industry is tough but he is willing to do the hard work that goes with the territory.
El Rico in action as DJ.
ARTICLE: PAULINE LOURENS, GEORGE HERALD JOURNALIST
