Contemporary hip hop is in a state of distress. It has been attacked by ruthless figures seeking to bleed the culture of its artistry in the name of profit. Facing total destruction, hip hop audiences have long sought an MC with the combination of skill and intelligence necessary slay these unruly foes. Hearing this call, in stepped The Mighty D-Risha to “Save the Day”
Hailing from Houston’s legendary Northside area, The Mighty D-Risha began his career by freestyling in the school yard, house parties, and local talent shows. In 1998, he began releasing freestyle mix CDs which built him quite a buzz within the area. After several years of grinding, he connected with local rap luminaries Purple Bastard and Hash Brown, who began putting him on their showcases. Several shows and releases later, D-Risha now stands as a force to reckoned with in Houston’s dynamic hip hop scene.
D-Risha’s first release, 2009’s The Last Dragon mixtape, introduced the world to the artist’s Houston-bred mix of introspection, humor, and aggression. It helped set the stage for 2011’s behemoth Big Trouble in Houston Texas EP. Big Trouble was a watershed moment as it garnered him much critical acclaim. Popular blog Steady Blogging decribed Big Trouble as ”Straight forward lyricism delivered with a laser-precise flow over hard soulful boom-bap that isn’t anywhere near as corny as hard soulful boom-bap usually sounds in 2011.” Big Trouble has received several honors including being named one of the Top Houston Hip Hop Albums of 2011 by the Houston Press and an Honorable Mention for Best Mixtape of 2011 on Kevinnottingham.com. Standout single “Ebonics,” a primer for Houston slang, was named one of the Top 25 Houston Rap Songs of 2011 by the Houston Press.
D-Risha has rocked numerous stages in the Houston area, wowing crowds with his brutally honest lyrics that are delivered with primal fury. His live sets are a mix of tradition and innovation. Paying respect to the essence of hip hop, D-Risha is assisted on stage by his break-dancing hypeman named Gaspacho. While in the progressive spirit, he is often backed by Sir Mikol, a live drummer who has played with a number of notable Houston-area bands. Whether rocking solo sets or opening up for legends like Sean Price, Guilty Simpson, Action Bronson K-Rino, Killa Kyleon, E.S.G., and E.P.M.D., D-Risha’s intent is to move the crowd and deliver the most intense performance possible.
Among the many shouting praise for D-Risha is Houston Press hip hop writer Shea Serrano, who describes him as a “new age throwback MC” that is “all boom-bad cadences and snare snaps.” He further notes that “Plenty of guys are louder and immediately cooler than D-Risha is or looks, but he can match brains with just about anyone in town that you want to name.”
Whether riding solo, or rolling with his Rogue Scholars Collective crew, D-Risha is on a mission to bring true hip hop to the masses. He’s the ultimate every-man MC, seeking to act as a mouthpiece for his generation. Given his talent, drive, and dedication, The Mighty D-Risha is an artist to watch for now and forever.
In The Music (Purple Bastard Remix) Official Video My first official video ever and that shit came out gold. Enjoy.
ANOTHER huge mention from Kevin Nottingham. Mind you im the only Houston Artist on this entire page so this means alot not only to my city but the artist i associate with. This def. puts me in another tax bracket to rise to new heights for the new year.
Prolly the biggest honor i’ve gotten to date. Alot of artist would look at like “well i didn’t get on the top 10” but when you think about how many rappers submit to this site to get there music heard it means that my music made an impression and thats all i can hope for. Huge shouts to Justin and the whole staff at Kevin Nottingham.
I know it says top 25 but i got the dreaded # 26 its all good because anyone who’s heard the album knows its place in the top spot. Very honored by the mention and it still motivates me to strive for better on the next go round. To be mentioned with some of the best talent in the city is the biggest reward and ill continue to prove why
This was a great honor to get on this list seeing as alot of great music was made this year and i believe i had one of the best songs in the city and this pretty much backs up my claim. The reaction i get when i perform this is something else.
