Rittz
{{short description|American rapper from Georgia}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| name = Rittz
| image =
| image_size =
| alt = Rittz
| caption =
| birth_name = Jonathan Matthew McCollum{{Cite web |url=https://www.ascap.com/repertory#/ace/search/workID/888424578 |title=ACE Repertory |access-date=2021-07-11 |archive-date=2017-02-06 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170206145055/https://www.ascap.com/repertory#/ace/search/workID/888424578 |url-status=dead }}
| alias = Rittz the Rapper{{cite web|url=https://music.apple.com/us/album/trunk-muzik-0-60/401283619 |title=iTunes / Trunk Muzik 0-60 |publisher=Apple Inc |date=2010-11-22 |access-date=2016-07-10}}
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1980|8|16}}{{cite web|url=https://twitter.com/therealRITTZ/status/103546397520969728 |title=Twitter / Therealrittz: Thanks For The Birthday Wishes |publisher=Twitter.com |access-date=2013-06-11}}
| birth_place = Waynesburg, Pennsylvania, U.S.
| origin = Gwinnett County, Georgia, U.S.
| genre = Hip hop
| occupation = {{hlist|Rapper|songwriter}}
| years_active = 2007–present
| label = {{hlist|CNT Records (current)|Slumerican|Strange Music (former)}}
| associated_acts = {{hlist|Big K.R.I.T.|King Lil G|Mike Posner |Tech N9ne|Yelawolf}}
| website = {{URL|https://www.rittzmusic.com/}}
}}
Jonathan Matthew McCollum (born August 16, 1980), better known by his stage name Rittz, is an American rapper. His debut album The Life and Times of Jonny Valiant was released on April 30, 2013, rising to number 8 on Billboard{{'s}} Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart. His next two albums, Next to Nothing (2014) and Top of the Line (2016) peaked at number 3 on the same chart. His fourth album, Last Call (2017), hit number 43 on the Billboard 200. All of these were released under Tech N9ne's Strange Music label.
Rittz fulfilled his four-album contract with Strange, then formed his own record label, CNT Entertainment, through which he released Put a Crown on It in 2019.{{Cite web|url=https://hiphopdx.com/news/id.44803/title.rittz-explains-his-departure-from-strange-music|title=Rittz Reveals Why He's Leaving Strange Music | HipHopDX|date=3 October 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171003040310/https://hiphopdx.com/news/id.44803/title.rittz-explains-his-departure-from-strange-music|access-date=6 April 2022|archive-date=2017-10-03}} The album reflects Rittz's battle to free himself from drug and alcohol addiction.{{Cite web|url=https://www.broadwayworld.com/bwwmusic/article/Rittz-Drops-New-Album-PUT-A-CROWN-ON-IT-20191202|title=Rittz Drops New Album PUT A CROWN ON IT|first=Kaitlin|last=Milligan|website=BroadwayWorld.com|access-date=6 April 2022}} The album hit number 6 on Billboard{{'s}} Independent Albums chart.
Career
=1980–2009: Early life and career=
Rittz was born in Waynesburg, Pennsylvania, on August 16, 1980, and moved with his family to the suburbs of Gwinnett County, Georgia, when he was eight years old.{{cite web|last=Nguyen |first=Michael |url=http://www.hiphopdx.com/index/interviews/id.2089/title.rittz-affirms-fuck-swag-stance-says-he-doesn-t-believe-in-selling-out |title=Rittz Affirms "Fuck Swag" Stance; Says He Doesn't Believe In Selling Out | Rappers Talk Hip Hop Beef & Old School Hip Hop |publisher=HipHop DX |date=2013-04-30 |access-date=2013-05-05}}{{cite web|last=Company |first=The |url=http://www.hiphopdx.com/index/news/id.22040/title.rittz-ponders-why-he-isnt-mentioned-amongst-other-white-rappers-explains-two-atlantas |title=Rittz Ponders Why He Isn't Mentioned Amongst Other White Rappers, Explains "Two Atlantas" |publisher=HipHop DX |date=2012-11-29 |access-date=2013-06-11}} His parents were intensely interested in rock and roll, ensuring that he and his siblings were exposed to musical instruments and recording studios from a young age.
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 rapper Yelawolf, 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'." 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.
=2010–13: ''White Jesus'' and ''The Life and Times of Jonny Valiant''=
Rittz's career breakthrough occurred with the release of Yelawolf's 2010 EP track "Box Chevy".{{cite web|url=https://music.apple.com/us/album/trunk-muzik-0-60/401283619 |title=iTunes - Music - Trunk Muzik 0-60 by Yelawolf |publisher=iTunes |date=2010-11-22 |access-date=2013-05-05}} Since then, he has frequently collaborated with Yelawolf, and the pair toured together on the 2012 Slumerican Tour.{{cite web|last=Horowitz |first=Steven J. |url=http://www.hiphopdx.com/index/news/id.20225/title.yelawolf-announces-slumerican-tour-dates |title=Yelawolf Announces "Slumerican" Tour Dates |publisher=HipHopDX |date=2012-06-26 |access-date=2013-05-05}} Rittz is also widely known for his 2011 mixtape White Jesus.{{cite web|url=http://www.datpiff.com/Rittz-White-Jesus-mixtape.206904.html |title=Rittz - White Jesus Hosted by DJ Burn One // Free Mixtape @ |publisher=Datpiff.com |access-date=2013-05-05}} In 2012 he took his favorite songs from White Jesus and added a few new songs and re-released it as White Jesus: Revival.{{cite web|url=http://www.2dopeboyz.com/2012/03/08/rittz-white-jesus-revival-mixtape/ |title=Rittz – White Jesus: Revival (Mixtape) |publisher=2dopeboyz |date=2012-03-08 |access-date=2013-05-05}}
Rittz signed to Tech N9ne's Strange Music in 2012.{{cite web|url=http://www.xxlmag.com/xxl-magazine/2012/08/tech-n9nes-strange-music-signs-rittz-video/ |title=XXcLusive: Tech N9ne's Strange Music Signs Rittz [VIDEO] - XXL |publisher=Xxlmag.com |date=2012-08-29 |access-date=2013-05-05}} Rittz and Tech N9ne immediately began working together, releasing the popular collaboration remix of Rittz's "Bloody Murdah" shortly after Rittz joined the label.{{cite web|url=http://www.hiphopdx.com/index/videos/id.12371/title.rittz-f-tech-n9ne-bloody-murdah-remix |title=Rittz f. Tech N9ne - "Bloody Murdah [Remix]" |publisher=HipHopDX |date=2013-01-10 |access-date=2013-05-05}} He released his solo debut, The Life and Times of Jonny Valiant on April 30, 2013.{{cite web|url=https://music.apple.com/us/album/life-times-jonny-valiant-deluxe/626937421 |title=iTunes - Music - The Life and Times of Jonny Valiant (Deluxe Edition) by Rittz |publisher=iTunes |date=2013-04-30 |access-date=2013-05-05}} On October 15, 2013, Rittz appeared with fellow rappers Wax, Rapsody, Emis Killa and Jon Connor in the first cypher at the 2013 BET Hip Hop Awards.{{cite web|url=http://rapradar.com/2013/10/15/2013-bet-hip-hop-awards-cypher-wax-rapsody-emis-killa-rittz-jon-connor/|title=2013 BET Hip Hop Awards Cypher: Wax, Rapsody, Emis Killa, Rittz & Jon Connor|publisher=RapRadar|date=2013-10-15|access-date=2013-12-20}}
=2014–2017: ''Next to Nothing'', ''Top of the Line'' and ''Last Call''=
In April 2014, Rittz announced via Facebook that he would release his next album Next To Nothing on September 9, 2014.{{cite web|url=https://www.facebook.com/RittzMusic/posts/10152378217858256 |title=RITTZ - S/O to 3 LITTLE DIGS!!! THE TITLE AND RELEASE DATE... |publisher=Facebook |access-date=2015-08-17}} In an August 2015 interview with NEHipHop, Rittz announced that he would be releasing an album in May 2016, titled Top of the Line.{{cite web|url=http://www.strangemusicinc.com/2015/08/rittz/rittz-talks-next-album-possible-collab-project-with-yelawolf-video/ |title=WATCH: Rittz Talks Next Album, Possible Collab Project With Yelawolf [Video |publisher=Strange Music, Inc |date=2015-08-07 |access-date=2015-08-17}} In July 2017, Rittz announced that his next album would be titled Last Call and would be released on September 29, 2017.{{cite web|url=https://twitter.com/therealRITTZ/status/890645865987268608" |title=My New Album "LAST CALL" Drops 9/29 |publisher=Twitter |date=2017-07-27 |access-date=2017-07-27}}
Following the release of Last 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.{{cite web|url=https://www.westword.com/music/rittz-on-his-break-with-strange-music-and-his-new-label-cli-n-tel-10966684" |title=Rittz on His Break With Strange Music and His New Label, Cli-N-Tel |publisher=Westword |date=2018-11-02 |access-date=2018-11-05}}
Discography
{{Main|Rittz discography}}
Studio albums
- The Life and Times of Jonny Valiant (2013)
- Next to Nothing (2014)
- Top of the Line (2016)
- Last Call (2017)
- Put a Crown on It (2019)
- Picture Perfect (2020)
- Rittzmas (2020)
- MellowLOvation Music (2023)