Richard Serrell, better known by his stage name Richie Rich, is a
rapper from Oakland, California.He is currently signed to Mack 10's
Hoo-Bangin' Records.
His rapping style is an influence on Snoop Dogg. In Snoop's own words
“ The reason I formed 213 with Warren G and Nate Dogg is because
Richie Rich had a group called 415. I was lovin' his style and voice
which I incorporated into my style when I first started rapping.”
Richie Rich first entered music in the late 1980s with the group
415. With D-Loc, DJ Daryl, and JED, Rich crafted a Bay Area album
in 1989 called 41Fivin, which sold well around the Bay Area and spawned
a Richie Rich solo album in 1990, titled Don't Do It.
As the group was ready to sign a major-label contract with Priority
Records in 1990, however, Richie Rich was arrested for possession
of cocaine. 415 released its next album and faded from the scene soon
after, while Rich sat in jail; he was released a year later, and began
appearing on tracks by 2Pac and the Luniz. Richie Rich soon found
himself being in the middle of a bidding war between Def Jam Records
and Relativity Records. He choose to go on Russell Simmons' label
Def Jam. Before forming his own label Oakland Hills 41510 he released
his second solo album in 1996, Half Thang, which peaked on the Billboard
Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums at number 57.[4]
By 1995, Richie Rich had become the first Bay Area rapper to sign
with New York's Def Jam Records, and his major-label album, Seasoned
Veteran, was released in late 1996[5] Seasoned Veteran did rather
well on the charts, and music videos were soon released for three
songs on the album.[6] Just as Rich's career was booming, a merger
at Def Jam (with PolyGram) left him without much direction. Richie
Rich was going to release a second album on Def Jam, although it kept
getting pushed back. He soon had the decision to stay or go, he decided
to go.[7]
[edit] Ten-Six Record Years (1999-present)
Rich then started his own label with partner Lev Berlak, named Ten-Six
Records. Four years after Seasoned Veteran, his fourth album The Game
was released. The album has sold over 300,000 units independently.[8]
[edit] Discography
[edit] Studio albums
1990: Don't Do It
1996: Half Thang
1996: Seasoned Veteran
2000: The Game
2002: Nixon Pryor Roundtree
[edit] Collaboration albums
1989: 41Fivin (with 415)
1991: Nu Niggaz on Tha Blokkk (with 415)
1999: Big League Records Greatest Hits (with 415 & D-Loc)
[edit] Compilation albums
2000: Greatest Hits
2004: Grabs, Snatches & Takes
[edit] Mixtapes and street albums
2010: Town Bidness
2011: Town Bidness Volume 2
[edit] Guest appearances
Year Album Song
1995 Me Against the World "Heavy in the Game" (2Pac featuring
Richie Rich & Lady Levi)
Operation Stackola "Pimps, Playas & Hustlas" (Luniz
featuring Dru Down & Richie Rich)
"I Got 5 on It" (Single) "I Got 5 on It" (Bay
Ballas Remix) (Luniz featuring Mike Marshall, Dru Down, E-40, Richie
Rich, Shock G & Spice 1)
1996 All Eyez on Me "Ratha Be Ya Nigga" (2Pac featuring
Richie Rich)
All Eyez on Me "Aint Hard 2 Find" (2Pac featuring Richie
Rich, B-Legit, E-40, D-Shot & C-Bo)
NFL Jams "Stay with Me" (Richie Rich & Esera Tuaolo)
1997 An Eye for an Eye "More Game" (RBL Posse featuring
Richie Rich)
How to Be a Player "Hard to Get" (Rick James & Richie
Rich)
R U Still Down? (Remember Me) "Lie To Kick It" (2Pac featuring
Richie Rich)
Pre-Meditated Drama "Trouble" (Steady Mobb'n featuring Richie
Rich)
Sky Ballin' "Sky Ballin'" (Side 2 Syde featuring Richie
Rich)
Southwest Riders "Yay Deep" (B-Legit & E-40 featuring
Richie Rich)
1999 Bosses Will Be Bosses "Haters" (The Delinquents featuring
Richie Rich, Otis & Shug)
Bosses Will Be Bosses "Bitch Niggas" (The Delinquents featuring
Richie Rich & B-Legit)
Chronic 2000 "Gotta Love Gangsta's" (Tha Realest featuring
Scarface & Richie Rich)
That Was Then, This Is Now, Vol. 1 "Heart Of A Savage" (Frost
featuring Richie Rich, Mac Minister & B-Legit)
2000 The Thugz, Vol. 1 "Bitches" (MC Breed featuring Richie
Rich & Too Short)
2001 It's Not What You Say... It's How You Say It "Hold Off"
(Mac Dre featuring Richie Rich)
2002 United Ghettos of America "I'm So Cool" (Yukmouth featuring
Dru Down, Lil' Ron & Richie Rich)
2004 United Ghettos of America, Vol. 2 "The Slide Show"
(Yukmouth featuring C-Bo, Nate da Nut, Richie Rich)
2005 Smash Rockwell "Oaktown" (Casual featuring E Mac, Richie
Rich, Too Short & G-Stack)
2006 The Book of Life - Chapter 1 "Strike 3" (Remix) (Missippi
featuring Richie Rich)
2008 Million Dollar Mouthpiece "The Best Thang Goin'" (Yukmouth
featuring Too Short, Devin the Dude, Richie Rich & Danica "The
Morning Star")
Million Dollar Mouthpiece "East Oakland" (Yukmouth featuring
Dru Down, Richie Rich, The Team, The Delinquents & Bart)
2011 The Tonite Show - Thuggin' & Mobbin' "All On You"
(Yukmouth featuring Richie Rich & B-Legit)