Daniel Andrew Franco better known for his professional name Rucku$ is a rapper & visual artist from East Los Angeles, California. Introduced to legends like 50 Cent, Eminem, Ludacris, 2Pac and Biggie Small, Rucku$’ passion for hip-hop developed at a young age. His passion for music really developed in high school, when he would write rhymes in class and freestyle with his friends during lunch. Rucku$ is known for his smooth flows, atmospheric production, charismatic lyricism, and his raspy, unique voice. His production is heavily inspired by genres like 90’s g funk, lo-fi hip hop, bedroom indie rock, and old school jazz/soul. Currently a student at the Los Angeles Recording School, Rucku$ is always making new music.
“Strawberry” was released earlier this year and we’re so happy to be featuring it for you. The dope track is layered with Rucku$’ flawless lyricism and expert flow. He’ got his foot on the gas and shows no signs of slowing down through his precision and hard-hitting tracks. “Strawberry” is a track that Rucku$’ many fans and listeners will hear and appreciate and relate to. The production quality is professional but not over produced and we can’t get enough! Rucku$ drips in confidence and swagger, he exudes the type of attitude that we need in today’s music industry. I highly recommend you listen to “Strawberry” and keep up with Rucku$ for his future releases!
Check out “Strawberry” here and read more below in our exclusive interview!
Hey Rucku$! Welcome to BuzzMusic! How did you get started in music? How old were you?
Well first I’d like to say thank you for giving me the opportunity to speak on your platform. I’ve been a huge hip hop head for as long as I could remember. My dad introduced me to Snoop Dogg, 50 Cent, and Eminem when I was around 4 years old; and that love grew ever since. My freshman year of high school is when I really explored the creative side of myself and found different outlets to express it. Such as writing rhymes in class and freestyling with my friends at lunch. It gave me a huge sense of fulfillment; I was having so much fun being one of the few rappers at school. At 16, I recorded and released my first song with my group at the time Mental Ecstasy. While it wasn’t a very good song, it was definitely a huge milestone for me as an artist. It helped me realize what I really wanted out of life.
What do you do to feed your passion for music daily?
If I’m not recording songs in my room or creating visual art, I’m performing at a show and networking with other artists. Over time I realized that there’s much more to being successful than making good songs. You gotta put yourself out there. Immerse yourself in the craft and brand yourself in a way that makes people wanna listen.
What does “Strawberry” mean to you? How do you want your listeners to feel when they hear it?
On the surface it’s a fun, smooth song that you can listen to in the car with youth friends. Maybe over a few joints or beers. And if you really listen to the hook, you’ll realize it’s motivational as well. I wrote “Bitches come and go/ Friends turn to foes/ True colors show but the money always flow” during a rough time in my life where I needed to persevere and see the bright side of things. I’m hoping the listeners can vibe to it and get something out of it as well.
Who are you top three musical influences?
I’d say Kendrick Lamar for his delivery, storytelling, and substance. A$AP Rocky for his charisma and ear for sampling. And Mac Miller (rest in peace) for his smooth flows and melodies.
What’s next for you Rucku$?
As of right now I’ve been putting a lot of energy into my visual arts brand Mxnd Fvck. It’s a passion project that I know has the potential to be something great. I create everything from aesthetically pleasing photography to animated music videos, and it’ll eventually expand into a line of merch in the near future. As for the music, I’ve been working on an EP with my producer friend 5AM Beats. I’m really excited to see how that turns out. And I’m consistently dropping singles as well, so make sure to stay tuned.
Connect with Rucku$ on social media
www.instagram.com/fvckruckus