Born December 10, 1987 Rio grew up in a single-parent home where he was raised on the south side of Roseland, Chicago, better known as the “Wild 100’s”. Growing up away from his father for a majority of the time caused him a lot of pain. Although he loves both of his parents dearly, it was this pain that served as the driving force behind his passion for success and music, which became his escape from the harsh realities of his environment. With roots on the West side of Chicago, where he spent a significant amount of time with his extended family, Music played a vital role in his upbringing, and he was drawn to Hip Hop from a young age.
Involved in gang life growing up, Rio was arrested multiple times as a teen and young man. Fearing the worst, Rio’s parents urged him to go to school and get away from Chicago. He attended Eastern Illinois University, where he would record his first song and dive into music making. It was here where he learned life was much different outside of the realms of Chicago, and a hunger to learn more grew inside of him.
Still involved in gang activity while enrolled in EIU, Rio was expelled after only half a semester. His only options were to find a way on the streets or join the US Military.
In 2006, Rio enlisted in the US Army and served in Iraq for 18 months. He was a Purple Heart and Bronze Star w/Valor recipient and received an honorable discharge after serving his country with distinction. However, the experiences he had during his deployment left a profound impact on him and led to struggles with Severe PTSD and depression, which he would continue to battle for years to come. This battle would also be a driving force for Rio to find an outlet for his expression.
Rio began to take music more seriously when he returned home in 2010. He started breeding bullies and making music at the same time. A customer reached out and offered a 12 song album deal for one of his bullies, the catch, it was 3 hours away. So, ready to chase his dreams, Rio moved to Champagne, IL, with his dogs, where he worked in a studio learning the ropes.
In 2016, Rio lost his grandfather, who had been his best friend and confidant. Shortly after, he lost one of his closest childhood friends to gun violence. He had seen a lot of death growing up in Chicago, and during his stint in Iraq, but these deaths were different. Their passing was a turning point for him and motivated him to strive for greatness in everything he did, including his music.
Despite facing numerous setbacks, including being kicked out of college in 2005, Rio never gave up on his dreams. He persevered and, in 2023, graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Music Production, fulfilling a lifelong ambition and finally making his parents proud.
Rio is a family man and has four beautiful children and a lovely wife. He is an entrepreneur, who works hard and is dedicated and passionate about everything he does. In addition to his music career, he is also an American Bully breeder and enthusiast, which he finds incredibly rewarding.
Growing up, Rio was a big fan of Tupac, Lil Wayne, Jay Z, B.G. and more. He also had a love for R&B music. A mixture of these many styles have helped him develop a style of his own.
In his music, Rio is unapologetically honest, sharing his deepest fears, hopes, and dreams with his listeners. He believes that music has the power to heal and uplift, and he wants to use his platform to create positive change in the world.
Despite the challenges he has faced, Rio remains hopeful and optimistic about the future. He believes that with hard work, dedication, and a never-give-up attitude, anything is possible. He is excited about what the future holds for him and is determined to make a lasting impact on the music industry.