H-Town lost another real one. Though he was born in Atlantic City, NJ, Rick Royal came to Houston with his family in high school. He soon became known as one of the greatest MC's to ever emerge from Houston's burgeoning hardcore rap scene. He is known as one of the fore fathers of Gangsta/Reality Rap as his story telling street tales were some of the most vivid and real ever put on wax. He precedes most of your favorite rappers, and like many of Houston's underground legends, could be your favorite rappers favorite rapper. 

Bun B of UGK/MDDL FNGZ and Big Munn of MDDL FNGZ join me to discuss the history of the man and the scene he helped to create and nurture and develop. I don't have a lot of details about his passing, any information would be greatly appreciated. REST IN PEACE POWER AND HEAVEN RICKY ROYAL FOREVER!

Talk So Real with Matt Sonzala - RIP RICK ROYAL - with Bun B & Big Munn

Somewhere between DJ Screw and Bad Brains, De La Soul and Scritti Politti sits Houston’s native son, Fat Tony. For the last decade, Anthony Lawson Jude Ifeanyichukwu Obiawunaotu has been everywhere: from star-making turns on the first A$AP Rocky mixtape to hosting shows on Viceland and Super Deluxe, to co-founding a DIY culture magazine to playing every worthwhile rap party in America and burning the stage down every single time. A singular and experimentally-minded rap artist adept at both traditional regional styles and indie pop, hardcore thrash and melodic candy-painted bangers. He is punk in the platonic sense of the word: experimental and subversive, but also funny, whimsical, and virtuosic. 

Over the course of more than a half-dozen LPs, and countless other short-form gems and collaborations with everyone from Das Racist to Bun B, Fat Tony has reimagined and blurred the boundaries of hip-hop. There are a few things you can depend on in this schizophrenic world. About once or twice a year, Fat Tony will drop an album and it will sound like nothing that he has done before. There’s a spirit of creative restlessness and intelligence that runs through his deep discography. He is a national treasure, one of those rappers destined to seem forever underrated until you ask around and realize that everyone in their right mind likes Fat Tony. He is the Whataburger of rappers: if you know you know. 

Raised in Houston’s historically black and culturally radical neighborhood, the Third Ward, Tony’s mom and teachers educated him from the get-go about how this was the regional cradle for the Black Panther Party -- and how BP hero, Carl Hampton, was murdered by the Houston Police Department. It was an environment where social awareness and Pan-Africanism were always around and celebrated. His childhood home was filled with records—country music, King Sunny Adé, and Jimmy Cliff from his father’s collection, his mother’s classical music, rock, and soul, and his granny’s gospel. Then as a teenager, empowered by the internet and his discovery of independent artists like E-40, Bikini Kill, and Bad Brains, Fat Tony began recording and distributing his own music. Heavily influenced by renowned Texas rappers like UGK and Scarface, Fat Tony started playing and organizing live shows at a time when there wasn’t much of a scene for young artists in Houston. He started booking bands of all types from all over, hand-making flyers for the shows and mailing them to addresses nabbed from the Carnegie Vanguard High School student directory. 

His dedication to Houston’s rap scene earned him Houston Press Music Awards’ “Best Underground Hip Hop Artist” in 2008, 2009, 2010, and 2013. Primed for more national audiences, Fat Tony began taking his music on tour and collaborated with more artists around the country. His sonically unpredictable and emotionally vulnerable music has garnered praise from Pitchfork, The Fader, and Noisey. His achievements in rap have pushed him out of his comfort zone into other performance and hosting opportunities on TV and the Internet. This fall, Fat Tony releases Exotica on Carpark Records. It heralds his most visionary work yet, an ode to the art of storytelling through music. A rich and compact iteration of rap short fiction that firmly establishes him as his own one-man genre, the preeminent post-modern griot shooting game.

Rxyal is an independent artist, songwriter, and producer from Detroit, MI. Rxyal discovered his passion for music early. He grew up listening to West Coast Rap, Neo Soul, R&B, and Jazz. His mother, Hip-Hop legend "BO$$" (who released "Born Gangstaz" under Def Jam West in 1993) was always there to teach him about life and music, which he realized was a lot like the streets. His father, "CoCo Budda" of Rap-A-Lot Records & K104 FM Radio host kept his wordplay sharp throughout Rxyal’s childhood. After seeing how his music made his peers & others feel, he knew music was his calling.

Welcome to The Donnie Houston Podcast, where the vibrant rhythms of Houston's music scene are brought to life through engaging conversations and deep dives into the city's rich musical heritage. Hosted by Donnie Houston, a passionate and knowledgeable native of the Bayou City, this podcast is your all-access pass to the soul-stirring sounds and stories that define Houston's unique musical landscape.

Each episode, Donnie sits down with influential artists, producers, and key figures from various genres, exploring their journeys, inspirations, and the impact they've made on the music industry. 
From the pulsating beats of hip-hop to the soulful strums of blues, and everything in between, no note goes unplayed on this musical exploration. But it's not just about the music. The Donnie Houston Podcast delves into the broader cultural tapestry of Houston, discussing how the city's diverse background, history, and ever-evolving scene shape the sounds we love.

Listeners can expect candid interviews, behind-the-scenes stories, and Donnie's own insights and anecdotes from years of experience in the music world.Whether you're a long-time Houston music aficionado or new to the scene, this podcast promises to entertain, inform, and immerse you in the heartbeat of Houston's music and more. Tune in to The Donnie Houston Podcast and experience the rhythm of Houston like never before.

Watch videos here: https://www.youtube.com/@donnie_houston

Long time champion of underground music and most notably Texas hip-hop, radio host/DJ/journalist/promoter/journeyman/hustler Matt Sonzala has stepped into the podcasting realm with a little help from his friends.  

This is only the beginning. Subscribe/follow here and on all platforms today!

I stage manage at Mohawk Austin. I make a living in music. I am from Houston, it made me the man I am. I am free. Fuk with me.

Talk So Real with Matt Sonzala - RIP RICK ROYAL - with Bun B & Big Munn

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