AMET Ricky

Arryelle Vines, known by her fans as AMET Ricky, grabs her listeners by the ears and drags them into her world. You can kick and scream for her to stop, but it won’t work. She’s vicious behind the microphone and she’ll cause the wax to melt from your ears.

AMET Ricky, who we found on ReverbNation is set to become the next big hip-hop artist to make a global splash. This hot artist has an arsenal of highly flammable lyrical content and she can’t even buy a beer at a local bar. She’s only seventeen. AMET Ricky is a sophomore at North Carolina Central University where she’s majoring in Journalism & Mass Communications.

On her summer trek doing shows from venue to venue across the state, she made a pit stop in Charlotte, North Carolina. After reaching out to AMET Ricky via social media, I was fortunate enough to arrange an interview with her.

When I arrived at Northlake Mall’s food court in Charlotte to meet AMET Ricky, she was nowhere in sight. I assumed that she was still en route for our interview. Then, all of a sudden, I got a text that read “Hey I’m here.” I took a few more steps and there was AMET Ricky. The prescription frames along with the hat twisted to the back and the long chain dangling around her neck confirmed it. Strapped to her feet, a pair of crispy white Air Force Ones. It was AMET Ricky in the flesh.

We found an empty table outside in the shade and I began to find out exactly what makes this seventeen-year-old fire-spitter tick.

MUSIC VIDEO – ”THE WAY”



You and Maalah, the artist featured on your song “My Way,” seem to vibe effortlessly throughout the music video. It feels like she’s your best friend. How did you two meet and what made you choose her for the song?
Maalah is one of my friends from Central (North Carolina Central University). She doesn’t sing often and she hates singing in front of people. When I was recording “The Way,” I was like, I really want somebody to sing the hook on this song. Maalah agreed to do it and I’m glad she did because it came out great.

Your material is ear-grabbing because of your ability to pull the listener into your world with your lyrics. What inspires your music?

I’m a storyteller. I talk about my life in my music. I think people are so drawn because they tend to cling to the truth. So when I’m looking for inspiration I just talk about whatever’s going on in my life, good or bad.

Even with the harsh realities of life, we should all find a way to enjoy it because it’s short and tomorrow’s not promised. That was the message I got after hearing “The Way.” Was that the overall message of the song?

Yes. I’ve been through things in life that made me realize that whatever’s going on isn’t permanent. Nothing lasts forever. “The Way” was about people being killed, stereotypes, heartbreak and not fitting in. It’s your life and you deserve to live it in happiness. Forget what everyone else has to say.

Being a director myself I’ve taken on the guerilla-style filmmaker’s mentality and shot in places that I didn’t have permission to use. We were in and out. Did Paul Blart the mall cop pop up at any point during the shooting of the “The Way” music video?

We were being sneaky. We used an iPhone to shoot it. We basically played it off when we had to. The director (Khadijah McIntyre) walked further behind us so it looked as if we were just two girls hanging out at the mall. Mall security never picked up on what we were actually doing.

If I took you to a studio right now and told you that I’d fly in an artist of your choice for you to do a full album with, who would I be booking a flight for and why?

That’s a tough one. I love Kendrick Lamar, but I’d pick Detroit Che. She won BET’s “Hot 16” last year and she’s my favorite artist. We’re both very personal with our fans. I’ve been able to speak with her on several occasions, not just about the music business, but personal matters as well. She’s a very open person and her music is amazing. Her aggressive, edgy style would blend well with my brand of music. It would be something like if Lauryn Hill and MC Lyte did an album together.

I see that you have a birthday coming up on July 20. Any big plans for the big one-eight?

I’ll feel more legal. When people hear my music they say, “You’re so young.” In a way that can be annoying because it puts me in a box since I have to respect that some people see me as a kid.

Your body of work contains some dope, original lines. I want to point out two of them from your “Uncovered Covers” project. They’re from the “Maxwell” track. “Your heart is a rocket and I promise not to launch it”…and the second…“I’ma ride for you until I’m riding in a hearse, and I’ma grind for you until you drivin’ in a Murc (Murcielago).” Darts like those are the reason you were nominated in the best Indie Female Hip Hop category at the Women In Charge awards and for the Young Artist Spotlight award at the SCM in Memphis, Tennessee.

How does it make you feel when your work receives that type of recognition? Especially when you get love from other states and other parts of the globe.

It feels amazing when people see you in the light that you want to be seen in. When people meet they typically judge each other based on appearance. They don’t get to know the person. By people actually listening to my music they’re getting to know me as an individual. It’s an acceptance thing. It feels good when people accept you for who you are and I love my fans for that.

The Internet has a huge impact on the music business. Artists can now sell music directly to their fanbase without the need of a major label. Would you rather have the freedom of remaining an indie artist or would signing to a major label be more comforting and secure for you?

I think it’s every artist’s dream to be signed to a major because of the people that come along with it. But personally, I like being an indie artist because of the freedom that it gives you. Sometimes people want to change you and that’s just not me.

Tell us about your gofundme fundraiser and BET’s “Music Matters” program.

I’m trying to raise five thousand dollars and my time is running out. The funds would help me to get my music onto BET’s platform without having to be signed to major label. I’d also be able to bring some key people aboard to assist me as I make my way into the music business.

The name, “AMET Ricky”…how did it come about?

My name, AMET Ricky, is an acronym for Always Measuring Every Triumph Realizing Inferiority Can Kill You. It’s a reminder to myself that regardless of what I’m going through to always remain positive and to keep my head up.

What can we expect from “Hiatus” and when will it drop?

“Hiatus” is coming out around August or September. It was supposed to drop in July, but I’m trying to make it as close to perfect as possible. “Hiatus” is very different from anything else I’ve done. With my release, “805”, it was me introducing myself to the world. With “Uncovered Covers” I was putting my own spin on popular songs. “Hiatus” gets extremely deep. It’s the most vulnerable music I’ve ever made. Lines like the one on “90’s Babies” I said “I want to talk but I doubt god is up for listening”. It’s so personal. It’s like a lyrical, emotional rollercoaster. Get ready to be mad, cry, fall in love, get your heart broken and then turn up all on one album. Every time I listen to it I get in my feelings. With the “Hiatus Preview”, I put out five songs and in the first week of it’s release, controversy started. I want people to understand that they’re really about to get into my life. You’re going to hear real conversations, real arguments, and you may even hear me crying real tears while I’m recording. Some artists are afraid to talk about the demons that they’re battling, but I’m not. - Shutter 16 Magazine

What have been your goals for 2015? Do you have a project coming out you plan to tour on? Are you in school right now? Does that make making music that more difficult? How do you get around it? If you don’t go to school, how do you make time to make music?

Honestly, I just wanted to grow as an artist in 2015. That was my only goal. I didn’t expect myself to reach the places I have and accomplish so much. I thought I would still be learning, in fact I’m still learning because life is a learning process, but I’m way further than I ever dreamed of. I’m currently working on my first album, “Hiatus”. It’s expected to be released February 2016. Hopefully there will be a tour Summer 2016, although nothing is set in stone yet. Besides music, I’m currently a full time student at North Carolina Central University. It’s hard, very hard. You have to balance a career you’ve dreamed of all your life and being a normal young adult, and sometimes the two different worlds cross and it’s chaos, but it’s all about discipline, self-control, and staying focused.

What’s your favorite cartoon character and why?

So this is going to sound so childish, but I still love Chuckie from Rugrats. He was so nerdy and shy and he just wanted to fit in so bad. He was always adorable to me. And he was such a loyal best friend to Tommy. I think that’s what always made him my favorite, because I related to Chuckie so much when I was younger. When Nickelodeon finally came out with “All Grown Up” we got to see Chuckie come into his own, kind of like how I did. He went from this small kid that everyone doubted and never gave the time of day to, to being his own person and becoming something.

We’re glad you got to know us over the past week, we love what we do. Where are you from, where did you grow up, are you still in school, how long & why did you start making music? When you were working on obtaining votes, what were some strategies that you learned along the way?

I’m from Winston-Salem, NC, born and raised. I’m a current sophomore at my university, studying mass communications, and although I’ve written music and poetry my entire life, I didn’t become serious about music until I got to college. It’s crazy because in just a year I’ve made the progress that a lot wouldn’t make in years. The success, and even the success of gaining supporters all boils down to work ethic. If you work hard, people will respect what you do and will go above and beyond to help you reach new heights. I guess the best advice I could give any other artist when dealing with competition, gaining supporters, or just music period is stick true to you. If you’re loyal to your people, they will be loyal to you.

What happened in 2014 that you didn’t plan or see coming that is still helping or you are using as a tool to build yourself as an artist?

2014 was a chaotic year for me. There was so much going on in my personal life and so many changes that I honestly didn’t think I would overcome all of it. I used those experiences and expressed all of my thoughts and emotions into my first mixtape, “805”. Although I didn’t release it until January of 2015, I finished actual production at the end of 2014. I still go back and listen to it sometimes to hear the growth in me not only as an artist but as a person. My struggles in 2014 are what shaped me into the artist that I am now. You have to take the dark times and turn them into your own personal light.

What comes to mind when you think about DailyHipHopJamz? We are a small start up platform continuing to build and help launch artists.

When I think of DailyHipHopJamz I think of new beginnings. For a lot of new artists,this is their first big platform. It offers them learning experience on how to promote themselves, how to interact with new fans, and how to respectfully compete with other artists. It’s a great learning experience and I’m glad that I was able to have grown with you guys.

What’s your day-to-day look like, from when you wake up to fall asleep do you have in your pockets right now? What do you plan on accomplishing by the beginning of the holidays?

My day-to-day is pretty hectic. Since the signing, there is no such thing as sleep. It’s school, music, work, personal life. I’m up by 7:30 every morning and don’t sleep until 2:30 at the earliest the next day. I usually go to classes between 9-1, go to work between 4-10, and work on music between and when I get off. Again, everything is about balance. Over the holidays I’m planning on finishing up Hiatus, as well as taking some time to spend with the ones in my personal life that matter the most to me. I feel like with everything that’s been going on, I really want to just appreciate them because it’s tough being an artist, but it’s even harder being a girlfriend, or friend, or parent. They have to watch us struggle as well as watch us grow and through it all, they’re there. So my holidays are going to be dedicated to them. - Daily Hip Hop Jamz