My name is Xavier Del Valle, also known as Ricochet. I am a rapper and producer from New York City. I can't really specify which part because I've been in Brooklyn and Queens for a majority of my life, but I am currently residing in Brooklyn.
I started rapping in the 5th grade, and it was nothing serious to me. I was in love with poetry and music, especially Hip-Hop music. It moved me in ways nothing else could. I was in the 5th grade though, so of course I wouldn't take it seriously. It was around the time I was in the 6th grade that I started making beats. I would hang out with my cousin a lot, and he was a rapper and producer as well. He's the one that introduced me to the producing world. Before that, I never even knew what a producer was. He showed me the basics of a program called FL Studio 7. From there, I just stuck with it, started making beats on my mother's laptop. It was around that time that I realized that this is what I wanted to do in life.
Time passed and I stopped working with my cousin. I went to Manhattan Theatre Lab High School and that's where I met my music partner, Tyler Cruz. He's more than a music partner, that's my blood, my brother. When I met him, he was interested in music, but never really got into the producing side of the industry. I showed him how to use FL Studio, and from there he took off. He learned what took me 3 years in 1.
From there we started a group called Nosebleed. At first it was just himself and I, rapping and producing beats. Now it's more than that, it's a family. We're still the core of it, but it's bigger than that. If you ever helped us out, you're in Nosebleed. If you're down with our movement, you're in Nosebleed. We have artists, designers, rappers, videographers, anything you can think of. I feel like my mother is a part of Nosebleed too.
Rapping and producing is what you make of it. You can't just sit back and expect to blow up, you have to chase what you desire. I recently realized that while working with Brandon Thomas. For those who don't know, Brandon Thomas is the producer for OG Maco's song "U Guessed It". I was in the studio with him while he was working on a mixtape for Complex, and I was lucky enough to be featured on a track.
By linking up with him, I realized that my last year was wasted. I spent no time at all working on my craft, more time chasing women. This man is working on his future, and loving what he does. It inspired me to push myself. And I promise, I will push like I have never pushed before. This is my year. Nosebleed's year.
My goal for now is to be that guy. That guy that everyone wants beats from. That guy that everyone wants a feature from. I'm working harder than ever to reach my goal, and no one is stopping me.