“Whatchu On (feat. CeCe Peniston)” by 2AM Ricky is What You Need

Featuring the legendary voice of CeCe Peniston, “Whatchu On” by 2AM Ricky is exactly what you need in your life right now to bring the vibes to any playlist.

Nominated for Best Young Artist at the SCM Awards, Recording Artist, Actor, and Model 2AM Ricky is breaking barriers and making strides in the industry. A Winston-Salem, NC native, Ricky is an advocate for LGBT community and is an openly transgender rapper. As an Actor, Ricky has held roles on HereTV’s “Blackville” and Roll the Dice’s film, “Young and Reckless” (Winter 2019). Ricky’s single “Waves” is also featured on the “Young and Reckless” music soundtrack. He also is a published model, seen in Fly Boy Magazine, A Million Magazine, TomboyX, and Linbergh’s 2018 Fall campaign. 2AMRicky’s latest compilation, Carolina Boy, is now available across all major streaming platforms.

The instrumental to the song brings us that vibe. With a mixture of modern house production styles and pop rap vocal deliveries for the hook and verses. I also really enjoy Ricky’s fast paced flows and low vocal tones. The combination of CeCe’s iconic, beautiful voice stacked on top of Ricky’s lower vocal tones make the song quite addicting to listen to. The hook will surely be stuck in my head for weeks to come!

I had the privilege to ask Ricky a few questions about the song, check it out below!

Describe your release in 3 sentences.

“Whatchu On” is a free spirited anthem of choosing self love and self care. It’s a self reminder of “what you on?”, are you drowning in the negatives of life or are you on a path of finding happiness in the midst of pain? This record was also a way of highlighting the beauties of both the LGBTQ/ House and hip-hop cultures.

What was your favorite part about making this song?

My favorite part about making this song was being able to work with the legendary CeCe Peniston. Funny story, she actually was on FaceTime with Vic “Billboard Killer” Martin while we were recording and heard the first 30 seconds and loved it. From there, it was history.

What was the hardest part making this song?

The hardest part of making this song was overcoming the battle of societal perception of who I am and what I represent based on the record. I identify as a transgender male, and as an artist, sometimes ignorance over rides talent. Having a legend like CeCe Peniston as an ally as well as the support of my team made preparing and dealing with some of the obstacles that came with the release easier.

Was this release cathartic for you?

This release was very cathartic for me. In the lyrics, I speak to a lot of my own personal demons, struggles, and addictions. It was very freeing to be able to release some of those withheld emotions into the song.

What keeps you motivated?

Honestly, I’m constantly motivated by the impact my music has on others. I receive messages every day from LGBT youth, men of trans experience, and individuals as a whole who have experienced a lot of trauma in their lives and hear their story in my music. It’s inspiring to me how art truly connects us, and how I’m able to be a voice for the voiceless and lonely through my creativity.

What can we expect next from you?

I’m working on a new album entitled “Brown Boy”, which is expected to release this year. I’m also excited for you all to see the dope visuals and new merchandise releasing soon!

What other artists are you listening to right now?

Some indie artists that I’m really enjoying right now are Josh Cozy from NC and Sue from ATL. I also love listening to Billy Withers (I’m an old soul), Ari Lennox, and Giveon.