Ralo

Born in 1995 as Terrell Davis, the Atlanta rapper who would become known as Ralo initially had no plans to enter the music industry. His formative years unfolded in one of the city’s most perilous and economically deprived districts, where he cobbled together funds to sustain his household through any available avenue, lawful or not. Frequent arrests punctuated his adolescence, and he endured two lengthy incarcerations; an aborted apprenticeship as an electrician preceded his 2015 pivot toward rap. Adopting the moniker Ralo—sometimes styled Ralo Famgoon—he enlisted Atlanta superstar Future for a guest spot on the track “Can’t Lie,” which swiftly earned both neighborhood praise and broader attention. He then concentrated on a run of mixtapes, beginning with the 2015 projects Famerican Gangster and Diary of the Streets, each spawning follow-ups over subsequent years.

While issuing fresh material he joined forces with notable rappers such as Young Thug, Rich Homie Quan, 21 Savage, and additional peers, simultaneously establishing ties to Cash Money Records and Gucci Mane’s 1017 Eskimo Records imprint. February 2018 saw the arrival of the third installment in the Diary of the Streets series, which enlisted Young Thug, YFN Lucci, YoungBoy Never Broke Again, Young Dolph, Gucci Mane, Future, and further contributors, ultimately peaking at number eight on Billboard’s Heatseekers Albums chart. Later the same year he delivered Conspiracy, featuring appearances by YFN Lucci, Shy Glizzy, and Young Scooter. The 2019 mixtape Free Ralo followed, showcasing Trouble, Shy Glizzy, Young Dolph, Derez De’Shon, and others.