Detroit’s Ralph “Young RJ” Rice was raised around music. With both parents traveling for his fathers group, R.J.’s Latest Arrival, it seems only obvious he would adopt creating music as a craft. Yet, Young RJ did not immediately take an interest. “Music was just normal to me because it was what my parents did.” It was not until later that he would be influenced by the classic Motown style and try his hand at producing a sound of his own. At the age of 14, Young RJ picked up a paper route as his first job. After an accident on his moped while delivering papers resulted in a concussion, RJ turned in his paper route for studio time. He began attending the studio regularly to spend time with his father and started making his first beats. By age 15, RJ had sold his first beat to Kurupt of tha Dogg Pound, who coined the handle “Young RJ” for the talented young man. Young RJ’s prodigal ear for music became evident as he gained experience repairing beats and began working with J Dilla to perfect his growing skill.