At just 19 years old, RainRyze is already carving out a space for himself in hip-hop that feels both emotionally raw and technically sharp. Born Joshua Salazar and raised in New Mexico, the young artist represents a new generation of independent voices who aren’t chasing trends—they’re chasing truth. From the quiet weight of internal battles to the urgency of fast-paced lyricism, RainRyze’s music reads like a journal written in storms and survival.
The meaning behind his stage name says everything about his artistic direction. “Rain” symbolizes emotion—pressure, growth, clarity, and the moments that soak in whether you’re ready or not. “Ryze” represents resilience, the refusal to stay down no matter how heavy life gets. Together, RainRyze becomes a personal manifesto: emotion acknowledged, adversity confronted, and forward motion guaranteed. It’s not just a name—it’s an identity built from experience.
Originally from New Mexico and currently based in Española, RainRyze pulls from a landscape that often goes overlooked in hip-hop conversations. But that isolation has sharpened his voice rather than muted it. There’s a hunger in his delivery, a sense that every verse matters because it comes from someone who knows what it means to feel unseen. His music isn’t flashy for the sake of attention; it’s intense because it needs to be.
RainRyze describes his sound as hip-hop rooted in sharp lyricism and emotional honesty. His songs are written for people who overthink, feel deeply, and carry pain quietly. Fast flows and tight delivery collide with introspective writing, creating tracks that move quickly but linger long after they end. There’s precision in his cadence, but also vulnerability—an intentional balance that many artists shy away from. For RainRyze, honesty isn’t a risk; it’s the foundation.
A major influence on his journey is Eminem, whose impact goes far beyond technical ability or commercial success. RainRyze doesn’t point to fame as the inspiration, but to the honesty, vulnerability, and speed that allowed Eminem to make listeners feel understood. That connection runs deep. He openly credits that music with saving him during difficult moments, and that experience fuels his mission today: to become that same source of understanding for others. It’s a heavy responsibility for a young artist, but one he embraces fully.
Despite being early in his career, RainRyze has already seen tangible momentum. His debut single surpassed 1,000 streams within its first two weeks—an achievement that carries real weight when earned without a label, major promotion, or industry backing. Since then, he’s landed features on multiple platforms and playlists, all while balancing full-time college and full-time work. That grind is central to his story. Every release, every stream, and every listener feels earned because it is.
One of his standout releases, “No Apologies Left,” produced by MTC Beats, marks a defining moment in his evolution. The track is high-energy and pressure-filled, driven by themes of self-reflection and self-acceptance. It’s about shedding old versions of yourself and refusing to shrink to make others comfortable. The writing is layered, the flow relentless, and the delivery charged with years of unspoken thoughts finally finding a voice. It’s not an apology track—it’s a declaration.
“No Apologies Left” also serves as a blueprint for what’s coming next. The song sets the emotional tone for RainRyze’s upcoming album, a project built around the idea of emotions showing up like weather. Storms, chaos, clarity, healing—each phase is represented as a natural force, unavoidable and transformative. It’s a concept that fits seamlessly with his identity, reinforcing the idea that emotions aren’t weaknesses but environments we learn to survive in.
What makes RainRyze compelling isn’t just his age or his technical skill—it’s the sincerity behind every bar. There’s no sense of manufactured pain or borrowed struggle. His music feels lived-in, shaped by real pressure and genuine introspection. In a genre that often rewards bravado over vulnerability, RainRyze stands out by doing the opposite: leaning into feeling, thinking deeply, and speaking honestly.
As his audience continues to grow, RainRyze represents something powerful for listeners who rarely see themselves reflected in mainstream narratives. He’s proof that you don’t need a major city, a big budget, or industry connections to build momentum—you need clarity, discipline, and the courage to be real. For those navigating their own storms quietly, RainRyze isn’t just making music. He’s building a shelter made of sound.
Spotify:
https://open.spotify.com/artist/1MxX4oe27GNAimUrdjodJ0?si=cckt77POQBqmW3RwVZ_OHA
Apple Music:
https://music.apple.com/us/artist/rainryze/1843489898?ls
YT Music:
https://music.youtube.com/channel/UCPuzLbMLSN6qTpeQbpwrSSA?si=B9HlKtaBkRirFiN8
TikTok:
https://www.tiktok.com/@rainryze_?_r=1&_t=ZP-91hiZuLeJfL
Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/rainryze?igsh=MTdwZWRwajkwN3p4aA==
X:
https://x.com/RainRyze_?t=o7ueI60NmgzFiBAv84TN4A&s=09
Hulda Hicks was born in Brooklyn, NY in the late ’70s, at the time when Hip-Hop music was just emerging as an art form. Her entire life was influenced by the culture, having grown up in the epicenter of the creative movement.
As a trained musician and vocalist, Hulda got exposed to the industry in her twenties and has worked on projects with iconic figures such as the Chiffons, the Last Poets, and Montell Jordan, to name a few. Her passion for music extended past the stage on to the page when she began to write ad copy and articles as a freelancer for several underground publications.
A written review from “Jubilee Huldafire” is as authentic as it gets, hailing from one creative mind that has a unique voice, on paper and in person.
