BIO

Known to most people around him as RIIGZ (formerly known as Rigz), the Jamaican-based Dancehall Recording Artiste was born Ricardo Leslie to a Masseuse and a Deejay. He grew up in the violence-ridden community of Paradise Rowe, Montego Bay, St. James, located on the northwest coast of the island of Jamaica. The Barracks Road Primary past student was a track athlete and went on to represent Herbert Morrison Technical High School at the ISSA Boys & Girls Championships in Kingston, the Penn Relays in Philadelphia and the Reebok Grand Prix in New York. RIIGZ got his name from his childhood nickname, ‘Rigarous’, due to his muscular physical appearance as a child.

A musical lifestyle was no stranger to RIIGZ growing up with a father that worked and pursued a career in the musical industry. After graduating sixth form RIIGZ's main focus was maintaining his athletic prowess. It wasn’t until 2014 that his father's ambition lit a flame and he decided to switch focus and spend his energy on studying music while honing his craft for the next four (4) years. He became a professional Artiste in 2018 upon the release of his first recording soundtrack, “Pop Off”, featuring Deva Bratt on September 11th.

The young artiste has been working his way to becoming a mainstream entertainer in the music world, gaining notoriety on the west coast of the island. RIIGZ has appeared on many small to big stage shows, starting from his first performance on November 25th, 2018 and scoring big with a major spot on the BritJam stage on March 8th, 2019.

Riding the waves of his success, RIIGZ recorded his second professional song called “Benjaminz” which features Squash, known also as the 6iix Boss. The song was a hit after its release in January 2019. RIIGZ has worked with producers and sound engineers such as Uel Genesis, DJ Crazy Neil, Fadaroy Muzik, Hemton Music, Attomatic Records, True Production, J6 Muzik, Swagga Records and Biggz Million Entertainment. July 2019 saw the revamping of his and Uel Genesis' (business partner) studio S.Q.R. Studios, where he continues to create his music. He is also working with the Kingston-based entertainment company, Lesley Hayles Music, who host an excellent production and PR team, which incorporates promotions and bookings as well. He has gained himself a manager DJ Crazy Neil, a branding management team - Chicago Music Management, Road Manager, Allan Lewin and Designer, Kamaronesi, a design studio, both from Montego Bay where all four of these partnerships will help take RIIGZ’s career to another level.

Besides Deva Bratt and Squash, RIIGZ has collaborated with Sicq Up, Illish Dappa Don, Blade Merital, Perjah, Whitter The Legend, Rozzaro, Kali Grn, Palmdan, Illuminata and Marlon “Icon” Samuels on the remix for the popular “Weed And Rum Remix”. RIIGZ has dropped bangers like “Weed And Rum”, “Hot Drugz”, “Summer Time Raving”, “Everything Is Alright”, “Deja Vu” and “Trust No One”, among many others throughout 2018 and 2019. Currently, RIIGZ is always adding to his skills. Working in the studio boosting his creativity and versatility.  He makes the time for shooting several new music videos to keep his fanbase happy and entertained and continues to work on his official merchandise store online with his designer Kamaronesi.

As an ever evolving artiste he continues to push the limits and has another collaboration with Squash in the pipeline called “Fastlane”. His influences has always been the late greats including Bob Marley, Michael Jackson, Tupac and The Notorious B.I.G., and living legends, Bounty Killa and Beenie Man. RIIGZ hopes to one day work with Vybz Kartel, Bounty Killa, Sean Paul, Mavado, Spice and Jada Kingdom in the near future. internationally acclaimed recording artistes Drake, DJ Khaled, Rick Ross and Beyoncé. He believes that by the start of 2025, RIIGZ will be on an international level, touring the world, topping the Billboard charts and receiving Grammys.

The promising, young artiste has high hopes and insists that other upcoming artistes like himself should remember that consistency is key. RIIGZ states that he has gotten this far because he has “starved his distractions and fed his focus”. He is a self motivated and driven by his stellar focus.. His “don’t quit” attitude has and will continue to carry him to his success.