HR958: HR958 Rich Kidz; cultural contributions to Bankhead and 404 Day; commend

25 LC 129 0483 House Resolution 958 By: Representatives Bell of the 75th, Berry of the 56th, Reese of the 140th, Schofield of the 63rd, Scott of the 76th, and others A RESOLUTION Recognizing the Rich Kidz for their cultural contributions to Bankhead and 404 Day; and for1 other purposes.2 WHEREAS, the Rich Kidz, a pioneering hip-hop collective origina ting from the historic3 Bankhead community of Atlanta, Georgia, rose to prominence as cultural torchbearers for4 Atlanta’s Westside, and went on to redefine the sound, energy, and youth identity of5 Southern hip-hop during the 2010s; and6 WHEREAS, the group—comprised of Jose Guapo, Shad da God (former ly Shad da Kid),7 Skooly, RK Kaelub, and Baby Charles, with performance and cultural representation by Big8 Man aka Flav for President—ushered in a new era of Atlanta musi c with their breakout9 anthems Wassup and My Partna Dem, which became city-wide street classics and earned10 national recognition; and11 WHEREAS, Rich Kidz made a lasting impact through a series of in fluential singles and12 mixtape projects that re-shaped Atlanta’s hip-hop sound, by blending street authenticity with13 musical innovation, elevating Atlanta’s underground scene onto national platforms; and14 H. R. 958 - 1 - 25 LC 129 0483 WHEREAS, Rich Kidz was featured by major media outlets including New Yorker, The New15 York Times, XXL Magazine, The Source, Complex, and Hot 107.9, as well as participated in16 BET Hip-Hop Awards cyphers, concerts, and showcases, while insp iring a generation of17 Atlanta creatives; and18 WHEREAS, RK Kaelub and Skooly, performing as a duo, took the Rich Kidz brand to new19 heights; Pitchfork magazine listed the song “My Life” as “one of the best singles of20 2010”; and 21 WHEREAS, the group partnered with Columbia Records, America’s oldest record label, in22 2012, and later releasing their global debut Y.A.R.S.; and23 WHEREAS, individual members of Rich Kidz have each contributed to the group’s legacy24 through solo ventures; and 25 WHEREAS, Skooly went on to sign with 2 Chainz’s T.R.U. (The Rea l University) label,26 releasing acclaimed solo work including “Blacc John Gotti,” “Tr ench Gotti,” “Don’t You27 Ever Forget Me” series, and “Nobody Likes Me,” while being widely recognized as one of28 Atlanta’s most influential melodic artists; and 29 WHEREAS, Jose Guapo became a leader in the independent rap hust le, dropping “Cash30 Talk” mixtape series, “Jose’s World,” and his viral single “Run It Up” featuring Takeoff and31 YFN Lucci, while collaborating with Metro Boomin, Rich Homie Quan, and others; and 32 WHEREAS, Shad da God contributed to the Grand Hustle movement, releasing solo projects33 including “Rise and Hustle,” “2000 and God,” and “God Gang,” earning a respected presence34 in the Atlanta rap elite; and 35 H. R. 958 - 2 - 25 LC 129 0483 WHEREAS, RK Kaelub and Baby Charles remained staples in the sce ne, contributing to36 foundational group projects and representing the essence of Bankhead’s talent and drive; and37 WHEREAS, Big Man aka Flav for President played a vital role in the group’s live38 performance energy and cultural outreach, helping to solidify R ich Kidz’s presence in the39 streets and on stages alike; and40 WHEREAS, the collective’s influence on fashion, slang, lifestyle, and performance41 contributed to the blueprint of Atlanta’s modern youth culture, laying the groundwork42 for future superstars and helping solidify Bankhead as a birthplace of talent, resilience,43 and originality; and44 WHEREAS, it is fitting on 404 Day—a celebration of Atlanta’s creativity, unity, and global45 cultural influence—to uplift Rich Kidz for their contributions to music, youth empowerment,46 and the legacy of Bankhead and Atlanta’s Westside.47 NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES that48 the members of this honor the full collective of Rich Kidz—Jose Guapo, Shad da God,49 Skooly, RK Kaelub, Baby Charles, and Big Man aka Flav for Presi dent—as part of the50 official 404 Day Celebration, in recognition of their extraordinary impact on Atlanta’s music51 legacy, their trailblazing spirit, and their lasting cultural contributions.52 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Clerk of the House of Representatives is authorized53 and directed to make an appropriate copy of this resolution available for distribution to the54 Rich Kidz.55 H. R. 958 - 3 -