Rites-of-passage filled with both rights and wrongs, Jonny “Rittz” Valiant, uses Hip-Hop to share his story. Although the towering, wavy-haired Ginger-kid, is easy to spot amid his melanin-enriched contemporaries, his lyricism never pales in comparison. The Atlanta native’s talent, work-ethic, and luck is ushering Rittz to the masses. Although, his journey to the spotlight has been an arduous one, many blessings have been delivered through life’s challenges. The critically acclaimed mixtapes, White Jesus and White Jesus: Revival, are a couple of the reasons why Rittz is now signed to Strange Music. “They wanted me to really do me. That’s one of the great things about Strange,” attests the organic wordsmith. On opening night of Rittz’ first ever Strange Music tour, AllHipHop.com is granted exclusive access: AllHipHop.com: Last year, you were on Yelawolf’s Slumerican tour. Then you signed with Strange Music. Currently you’re on Tech N9ne’s Independent Powerhouse tour. Plus, your Strange début, The Life And Times Of Jonny Valiant, drops on the 16th of April. How are you really doing? Rittz: I’m good; I’ve been a little stressed. For a long time I’ve just been rapping. When it finally gets to this point, to where I got my first album coming out—just being on a new tour with a new label, for the first time—it’s been a little stressful. Just under [the] pressure of coming off the Slumerican tour, having to write the album, and not wanting to be wack either, and take my time on it.  But I managed it. It’s done; it’s dope. I’m on the bus. Today’s the first day. So, as of this morning a lot of my stress is gone. The anticipation is almost worst than just doing it. [youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ulZCBLlkAUo] AllHipHop.com: First off, how did you get your moniker? Rittz: As a kid in high school, when I started rapping I went through different names. I had a homeboy named Shortcut, who was just like, ‘What about Rittz?’ And I just stuck with it.  It meant cracker. AllHipHop.com: I didn’t want to bring it up; because, if you twist your mouth to say n****r, I’m going to feel a way. Rittz: No, no; it stands for cracker. Now looking back it when people say, ‘Does Rittz mean cracker?’ It’s a little cheesy. It’s like every white rapper has got a name that’s got some kind of white s*it to it. But, you know, it is what it is. That’s definitely where it came from. So, I’m a f**king cracker! AllHipHop.com: (chuckles) Wow. How are you learning to reinforce your morality when you’re submerged within a profession that celebrates hedonism? Rittz: It’s hard. On the relationship aspect, I’ve been in a relationship for a long time. I’ve been playing the balancing act trying to be a rapper and trying to live a home life. It’s capable of being done. It’s just really hard. It’s rough to be with anybody and leave for a long time. At the same time it’s hard out here. I’ve had a lot of experiences with drugs; I drink like hell anyway. So, it’s kinda hard to not allow that to take over you. When I came home after the last tour I wasn’t making complete sentences. I went too hard. It’s like trying to balance out the road life, and turn it into a healthy lifestyle, to where it doesn’t kill you. On this tour I’ll be playing a nice balancing act. I’m going in with a different attitude; I’m not going to party as much. As far as the relationship sh*t it’s a challenge. When the girl’s at home looking at online [posts] the [impact of the] internet makes it hard. I’ve been balancing my morale and keeping standards to what I do; whether, it’s that or the partying aspect, or even getting affected by the negative sh*t you read, or fans, or anything like that. [youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ggHgSZXROPE] AllHipHop.com: It takes strength to challenge the status-quo. Who or what circumstances motivated you to fully embrace your dreams? Rittz: It’s crazy because it’s really luck, honestly. I’ve always considered myself a good worker. I dropped out of high school. I never really focused on a real job. I always thought I’m going to be a rapper. Then one day, reality finally started sinking in like, ‘Wow, I might not make it. I’m f#####. What are we going to do with our house? We don’t have any money.’ Now it’s up to me and go work. I was like, ‘F### this sh*t!’ So, when I was about to quit rapping, I really started focusing on work. Right then is when, Yelawolf, came along and hooked it up. I think the fact that I got that opportunity, you know, made it a lot easier; because, I was about to break and lose that [motivation to continue]. For a long time though, I did have the backbone to keep driving for years. That was came from knowing that I was talented. Plus, knowing that I didn’t have anything else to fall back on, you know, that was it. AllHipHop.com: What youthful habits or tendencies did you have to relinquish in order to grow into the man that you are today? Rittz: Partying is probably my main thing, I’ve had a lot of it. From age 16 to 28, I’ve spent a lot of my years just on drugs. And, that has to go. You have to let that go; you can’t be wasted all the time. At some point you have to focus and make something happen. I’ve always had parents who instilled in me the importance of just being a decent person, and being responsible as well. It’s real easy to fall off into the bullsh*t and get caught up. [youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wz6LC3kmG0s] AllHipHop.com: As an MC does your ethnicity ever hinder you, or does it help? Rittz: It always hinders you a little bit. Then it also helps you, too. If you’re good at it you’ll stand out a little bit, because in […]