Hip-Hop Lives Here
Hip-Hop Lives Here
San Diego–based rock band The Reckless debuts new single “What Could I Give.” It’s the kind of track built for big moments—anthem rock with a sweeping chorus that begs to be sung back at full volume. Shimmering guitar tones drift in over a steady, heartbeat-like rhythm section, giving the song a sense of urgency, while the spacious production sets a cinematic atmosphere and mood. The mix balances grit and clarity—layered guitars push the rock edge forward, while airy reverb and dynamic swells create an expansive soundscape.
“Our genre of music is all about rock. We have ballads, aggressive metal, punk songs - you name it. We have an alternative Red Hot Chili Peppers-style song and even have one reminiscent of The Strokes or what you might hear on college radio. ‘What Could I Give’ is more of a pop punk rock song, but again, if you like rock music of any sort, I’m sure there’s a song in our catalog for you,” shared Fritz Fayman, lead singer and guitarist.
Lyrically, “What Could I Give” taps into a raw sense of yearning and vulnerability. The words explore the tension between desire and limitation, painting a picture of someone striving to offer everything they can while grappling with feelings of inadequacy. There’s an intimate honesty in lines that oscillate between hope and doubt, giving the song a relatable, almost confessional quality. Coupled with the band’s soaring chorus and dynamic instrumentation, the lyrics don’t just tell a story—they make you feel it.
“I always encourage people to find their own meaning in it, but for us, we wrote the song from a place of grappling with the challenge of seeing other artists succeed while wrestling with our own progress,” continued Fayman. “Along with that frustration, there’s also this self-directed anger, as the thought pops up: shouldn’t we be genuinely happy for them? That tension comes through in one of the lines: ‘I wake up every day thinking I’m not all that close.’ It’s something we all struggle with, and everyone can relate. We all know how it feels to see the highlight reels on social media and start questioning yourself. That push and pull, the ups and downs of trying to make it in this business, is really what the song is about for us.”
As far as the business of making music, the band thrives on collaboration. A rough demo or skeleton of a song might start with one member, but it quickly becomes a full-band effort. In rehearsals and jam sessions, everyone contributes their parts, while ideas and feedback flow freely. There’s constant communication and a real sense of shared ownership—decisions are made democratically, even when opinions run strong, making every song a true group effort.
“We mostly record everything ourselves, especially since our drummer has a studio setup at home, but we also work with Cottee Embry a lot. He’s a great mixer and mastering engineer, and we’ve been working with him ever since I brought this group of guys together back in 2023,” said Fayman.
The band’s current lineup didn’t happen overnight. The story starts during COVID, when Fayman found himself with unexpected free time and a drive to make music. What began as a solo project quickly evolved as Fayman sought the energy of a full band. Over the next couple of years, he tried out a rotating cast of players, searching for the right chemistry. By the end of 2023, everything clicked: Fayman on lead vocals and guitar, John Kelly on lead guitar, Riku Myllykoski on drums, and Michael Kennedy on bass, with both Myllykoski and Kennedy also contributing backup vocals. With this lineup, the band finally hit its stride, blending individual voices into a cohesive, collaborative force ready to bring their music to life.
“The name ‘The Reckless’ actually started as a joke back in college,” Fayman explained. “Whenever one of us did something wild or silly, someone would say, ‘Oh, that’s so reckless.’ Over time, it stuck—and it became a way to capture both the fun, goofy side of what we do and the serious, energetic presence we want on stage. It just felt like the perfect name for the band.
While an official album isn’t on the immediate horizon, the band already has a full set of songs ready, with new music set to drop every month and a half to two months. They’re also hitting the road with a few live shows, including the annual Adams Avenue Street Fair in San Diego on Saturday, September 20, and a November 21 performance with Dirty Mondays at Harvard & Stone in Los Angeles.
The band has drawn fans to well-respected venues across San Diego County, as well as Los Angeles, Arizona, and the Bay Area, including SOMA, The Holding Company, The Viper Room, The Mint, and more. Their most recent project, the EP “Who Are You,” dropped in spring 2025 and racked up over 100,000 Spotify streams within its first few months. If you haven’t yet discovered The Reckless, check out their latest single, “What Could I Give,” on all major streaming platforms, and follow them on Instagram and TikTok for news and updates.
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Ray Rogerss is a rapper who makes music about his experiences. Sitting comfortably within the lifestyle rap lane, everything he says is something that happened or will happen to him. His new EP, Thanks In Advance, is aptly titled and the closing track “Paul Frank Hat” is one that echoes the themes heard throughout the project.
Ray is a part of a collective called All Money Good Money, often simply abbreviated to AMGM. This collective is also the label he and his labelmates release music through. The name of the collective takes the old proverb “All money isn’t good money” and flips it simply by removing one word. For Ray and his labelmates, all their money is good.
“We started in 2018/2019. They’re really like family to me. It’s what I stand by. It’s a movement and it’s the label. All the money is for us and it’s good because we worked hard for it.” he said.
Ray’s approach to music is one built on commitment to the craft and excelling at the craft with the technique that works for him. Finding an approach that works for you and produces the best results is key when it comes to making music. Writing and recording “Paul Frank Hat” was a testament to this process.
“I go into every song with the mindset of just being me. I wrote half of it and freestyled half of it. Sometimes I’ll write things down and just punch in and punch out. Whatever the best approach is, I get it done.” he said.
The track “Paul Frank Hat” was produced by Rxkz and features a tranquil melodic loop on which Ray brings an equally tranquil yet confident flow. The hookless freestyle-esque track recaps the reality of life for Ray as he shares how he lives life his way.
“I talk about things that I do. I don’t believe in being a person that I’m not. Just talking about life on a daily basis for me is lifestyle rap and whatever that entails is what I’ll talk about.” he said.
When speaking with Ray, he made an analogy between making music and basketball that will likely resonate with those who love both.
“I treat the booth like a basketball player treats the gym. I go in, get my shots up and make sure I get them up often…when you do anything, once you set the goal for it, you have to lock in and get it done.” he said.
The mindset of confidence and authenticity runs through the music that Ray puts out in every aspect. He makes it his way and lets people decide how they’re going to receive it. He understands the aspect of relating to his audience but at the same time, he puts out the music he wants to put out and lets the audience formulate their own perspective on how they’re going to take it.
“If people like it then I’m glad but if they don’t I’m not going to let that discourage me. The ones that are supporting me and riding for me are the ones I’m riding for. They’re the ones the title of this EP is for.” he said.
The cover of Ray’s EP, Thanks in Advance, pays homage to the iconic blimp from Scarface that read “The World is Yours.” The title of the EP addresses Ray’s listeners directly, thanking them for getting him to the point he’s at now and other points he’ll reach as he continues to grow and reach more success as an artist.
“It honestly started with that imagery of that blimp from Scarface. That mindset of looking from the bottom up and thinking that the world is yours, I believe that’s something everyone can relate to. As far as the title goes, whether people know it or not, when they listen to my music they're becoming a part of my journey. So I’m just thanking them in advance for being a part of it.” he said.
Ray Rogerss EP, Thanks in Advance, which includes the track “Paul Frank Hat,” is available on streaming services now.
You can thank Ray yourself by following him on these platforms.
Apple Music
Spotify
Instagram
Twitter
TikTok
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