Of all the things that rap artists from Detroit have in common, the trait that stands out glaringly amongst them is an ethereal sense of intellect that can only come from being equal parts book-smart and street-wise. It is what allows artists like D-Rick to traverse beyond the run of the mill rags to hood-rich stories that are characteristic of those just starting their music career to dig deeper into his life for substance. This sensibility informs his songwriting and every facet of his creative process. His latest project “Kidd & Licia Son” is audio proof. Thanks to growing up in Motown's backyard, Derek "D-Rick Blackmon inherited the audiophile gene from his mother and father, both of whom were no strangers to the sensation of placing needles on records. Blackmon's earliest musical memories are of his mother allowing him to put Def Jam records onto the player and being amazed at the booming vocals emitting from the speakers. They were markedly different from the Motown favorites and "quiet storm" R&B that his mother would play during Saturday cleaning. These, among others, are just some of the reasons why words like "poignant" and "emotionally aware" only scratch the surface when speaking of D-Rick and his pronounced tone that slides between a midwestern drawl and east coast focus. His soul-baring and biting lyricism take center-stage on his now 3rd album Kidd & Licia Son. Check It Out!