Ryan Pickard, better known by his stage name Burn-Out, is an independent Hip Hop artist and American rapper based out of Portland, Oregon. He creates his own style of hip hop music called party-hop that is hyphy with elements of party and dance mixed with west coast bounce. Burn-Out has a witty metaphorical rhyming style with a deep story telling element. He was also a local freestyling champion. Burn-Outs biggest influences are Tupac Shakur, Notorious Big, Method Man, Nas and OutKast. Burn-Out has opened for artists such as Bizzy Bone, Spice 1, Luniz, Devin the Dude, Brotha Lynch, Bubba Sparks and more. Burn-Out was raised by his mother together they experienced homelessness and poverty. Burn-Out got his love of music from his mother and biological father, who gained mild success as a rock musician before taking his own life in 2012. His mother was an avid piano player and taught him how to play at a young age. Burn-Out started writing music at 16 years old, after loosing a close friend, whom was murdered. By this time he was also gaining a name for himself as an up and coming freestyle artist. Burn-Out also has acting skills and has been an extra in films such as, The Sasquatch Gang starring Justin Long and Jeremy Sumpter and Indian Summer. He is also aligned with u.g.d. entertainment and is co-founder of ILL SkiLL recordings.