Allow Rich Hunter to reintroduce himself.
For over a decade, the Portland-born and -raised songwriter has been writing, producing, and performing music as Risky Star. He released a handful of R&B-influenced hip-hop albums with breezy production, catchy hooks, and a raspy, laidback flow. But he decided to change directions on his latest record, Third Eye Inspiration, and drop the Risky Star moniker in favor of his real name.
On earlier releases, Hunter routinely alternated between singing hooks and rhyming over a beat, but on Third Eye Inspiration he wanted to focus on his talents as a singer and songwriter. Over nine tracks of contemporary R&B and neo-soul, Hunter touches on themes of intimacy, compassion, and—as a married father of two—the vulnerability that comes with maturity, love, and doubt. This is grown folks’ music.
“When I was writing the album,” he says, “I wanted to explore my openness to all the love I have, so far as my relationships, and express those wholeheartedly. And also the things I’m seeing on a day-to-day basis, what I deal with, as a Black man, or as an American citizen, or just a human being in general.”