Man of the People, For the People

“The job of an artist is to document the times that they live in” -Nina Simone

The music and ministry of Rachard and his label For the LO. is not made only to reach charts; it’s for reaching souls. The Bossier City native has spent his teens and early twenties mastering the art of rhyming in preparation for his time out front. That time is now.

For the Lord

“The assignment meets the gift.”

The young rapper is not afraid of having his music defined by his love of God. In his youth, he shied away from those limiting labels that would try to box in his style and sound. Maturity and growth has taught him to ignore preconceived notions and be the artist God designed him to be. “That’s who I am as a man, “says Rachard. “ I am a Christian and I make music. But I don’t think about it in a traditional sense.”

For the Love

Rachard’s fresh musical perspective is a reflection of his love for combining different elements of music from genres such as hip hop, jazz, gospel, and R&B. He is passionate about creating music to live and grow to, even though the business of making music has not always allowed him the creative space he needs to speak his truth.

When describing his process for creating the thought-provoking and soul-stirring rhymes, Rachard explains that he doesn’t have a set writing method. “I feel this [emotion], so I want you to hear it. Everything I do with my music is intentional. No matter how small it is, I’m trying to provoke something inside you.” For the young artist, creating music is an act and an expression of love for his creator and his community.

For the Locals

For the LO. is a movement and a collective that relies on the support of an entire community of artists and friends. Rachard admits that he would not be able to continue on his journey towards ministry without this collaboration of like-minded individuals. “For the LO. is an amalgamation of so many people,” he says. “It’s amazing to see so many people rallying behind this banner.”

For You and You and Me and Y’all

It’s counter-culture. It’s unpopular. It’s how For the LO. has to be. The sanctuary of creative expression has been built by the believers for the believers. The music industry in America sets certain expectations upon artists who look a certain way and use a certain medium, but Rachard hopes to continue to grow the community where he and his friends are able to create freely with no boundaries. The lesson lies in knowing that people do not have to be convinced to be a part of a community. We are all longing to be a part of something that we can believe in.

At the age of 16 Rachard was the winner of Shreveport's 2011 contest "R U The Next Scream-Star" hosted by Blade Studios. Rachard would go on to open the sold-out show for international touring acts: Mindless Behavior, Diggy Simmons, Jacob Latimore, The OMG Girlz, and Hamilton Park. This single performance would lead Brady Blade, owner of Blade Studios, to offer Rachard a recording contract for his newly founded Mid-City Records (home to Brian Blade). After an eight year hiatus from the music scene, Rachard has returned with his debut single "Clarity" released via his own label, For The LO. Recordings & Publishing. Rachard has appeared on local platforms such as: KTAL's Living Local, #TheSpotlight, and Music Prize 2019. The rising artist has played shows at numerous venues in the Shreveport/Bossier City area, and is expanding into the regional area with performances in Dallas, TX in 2019.

http://soundcloud.com/rachardofbossier

Louisiana State University (Shreveport)