Rich Robbins is a Chicago-based rapper, songwriter, producer, educator, and host.
He first gained recognition as a college student in the First Wave hip-hop scholarship program at the University of Wisconsin–Madison, where he developed his craft and artistic voice. Since then, his music has reached wide audiences, amassing over 2 million streams across digital platforms and featuring collaborations with artists like Mick Jenkins, Shawnee Dez, Saba, and Mother Nature. Rich has performed at iconic venues nationwide, including the Apollo Theater in New York, The Taste of Chicago, Wicker Park Fest, and Navy Pier.

Beyond the stage, Rich has worn many hats in the industry—from interning at Hot 97 to teaching high school students the art of poetry and songwriting. His work is known for its thoughtful critique of societal issues and imaginative visions for the future.
In 2023, he was named “Best Individual Hip-Hop Artist” in the Chicago Reader’s Best of Chicago audience poll. He’s also a recipient of the 3Arts Award for Teaching Arts, the Chicago Music Scene Fellowship grant, and was recently honored as the 2025 Duncanson Artist in Residence at the Taft Museum of Art in Cincinnati.

Drawing on his experience as both an educator and performer, Rich has founded several creative spaces aimed at nurturing emerging talent. These include Respect the Mic—a monthly open mic dubbed Chicago’s “most intimate open mic,” and nominated twice for Best Open Mic in the city.

Rich is also the creator of Soft & Tender, a living room-style interview series exploring fatherhood through the eyes of sons. The series is available to watch on YouTube, and all of Rich’s music is streaming on major platforms.
His upcoming album, In Good Taste, is slated for release in summer 2025 and marks his most collaborative project yet.