R.I.C.O.
by Meek Mill (featuring Drake)

Album: Dreams Worth More Than Money (2015)
Charted: 40
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • Drake kicks thing off on this track with a braggadocio verse, which finds him referencing the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (RICO), a US federal law that focuses on racketeering and punishes acts performed as part of an ongoing criminal organization. Drake worries that with his flashy lifestyle, the federal authorities might indict him under the RICO Act.

    Meek Mill spits the second verse in which he explains that he tries to keep himself in check since with his criminal record he thinks the authorities are still tracking him.
  • Meek and Drake previously teamed up on "Amen" the lead single from the Philadelphia rapper's debut album, Dreams & Nightmares.
  • According to Meek Mill, Drake doesn't write his own raps. He tweeted: "He ain't even write that verse on my album and if I woulda knew I woulda took it off my album..... I don't trick my fans! Lol."

    So how did Meek Mill find this out? He said: "When [Drake] said the dream girl s--t on 'R.I.C.O.' I thought he was coming at me. lol Then young bull played me the verse in his voice before my album came out. I was mad as s--t! Lol"

    'Young bull' is Philly slang for a younger male.
  • The alleged ghostwriter is rumored to be one Quentin Miller, an Atlanta rapper who has received writing credits on several Drake songs including "6 Man," "Now & Forever," and "You & The 6."
  • The song was produced by Vinylz, Allen Ritter and Cubeatz. Ritter recalled to Genius: "Vinylz and CuBeatz made the beat. So I heard the beat already with Drake on it. Vinylz sent it to me and said, 'You need to add a little breakdown.' What I added was supposed to be for a chorus, but they used it as an outro. Once I sent that, I heard Meek Mill on it when it came out. I'm not even sure whose song it was first. But I heard Drake on it first. This happened probably the end of 2014, early 2015."

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Neal Smith - "I'm Eighteen"

Neal Smith - "I'm Eighteen"They're Playing My Song

With the band in danger of being dropped from their label, Alice Cooper drummer Neal Smith co-wrote the song that started their trek from horror show curiosity to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

Tom Johnston from The Doobie Brothers

Tom Johnston from The Doobie BrothersSongwriter Interviews

The Doobies guitarist and lead singer, Tom wrote the classics "Listen To The Music," "Long Train Runnin'" and "China Grove."

Charles Fox

Charles FoxSongwriter Interviews

After studying in Paris with a famous composition teacher, Charles became the most successful writer of TV theme songs.

Hardy

HardySongwriter Interviews

The country hitmaker talks about his debut album, A Rock, and how a nursery rhyme inspired his hit single "One Beer."

Don Felder

Don FelderSongwriter Interviews

Don breaks down "Hotel California" and other songs he wrote as a member of the Eagles. Now we know where the "warm smell of colitas" came from.

Francis Rossi of Status Quo

Francis Rossi of Status QuoSongwriter Interviews

Doubt led to drive for Francis, who still isn't sure why one of Status Quo's biggest hits is so beloved.