Cyrus Langhorne
[SOHH highlights a hot record every week and offers a behind-the-scenes look at the smash in Singled Out. After Joell Ortiz decoded his "House Slippers" anthem, Strange Music's Rittz decodes his "In My Zone" smash with B.o.B. and Mike Posner.]
Me and Mike Posner have a relationship. “In My Zone” is one of the first records I received [putting together Next To Nothing] and realized, “Wow, I have a dope a** hook right there.” I wrote the first verse a while back. This was probably last September, almost a year ago.
I wrote the first verse and started putting the album together. And then “In My Zone,” we just wanted to figure out the guest collaboration. I remember hearing an OutKast line and thinking I needed to get Big Boi on it. But Big Boi and Andre [3000] were doing all kinds of headline sh*t. So I couldn’t make it happen.
I still wanted an Atlanta artist on this record. I ran into B.o.B.‘s manager, B. Rich, I think we were in Tampa and I went up and talked to him about doing the record. I gave it to him and he eventually came back with it and that’s pretty much how the song was done.
As far as the content of the record, for me, I’m in my zone for everything I’ve achieved. I’m showing that finally after all of this time, this is how far I’ve made it but in a positive way.
A lot of times I like to write about my struggles in the industry but this is more positive and being in my zone. It really sets the tone and that’s how it came together.
Check out Rittz’s “In My Zone”:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L3KrY6kO3ZU
Man, For the skill that Rittz has, it is absolutely amazing how down to earth and humble he is. B.o.B definitely did his thing on this track too. Next to Nothing is a Need to have CD. Rittz wrecks every track.