{{Short description|American record producer}} {{Use American English|date=October 2024}} {{Use mdy dates|date=October 2024}} {{Infobox musical artist | name = RiotUSA | birth_name = Ephrem Louis Lopez Jr. | birth_date = {{Birth based on age as of date|23|2024|02|02}}<ref name="Complex"/> | alias = {{hlist|Riot|RiotUSA '22}} | occupation = {{hlist|Record producer|songwriter|rapper}} | birth_place = Manhattan, New York City, U.S. | origin = The Bronx, New York City, U.S. | genre = {{hlist|Hip-hop|Bronx drill|mumble rap}} | years_active = 2021–present {{Infobox person | child = yes | father = DJ Enuff }} }}
'''Ephrem Louis Lopez Jr.''', known professionally as '''RiotUSA''', is an American record producer, songwriter, and rapper.<ref name="bill1">{{Cite magazine |title=How RIOTUSA & Ice Spice Brought Drill Music to 'Barbie': 'I Always Had a Bigger Vision for It' |url=https://www.billboard.com/music/rb-hip-hop/riotusa-ice-spice-nicki-minaj-aqua-barbie-world-hot-100-interview-1235385432/ |last=Unterberger |first=Andrew |date=August 7, 2023 |access-date=April 30, 2024 |magazine=Billboard}}</ref> Born in Manhattan, he is best known for his musical productions for rapper Ice Spice, whom he met in 2021 at the State University of New York at Purchase.<ref name="Variety">{{Cite news |title=Music Industry Moves: Ice Spice Producer RiotUSA Signs Global Deal With Warner Chappell Music |url=https://variety.com/2023/music/news/tunecore-createsafe-grimes-elf-tech-ai-1235640983/ |last1=Garcia |first1=Thania |date=January 16, 2023 |access-date=April 30, 2024 |work=Variety |last2=Aswad |first2=Jem}}</ref>
RiotUSA first gained major recognition in late 2022 after producing Ice Spice's breakout single "Munch (Feelin' U)", along with her follow-up singles "Bikini Bottom" and "In Ha Mood".<ref name="bill2">{{Cite magazine |title=Ice Spice Producer RIOTUSA: 'We're Working on Her Debut Album as We Speak' |url=https://www.billboard.com/music/rb-hip-hop/ice-spice-producer-riotusa-were-working-her-debut-album-we-speak-1235560285/ |last=Mitchell |first=Gail |date=December 15, 2023 |access-date=April 30, 2024 |magazine=Billboard}}</ref> He co-wrote and produced the entirety of her debut extended play, ''Like..?'' (2023), while also serving as executive producer on the project.<ref name="bill1"/><ref name="bill2"/> That same year, he produced and co-wrote "Barbie World" (with Nicki Minaj and Aqua) from the soundtrack to the 2023 film ''Barbie'', and co-wrote the remix of "Karma", by Taylor Swift featuring Ice Spice.<ref name="Variety"/><ref name="bill1"/>
== Early life == Ephrem Louis Lopez Jr. was born in Manhattan.<ref name="Blavity">{{Cite news |title=Stop Playing With 'Em, Riot: Who Is RIOTUSA? What To Know About Ice Spice's Longtime Producer |url=https://blavity.com/stop-paying-with-em-riot-usa-ice-spice |last=Mwai |first=Kui |date=February 15, 2024 |access-date=April 30, 2024 |work=Blavity}}</ref> His father is DJ Enuff, a radio personality and disc jockey known for his work on New York City's Hot 97 and for being the Notorious B.I.G.'s road DJ.<ref name="Complex">{{Cite news |title=DJ Enuff on How Proud He Is of His Son, Ice Spice's Producer Riot USA |url=https://www.complex.com/music/a/cmplxtara-mahadevan/dj-enuff-proud-father-ice-spice-producer-riot-usa |last=Mahadevan |first=Tara |date=February 3, 2024 |access-date=April 30, 2024 |work=Complex}}</ref> His mother also worked in the music industry. He started making beats in GarageBand when he was ten years old.<ref name="bill2"/>
Lopez attended State University of New York at Purchase, where he studied communications and later met his future collaborator Ice Spice.<ref name="Blavity"/><ref name="bill1"/>
== Career == Riot met Ice Spice in 2021, and the two started collaborating soon after. He produced her debut song, "Bully Freestyle", released in March 2021.<ref>{{Cite news |title="I Must Be Doing Something Right": An Interview With Ice Spice |url=https://audiomack.com/world/post/ice-spice-interview |last=Verma |first=Millan |date=July 7, 2022 |access-date=April 30, 2024 |work=Audiomack}}</ref>
On August 10, 2022, Ice Spice released her song "Munch (Feelin' U)", produced by RiotUSA. The song gained popularity after getting support from Drake, and subsequently went viral on Twitter and TikTok. It peaked at No. 5 and 34 on ''Billboard'''s Bubbling Under Hot 100 and Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs charts, respectively.<ref>{{Cite magazine |url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/ice-spice/chart-history/hbu/ |title=Ice Spice Chart History (Bubbling Under Hot 100) |access-date=April 30, 2024 |magazine=Billboard}}</ref><ref>{{Cite magazine |url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/ice-spice/chart-history/bsi/ |title=Ice Spice Chart History (Hot Hip-Hop/R&B Songs) |access-date=April 30, 2024 |magazine=Billboard}}</ref>
Ice Spice's debut EP, ''Like..?'' was released on January 20, 2023. In addition to serving as executive producer, RiotUSA produced and co-wrote every track on the project.<ref name="bill1"/><ref name="bill2"/> Later the same year, he signed a global publishing deal with Warner Chappell Music.<ref>{{Cite magazine |title=RiotUSA |url=https://au.rollingstone.com/music/music-lists/50-innovators-shaping-rap-next-50-years-49231/riotusa-3-49272/ |last=Ihaza |first=Jeff |date=August 14, 2023 |access-date=April 30, 2024 |magazine=Rolling Stone}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |title=RIOTUSA '22 Signs Global Publishing Deal |url=https://www.purchase.edu/live/news/7593-riotusa-22-signs-global-publishing-deal |date=October 11, 2023 |access-date=April 30, 2024 |work=State University of New York at Purchase}}</ref>
In 2025, RiotUSA also co-produced Nettspend's "Stressed".<ref name=gtshnhh>{{cite web |title=Nettspend Keeps It Short And Sweet With New "Gone Too Soon" EP |url=https://www.hotnewhiphop.com/939869-nettspend-gone-too-soon-ep-hip-hop-mixtapes-stream |website=HotNewHipHop |access-date=March 19, 2026 }}</ref>
== Awards and nominations == {| class="wikitable" ! scope="col"| Year ! scope="col"| Ceremony ! scope="col"| Award ! scope="col"| Result !Ref |- | rowspan="2"| 2024 | rowspan="2"| 66th Annual Grammy Awards | Best Song Written for Visual Media ("Barbie World") | {{Nominated}} | style="text-align:center;"| |- | Best Rap Song ("Barbie World") | {{Nominated}} | style="text-align:center;"| |- |}
== References == {{Reflist}}
{{Ice Spice}} {{Authority control}}
Category:21st-century American songwriters Category:American record producers Category:2001 births Category:Living people Category:People from Manhattan Category:Purchase College alumni Category:Rappers from Manhattan Category:Rappers from the Bronx Category:Drill musicians from New York City Category:21st-century American rappers Category:21st-century American male rappers