To his friends, family and the campus organizations he affiliates with, he is known as Ronald Turner.
However, to anyone in the music industry he is known as R-Tistic.
Turner is a third-year CIS student from Los Angeles. He is also a producer, who has worked with several artists in the California music scene.
To name a few he has worked with The Game, Glasses Malone and Bishop Lamont.
Turner produced a track titled “Therapy Music” on Malone’s latest Black Wall Street mix tape “White Lightnin (Sticks).” The song features Kam and the multi-platinum selling The Game.
Turner said he made the beat for the song, which includes the same sample used on Destiny Child’s current single “Girl,” more than a year ago.
“I usually don’t sample,” Turner said. “It’s all coincidence that Destiny’s Child ended up using that same sample.”
Turner said he has been making beats for 10 years and has been selling them for five years.
“I used to rap too, but I didn’t gang bang and at that time in L.A., that’s all people talked about, so I stopped,” Turner said.
Turner said his father, a FAMU alumnus and a former member of the Marching “100,” got him into music.
“My father’s been doing music forever, he’s a drummer and composer and has worked with a lot of big names like Isaac Hayes and Ray Charles,” Turner said. “He taught me how to play the drums and he had the equipment, but as far as rap beats, I taught myself.”
Despite having produced a whole album for a group in high school, Turner said he really got his foot in the door in late 2002.
That’s when Turner’s friend from high school told him that she knew members of The Black Wall Street (The Game’s record label) entourage. His friend then set up a meeting with Black Wall Street artist Black Friday and a Black Wall Street executive. They heard some of his beats, and decided to take a chance on him.
“I’m not signed to them, but there is a definite alliance,” Turner said.
From there, he started doing beats for several Black Wall Street mix tapes.
With all of the newfound success, many wonder why Turner remains at FAMU. He said his decision to stay at school has less to do with music and more to do with family.
“Both of my parents and most of my family went here,” Turner said. “I knew I was going to FAMU when I was in elementary school.”
Turner said that there are some definite advantages to working out of Tallahassee.
“Tallahassee might seem small, but it’s incredible for networking purposes,” Turner explained. “In Tallahassee I have the opportunity to meet people from all over the U.S., where in L.A. you don’t often meet people who aren’t from California.”
A major obstacle that Turner has faced is the lack of support from his parents. He said his father understands his passion for music, but he thought it would be a distraction from his studies.
Despite being so involved in his music, Turner is still very much involved with various campus organizations.
“School is very important to me, it’s an accomplishment, the rap game is shaky, a degree is something that will always be there and I can always depend on,” Turner said.
Nick Birdsong contributed to this story