11.1 Sunday (Hip-Hop) Hidden Hall & Solid Sound present: RITTZ - "Before the Drop" Tour with Jay Fiddy, Vic Daggs II 7pm, 21+ Hidden Hall 400 N 35th St hiddenhall.com After a successful run that saw him release four commercially and critically acclaimed albums, tour the world several times, and have his songs streamed tens of millions of times, Rittz found himself starting over. In addition to parting with longtime recording home Strange Music, he was battling substance abuse and was experiencing financial hardship. So in order to launch his CNT Entertainment company and the next phase of his recording career, Rittz wanted to make a statement. His friend Nawf6od came up with the idea of making things royal, that Rittz should put a crown on everything he did. Hence the title of Rittz’s remarkable new LP, Put A Crown On It. “We’re all kings and queens,” Rittz explains. “I've always liked crowns, Crown Royal, feeling like a king, and king-type stuff. I think royalty is fly. A lot of us are underdogs and have-nots, so I’m like, ‘Forget that. Let’s put a crown on everything.’ Everything that we do, I want to put a crown on it and make it king stuff.” Rittz makes a triumphant return with Put A Crown On It, a well-rounded album that showcases his lyrical agility, his storytelling abilities, and his ability to deliver powerful self-examination. The project also showcases Rittz’s keen ear for music and his ability to partner with some of music’s biggest artists to create classic material. Case in point is the propulsive “Wakeup Call,” which features Yelawolf and Twista.