Ryan “Dicio” Gardner was classically trained at the piano at a young age. He began composing orchestral works, but with no maestros knocking at his door asking to conduct his music, he had no way to listen to his masterpieces. At age eleven his father bought him some basic recording software to allow Ryan to transform his written notes into music that could be burned on a CD for all to hear. At age 15, Ryan took out a $1000 loan from his parents and bought a used Mac and additional recording gear. Soon he was running a studio out of his parent’s basement and using his income to buy microphones, synths, guitars, and other equipment. As he became proficient in more instruments, he began writing and producing pop, rock, R&B, country, and other styles of music. Since Ryan wasn’t a singer but loved hip-hop music, he figured he would give rapping a try. After producing his first two tracks, he burned ten CD’s, made some album artwork on a black an...