Rich Iyala is a San Francisco-raised rapper and former teenage MC who first performed as sayknowledge. Known for blending Bay Area funk and soul with hip-hop, future beats, favela funk, and hyphy, he describes his sound as “future soul hyphy funk.”

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As sayknowledge, he released Vibe Called Quest in 2013, featuring “Ariel,” a campus-radio favorite. Adopting the name Rich Iyala—a play on his legal name, Rich Ayala, with the added “i” reflecting the media and technology themes in his work—he went on to release Anthems (2018), “DAMNWELL” (2018), “Loaded” (2019), Camp Mendocino (2020), and “Slow Me Down” (2024).

 

Over the years, Iyala has collaborated with a range of Bay Area artists, including Mars Today, Mikos Da Gawd, Mr. Carmack, Equipto, Rey Resurreccion, and Cartel 360. His work includes the 2016 track “Keep It G-Real,” among other local collaborations.