Ryan Edward Upchurch was born in Cheatham County, TN on May 24, 1991. He began his career on YouTube in 2014 doing comedy skits. He has also posted some “remixes” of popular rap beats at the behest of his fans on YouTube.

His first single, “Raise Hell and Eat Cornbread,” was released in 2014, and the initials RHEC have been a calling card for his brand ever since. He has released 22 albums/ep’s in three genres, country, rock, and rap.

The stories in his music reference family and his personal life—from smoking weed, his love of tattoos, and especially the county he grew up in. He dropped out of school and was working construction before he decided to prove that an independent redneck from the sticks could challenge the status quo of the Nashville scene. The album title, Chicken Willie, was inspired by his Paw Paw’s nickname.

He was partnered with Redneck Nation for distribution of his records, clothing line and other redneck-inspired merchandise. However as of 2023 there was a falling out between the owner of Redneck Nation and Upchurch.

He is from a close-knit redneck family and he often helps with charitable causes and mentors fans.