Atlanta rapper Ralo grew up with no intention of pursuing music. Born Terrell Davis in 1995, he spent the early part of his life in one of Atlanta's most dangerous and impoverished neighborhoods, struggling to raise money to support his family by means legal and otherwise. Davis was arrested often in his youth and served two serious stints in prison, abandoning an attempt at becoming an electrician before deciding to turn to music in 2015. Taking the name Ralo (or sometimes Ralo Famgoon), he called on Atlanta superstar Future to guest on his song "Can't Lie," immediately gaining local acclaim as well as more widespread notice. Ralo focused on a series of mixtapes, including 2015's Famerican Gangster and Diary of the Streets, both of which had sequels in the coming years.

As he continued making new music, he would collaborate with celebrated rappers like Young Thug, Rich Homie Quan, 21 Savage, and others, while also forming affiliations with Cash Money Records and Gucci Mane's 1017 Eskimo Records imprint. In February 2018, Ralo released a third volume of his Diary of the Streets mixtape series, recruiting Young Thug, YFN Lucci, YoungBoy Never Broke Again, Young Dolph, Gucci Mane, Future, and more; it reached number eight on Billboard's Heatseekers Albums chart. Later that year, he issued Conspiracy, with guests including YFN Lucci, Shy Glizzy, and Young Scooter. In 2019, he returned with the Free Ralo mixtape, featuring Trouble, Shy Glizzy, Young Dolph, Derez De'Shon, and others. ~ Fred Thomas, Rovi