Ricky Shanklin (born August 20, 2003), professionally known as Protect, is an American rapper from Buffalo, New York. He first rose to fame in 2024 with the release of his second album, Ball Hog For Life, which was critically acclaimed for its "melodic" style and "pristine hooks".
Early life Shanklin was born on August 20, 2003, in Buffalo, New York.
Career Beginnings and breakthrough (2017-2025) Shanklin began recording music in 2017, when he was just 14 years old. His first ever song that he recorded was titled "Ignorant Freestyle". On March 29, 2024, Shanklin would release his debut album, All On Me, but would not seek fame until midway through the year, with the release of his second album Ball Hog For Life, which was critically acclaimed for its melodic flows, catchy hooks, and relatability amongst fans. Following the release of his second album, Shanklin was able to sign a record deal with Atlantic Records later in the year.
500 Days of Summer & Slimedude2003 (2025-present) Following his second album release and record signing, Shanklin released his third album and debut studio album under Atlantic on August 15, 2025, titled 500 Days of Summer, which took inspiration from the movie of the same name. Entering 2026, Shanklin was revealed to make his debut at Rolling Loud Orlando, which was held from May 8-10. As for his first release of the year, Shanklin released his first track of the year on February 6, 2026, titled "Pwned". On February 21, it was announced that Protect would be performing at First Class Fest in Toronto on August 29, marking his second major performance On June 5, 2026, Shanklin surprise released his mixtape, Slimedude2003.
Artistry Vivian Medithi of The Fader described Shanklin's musical style as "sat somewhere between" between rage and melodic artists such as OsamaSon and Destroy Lonely, and mentioned his collaborations with some of the most popular producers in underground hip-hop, specifically naming wegonebeok, Cade, prettifun, CXO, and Rio Leyva. Alphonse Pierre of Pitchfork wrote that Shanklin's sound was reminiscent to that of "the Pi'erre Bourne 2.0 wave of tdf’s Culture and the debauchery of Ken Carson."
Personal life Shanklin is affiliated with popular online streamer, BruceDropEmOff, the two formed a collective called Ball Hog. Shanklin is a fan of the Buffalo Bills and enjoys video games such as Sly Cooper, Skyrim, Fall Guys, and Resident Evil 9, his favorite character from the Resident Evil franchise is Leon.
Discography Studio albums Title Details All On Me Released: March 29, 2024 Label: Self-released Formats: Digital download Ball Hog For Life Released: December 20, 2024 Label: Self-released Formats: Digital download 500 Days of Summer Released: August 15, 2025 Label: Atlantic Records Formats: Digital download
Mixtapes Title Details Slimedude2003 Released: June 5, 2026 Label: Atlantic Records Format: Digital download, streaming
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