Rick tha Rular (Aleric Banks) (born 1985) is an American percussionist, composer and producer, founder of St. Louis-based StarStrukk Productions. He is best known for his comedy hip hop collaborations with Andy Samberg. Rick wrote the music for two SNL skits, "Like a Boss" and "Shy Ronnie", which was nominated for an Emmy Award as part of the "Rihanna and Shy Ronnie" Saturday Night Live Digital Short. The video featured Rihanna, and Samberg portraying a shy elementary school student named "Shy Ronnie" who is cued to do a rap verse accompanying Rihanna's choral hook.
Prior to the creation of StarStrukk in 2008, Rick owned the company Reel-2-Real Records, which he eventually sold to his manager, Sam Heat. Rick met Monique Hines (Foxx StarStrukk) while they were both working at Macy's, and he signed her to StarStrukk in 2009.
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Through a connection in California, Rick submitted some music tracks to Andy Samberg's comedy troupe The Lonely Island in 2008, and produced and composed for the track "Like a Boss" which appeared on their first album, Incredibad. The song was developed into an Saturday Night Live Digital Short of the same name, and then when the troupe needed another track for "Shy Ronnie", Rick was again approached to create the music.
"Shy Ronnie" aired originally on December 5, 2009. In a classroom, Rihanna sings the hook on top of a hip-hop/R&B beat. As her verse completes, Shy Ronnie takes to the microphone reluctantly and almost silently, causing a very awkward situation between Rihanna and the students. Ronnie fails in multiple ways, from inaudibility to microphone feedback and peeing himself. Rihanna proclaims (still in song) that she should have paid Kanye West instead to accompany her on the song, and leaves. Immediately upon Rihanna's departure, Ronnie sheds his shy demeanor, and busts out two lines of rap clearly. Rihanna reenters because she forgot her purse—Ronnie reverts to his shy self. When Rihanna leaves again finally, the beat stops, and Ronnie continues in a cappella, though ending with a weak finish.