The Unscripted Rise of Rodney Rikai

Rodney Rikai embodies what it means to evolve without limits. A CEO, television host, filmmaker, writer, actor, and single father, he’s built a career rooted in adaptability, community, and embracing what life gives him with purpose and humility. He’s held every role you can imagine—from behind the desk to center stage and, most recently, on the tennis court. Whatever Rodney takes on in life, his guiding principle remains constant: “I’m not here to lose.”  

Finding Community in Every Corner

Born and raised in New Jersey, Rodney grew up between two neighboring towns that couldn’t be more different. He credits that environment with shaping his ability to connect with people of all backgrounds—regardless of age, income level, or cultural upbringing. 

“I always say I grew up in duality,” he says. “I was forced to learn how to adapt. And that adaptability has given me the opportunity to exist in the current day in a multitude of different industries. It doesn’t matter where I am. I have a point of connection with anybody.” 

It was during his time at North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University, a Historically Black College or University (HBCU), that he really leaned into community and connection. “Going to an HBCU, it was the only time in my life that I was a majority [as a Black person] and in an environment that was fostered, curated, and based on nurturing who I am in totality,” he reflects. “So I’m a huge advocate of HBCUs, and during my time in college, we would take road trips to other HBCUs. Now, out in the real world, wherever we are, there is a commonality and through line in all of our experiences, so we go above and beyond to show up for each other.”

Amidst a thriving social life in college, Rodney also founded Men of Valor Excellence, a student organization designed to foster connection and accountability outside the traditional Greek system. “I wanted to create an environment that wasn’t so beholden to Greek ideologies and pledging, you know, that still gave us a constructive space to be men, just to socialize and communicate with each other. It just felt like we had a system of accountability,” he says. “I’m a huge community guy. I think community is the most important thing that we can foster, outside of family, of course. So it just was another way to build a community even within the construct of our HBCU.”

Entering Fatherhood

While college was blissful, life shifted quickly; Rodney became a father at 22. “Life accelerated from playtime to adult time very quickly,” he recalls.“Fatherhood really took me out of the playground and literally put me in a cubicle.” 

To support his young family, Rodney got a 9-to-5 corporate job in a call center, an early, unexpected plunge into the working world. It wasn’t glamorous, but it was deeply formative. 

Faced with a reality far from his dreams, he made a decision that would shape every chapter of his career: to approach every job, no matter the title or task, with unwavering dedication.

“I think that in my professional life, that has really benefited me because I don’t care what the task is, I’m going above and beyond. Work is work, and I’ve agreed to do the work, so I have to do it to the best of my ability,” he explains.

Rodney credits his son, Dylan, now 17 years old, for giving him a fresh outlook and willingness to improve in all aspects of his life. “My son softened my heart, he gave me perspective. He gave me a desire to know more, to do better, to be better. He obligated me to be something so much greater than myself, and I tried to the best of my ability to instill in him perspective—not my perspective, but to broaden his own, to see things beyond the surface, to try and think two to three steps ahead.”

An Unlikely Journey to the Spotlight

That mindset of adaptability helped Rodney step into a new chapter in life: entertainment. His entry into the limelight, he says, happened “super serendipitously.”

He had launched an artistic expression series called ‘The Heart Gallery: Things We Love,’ with music as the centerpiece. “We brought vendors in, everything from candles to clothing, and we’d have artists come in.” 

The show was paid for completely out of pocket, with no budget to pay for a host. Instead, Rodney decided to play the role himself, channeling his personable character to host the event each day. 

One day, someone came to the event and recognized his talent, eventually referring him to the popular television network BET. They were looking for new hosts for 106 & Park, an iconic American hip hop and R&B music show that was the network’s highest-rated show throughout its run from 2000 to 2014.

“This person who I did not know, a complete stranger, referred me asking for a couple of things, some headshots and footage. I sent it to him, and sure enough, BET reached out soon thereafter and gave me some screen tests,” Rodney reflects. “I was working for a company at the time called Granger, which was a maintenance repairing operations company.
I was a Territory Sales Rep, and I’ll never forget, I got fired from my job and I had no money. I was in a relationship at the time, and she was like, ‘I think we need to go away, let’s go on vacation.’ I was like, ‘vacation? I just got fired!’ And she said, “Don’t worry about it.’ So we went to Mexico. And I’ll never forget I was out on the beach and I got a call like, ‘Hey, we want you to come in and host an episode, do a guest spot on 106 & Park. That was over 15 years ago, and I have never needed to have a 9 to 5 ever since.”

Life on Film

106 & Park was the jumpstart for Rodney, as it gave him the opportunity to expand into new roles both in front of and behind the camera. He’s been a TV host for shows on The CW, Music Choice, The NBA, Revolt, Oxygen, and Caffeine; acted in shows and films like Chicago Fire, Tyler Perry’s Sistas, and Dominican Christmas movie Hope Street Holiday; and directed, produced, wrote, and acted short films like Just Breathe and Howl under his production company, Lately Early Productions.  

“When I started Lately Early, it was a culmination of all the experiences I had over 12 years in entertainment, from talent to directing and producing,” he told The Creative Independent. What started during the pandemic has evolved into a fully fledged storytelling company focused on broadening the understanding and appreciation of people of color. From shooting a Nike commercial featuring three Black woman surfers to producing and starring in TBS talk show series Points Were Made, Rodney’s portfolio includes a diverse range of projects designed to captivate and inspire.

A Proud Achievement

One of his proudest moments came in 2023 when Just Breathe premiered at the American Black Film Festival (ABFF). The short film features Rodney; his son, Dylan; and nephew, Joshua, exploring themes of Black millennial fatherhood and parenting. 

“It was surreal, to be honest,” he exclaims. “It’s the most important place that Black filmmakers can have our work shown. You know, it’s a place that’s cultivated and censored around our stories and storytelling. For there to be a space that is predicated on amplifying our creative work, it is the ‘creème de la creème,’ you know, it matters so much.”

The film also revealed something many didn’t know about him: “I didn’t realize until afterwards how many people didn’t know that I was a full time single father while I was out here chasing my dreams. So I think it gave people a completely new perspective on who I am and what my place on this earth truly is about and what it’s truly for. At the end of the night, I have to go home and make dinner for my kid…but yeah, I think it allowed for people to see me through a new lens for sure.”

Practicing Breathwork and Finding Tennis 

Just Breathe also introduces another part of Rodney’s journey: his exploration of breathwork as a tool for navigating life’s moments—whether big or small. “I’m not even aware of how often I hold my breath sometimes,” he says. “I think we underestimate its importance. We recognize it, of course, in water, and we know that we need oxygen, but to be intentional about how we release and take in oxygen is such a strategic thing…it’s a skill set that I think that everybody should have.”

Breathwork has helped him manage the stresses of daily life—and it’s also become part of his routine on the tennis court. After playing basketball for most of his life and continuously getting injured, he decided to try tennis to stay active and find a social community. “I got on the court, bought a couple of racquets, and, you know, was terrible, as to be expected,” he jokes. “[But] I stuck with it ever since. I play like five or six times a week now, it’s kind of ridiculous.”

Rodney credits Coach Gerald Matthews—known as Coach G and founder of Team G Tennis—for improving the functionality and competitiveness of his game, as well as having a good time on the tennis court. “Coach G is phenomenal at coaching. He’s a super cool Black guy from Texas. Once I had somebody who was committed to seeing me get better, then I felt welcomed in the space in a way that I hadn’t felt welcomed in a really long time. Coach G is my guy,” he says.

He’s also an active member of TuMe Tennis Social Club, a community-based tennis club in Los Angeles. He especially appreciates how the club is “intentional about creating community,” curating a space that “allows us to get out our grievances, or just laugh and joke. I think that’s incredibly healthy.”

Moderating with Impact 

Rodney’s presence in LA and tennis led to the opportunity to be involved in the USTA Foundation’s Impact Conference, where he’s been a moderator for the past three years. The conference brings together leaders in tennis and education who work with under-resourced youth. Each year, he shares a story about his grandmother, a self-proclaimed tennis fanatic, and her continuous attempts to introduce her grandchildren to the sport early on. 

“My grandmother was a special human being and always tried to get us to play tennis growing up. My cousins and I were like, ‘no, like, we’d rather watch wrestling.’ She would put matches on [regardless]. She made us watch tennis, and, you know, one of my regrets is just never really understanding it, but there’s a part of me that honors the sport and the rich history of tennis because it meant so much to her.” 

“So the USTA Foundation and hosting that conference almost feels like an extension of my childhood and my grandmother who so desperately wanted me to be a part of the sport.”

Never Stop Learning

It’s clear that Rodney has never stopped learning and evolving, and he doesn’t plan on stopping. With a robust career, a deep love for his son, and a newfound passion for tennis, he’s eager to continue embracing all of life’s opportunities. 

“We don’t get to pour ourselves into new things the way we did as children. I’m so blessed to have found tennis at this age…that sparks the neurons in my brain, that makes me want to wake up early, and that I can invest time and energy into every day.”