In Loving Memory
King Ralphy was an institutional abuse survivor and a dedicated volunteer of ICAPA Network. He touched the lives of our community everyday with his unconditional love and empathy for all. He never missed an opportunity to spread positivity, and was always there to give love and support. He was passionate about the cause to protect children from institutional abuse; supporting legislation, public awareness, creative projects and organizations dedicated to helping survivors in need.
About
Ralph Iken
Ralph Iken better known as King Ralphy was a popular New York City Socialite, Publicist, Marketing Executive, Blogger, DJ, MC, Fashionista, and Human Rights Advocate. He grew up in Brooklyn, NY, and was equally as street-smart as he was accomplished. He started his love of nightlife as a teenager attending drum and bass raves and loving rap music. Later leading to promoting dance music events all over the city.
Ralphy was a blogger and digital artist. KingRalphy.com is featured across the world. As a hobby since his youth, Ralphy released DJ mixtapes on the internet in the hardstyle, house, and drum n bass genres. Ralphy’s house mix sets led him to guest mixes on popular NYC radio stations and KULT.FM ran by the world-famous Kult Records. Ralphy’s first single, “Over To The Speaker” was produced by Bryan Galvan and released in 2011.
Ralphy hosted some of NYC’s most infamous mega clubs like HAUS at Cielo, Griffin Sundays, Ocean @ Splash W/ Yamil X, HeBro’s Jewbilee Party, P3LiGRO, Rockit, Griffin Sundays, The F Word, Dance Here Now, Rockit & Club 57, Pink Elephant, Marquee, Splash Bar with Fashion Designer’s Richie Rich & Malan Breton.
Ralphy had a reputation for promoting bigger circuit-style events such as Pacha New York, the infamous WORK! party with Grammy-winning DJ and party producer, Peter Rauhofer, VERVE with DJ Eddie Elias, and Just Circuit Magazines’ Destination: PRIDE events. Ralphy hosted his own after-hours at NYC hotspot GreenHouse w/ DJ Eddie Baez as well as Six Flags OUT AT NIGHT.
Ralphy hosted Fashion Week events with Countess LuAnn Deleseeps & Alex McCord of The Real Housewives of NYC, Jason Preston, VH1 reality star 12 Pack, Rapper Lil’ Kim, Paper Magazine Editor Mickey Boardman, Mike Ruiz, and Amanda Lepore. Rapper Foxy Brown remains one of King Ralphy’s closest friends, who dedicated her next album to him after learning of his passing.
King Ralphy and long-time friend MiMi LuvsMusic chronicled nightlife in a rockumentary they made during NYC Pride in the early 2000s. Ralphy planned events for the Trevor Project, United We Dance alongside songstress Inaya Day to benefit the Non For Profit Organization Life Beat & more. He advocated for safe sex, harm reduction, and the war on HIV and AIDS.
Ralphy’s adventures landed him on the pages of TMZ, New York Press, Time Out New York, Just Circuit Magazine, HX, BlackBook Mag, Guest of A Guest, Next Magazine and a cover story on NYC nightlife tabloid GET OUT Magazine. He made a cameo in singer Lovari’s Music Video and was a part of the video’s premiere at the NYC LGBT EXPO.
In 2018 Ralph suffered institutional abuse hidden under the guise of treatment. It did not take him long to turn that pain into advocacy. In 2020 Ralphy broke his silence of abuse and publicly started sharing his #breakingcodesilence story. He loudly advocated for human rights protections and against totalistic treatment. By 2021 he joined ICAPA Network as a volunteer assisting with marketing and media project development. The following year he launched the #notjustbritney hashtag campaign and instagram page dedicated to exposing human trafficking and calling for legislative reform to prevent coercive control. Ralphy dedicated his life to advocating for others and turning pain into change.
Ralph Iken dedicated his life to the arts, entertainment and advocacy. With his passing we hope to memorialize all that encompasses King Ralphy. He is survived by his mother Hillary Iken and an uncountable number of friends who were family, fans whose lives he touched and individuals who were given a voice by Ralphy.
Below are all the ways Ralphy can be remembered. Please visit his many sites, listen to his catalog of music and contribute to his passion for justice.
King Ralphy on Itunes: www.bit.ly/kingybeats
King Ralphy on Beatport: www.bit.ly/kingybeat
Donate
The Ralphy Loves you Fund
Ralphy never stopped reminding his chosen family how much he loved them. His survivor community was a part of that family. He passionately supported survivors and the cause they fight for. This fund will go to providing funds to assist survivors in advocacy efforts.
Ralphy was a walking contradiction. He was fascinated and successful in the celebrity realm. He once described himself to me as a celebrity to the celebrities. Most of those celebrities’ fans never even knew his name, but they do! But he was always just… real and accessible to survivors who were nowhere near celebrity status.
Ralphy never sold out. He came real for me when I told him about a 15yo kid locked up in Allegheny County Jail on false charges and he found that child and his mother the help that they needed.
Only the good die young. I’ll miss you, Ralphy, and I’ll be compelled to Carry on my little part of your life’s work as I understand it. <3
I will miss your positivity and kindness in the survivor space. I wish we’d had the chance to meet in person. You are already missed.