Richard McLaughlin (born March 5, 1994), better known by his stage name HAARPER, is an American hip-hop artist from the San Francisco Bay Area. He began making music as a teenager and released his first song in 2016, followed by his debut EP Lapidus in 2018 and first album Emeralds in 2019.

HAARPER has gained significant recognition in the underground rap scene for his distinctive punk-rap sound characterized by heavy bass, dark atmospherics, and zealous delivery. His music blends aggressive trap beats with emotionally charged lyrics, which has earned him hundreds of millions of streams across platforms. His breakout track “Wtf U Mean” featuring Freddie Dredd has accumulated over 100 million streams, while other hits like “The Alchemist” and “Bungee Gum” have eached surpased 60 million streams.

Growing up as a military kid who moved frequently, HAARPER draws influence from diverse sources including Korean artists like Seo Taiji and American acts spanning from Three 6 Mafia to rock bands like Linkin Park and Korn. This eclectic background contributes to his versatile approach to hip-hop.