Ricky Shanklin (born August 20, 2003), professionally known as Protect, is an American recording artist from Buffalo, New York.

Protect started his music career in 2018, carving out a niche for himself in the underground music scene. His breakthrough came in 2024 when the popular streamer BruceDropEmOff appeared in his music video for “Ball Hog Summer,” posted it on his channel, and promoted it heavily. This exposure helped Protect gain widespread recognition. His debut album, All On Me, was released on March 29, 2024, featuring 15 tracks that showcase his unique sound and talent. Read more on Last.fm. User-contributed text is available under the Creative Commons By-SA License; additional terms may apply.