Ryder was born in Los Santos, likely in Ganton due to his close relationship with Sweet and Carl. Ryder was once expelled from school for assaulting a teacher who was wearing the Ballas colors, although Ryder claims he was "too smart" for the school. It is also revealed that Ryder has been a drug dealer since the age of ten.

On an unknown date, Ryder joined the Grove Street Families, eventually rising through the ranks of the gang until he became one of Sweet's closest allies. The Grove Street Families, however, began to lose influence, power and money to their arch-rivals, the Ballas, due to the Grove Street Families' stance against drug sales, which was fueling the Ballas' rise to power.