This is the sophomore full-length studio LP from Flint, Michigan rapper & M.I.N.E. Entertainment founder Rio da Yung O.G. home from behind bars. Breaking through the local trap scene during the latter portion of the previous decade under the mentorship of Peezy signing to #Boyz Entertainment in tandem with EMPIRE Distribution, he has since put out his last 9 EPs as well as a full-length debut album & a handful of collaborative projects under his belt all over the duration of 7 years. Rio Circa 2020 was a solid EP celebrating his 30th birthday & we’re here 8 months to celebrate Rio Free.
“Yung O.G.” happens to be this synth-driven Detroit trap intro demanding everyone brings their cheddar out now that he’s in the streets again whereas “Shake Back” comes through with a club banger clarifying his only concern being getting his weight back. “Do Dat” tears down his competition mixing Detroit trap & Mobb music leading into “Me & Marc” talking about going from sitting incarcerated to a Maybach.
Moving on from there, “Uncle Sam” warns that he might pull up with a strap & everything he says ain’t cap at all just before “Off-Rap” wanting to know how he got indicted when he ain’t ever cooked powder. The title track makes a clear statement that it’s his time now while “We Dem Niggas” reps M.I.N.E. & #Boyz Entertainment while “W.Y.D.T. (What You Do Today?) asks a question for the broke. “Rap War” concludes Rio Free by daring everyone to bring their dogs out.
“Something Happen” kicks off the deluxe run with some bells gearing up to a start a fire up in this muhfucka while “4 Minutes of Hell” holds it down for that exact length of time rappin’ without a hook. “Coincidence” asks how the fuck y’all became broke when he was in jail & him being rich soon as he came home while “Booked Summer” talks about his son loving money as much as he does never wanting any toys.
As for “Make a Way”, we have Rio assuring that he still has the wheel except he can’t steer straight these days getting by with 25 racks while “We Need a Pilot” talks about needing to sit down for a minute due to him consuming too many pills. “2:52am in Atlanta” lays a trap out in order to catch a mouse while “Cousin Killed” talks about slime shit resulting in his cousin’s death. “Crash Dummy” admits that he cries even with his gangsta status & the final bonus track “Claressa Shields” gives his flowers to the Flint boxer & MMA fighter.
For only a 54 minute follow-up to the full-length debut turning 5 this spring, Rio da Yung O.G. gears up for his homecoming show at the Masonic Temple tomorrow by dropping one of the most pivotal offerings in his discography yet. He refrains from having any guests join him in contrast to Rio Circa 2020 containing features half of the time letting the Detroit trap scene that he’s a key figure of know that he’s returned as if he was never locked up.
Score: 4/5
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