Tag: Doughboyz Cashout

Payroll Giovanni – “M.O.B. (Mind my Own Business)” review

Detroit, Michigan rapper Payroll Giovanni self-producing his 15th studio LP. Notable for being a part of the Doughboyz Cashout collective, he also released over a dozen solo albums with the most notable being Big Bossin’ as well as Big Bossin’ 2 & Another Day, Another Dollar all fully produced by Cardo. Last time I covered him was when he self-produced Have Money, Have Heart a couple years ago & that was the most I’ve enjoyed his music since Giovanni’s Way, which didn’t wane any anticipation I had for M.O.B. (Mind my Own Business).

The title track opens up with some otherworldly synthesizers talking about leaving any conversation that doesn’t involve money whereas the only single “Puppies” recalls a situation occurring a long time ago where he tried to help someone only for said person to foolishly try robbing him. “No” talks about being up more these days after staying down for so long declining those who want something outta him while the west coast-tinged “Locked In” maintains his focus.

“Cash Tall” moves on from there embracing the Detroit sound to discuss keeping his circle small & his money in large amounts while the Mobb-influenced “Enough” ends the 1st leg of M.O.B. (Mind my Own Business) about having his share of days where he wasn’t making as much money as he would’ve hoped to. “Rollie wit Baguettes” gets the 2nd half going incorporating more synths talking about what happens when listening to Payroll’s music just before “On the Flo” breaks down going from the streets to riches.

The song “Point of View” talks about his perspective always being on a woman he’s romantically involved with, encouraging her to hop in his whip asking whether she wants to know anything or do something while “Bosses in the Clouds” discusses staying prayed up handling his own business. “New Levels” though spends M.O.B. (Mind my Own Business)’s final minutes talking about being in the season of his life where he can’t settle.

Getting sick of producer/artist agreements & paying lawyer fees, Payroll Giovanni had all the right reasons to solely create M.O.B. (Mind my Own Business) & I can certainly see myself coming back to it more than Hustle Muzik or If Not Me Then Who?. His production’s gotten better since 2024 & hearing it will prelude another full-length the Detroit trap veteran’s preparing within the next coming months has me hoping he’ll continue capitalizing on his artistic deftness.

Score: 4/5

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Payroll Giovanni – “Have Money, Have Heart” review

This is the very first EP from Detroit, Michigan rapper Payroll Giovanni. Notable for being a part of the Doughboyz Cashout collective, he also released a dozen solo albums with the most notable being Big Bossin’ as well as Big Bossin’ 2 & Another Day, Another Dollar all fully produced by Cardo. I was however interested in learning that Have Money, Have Heart would be entirely self-produced & felt like it could be his strongest material since Giovanni’s Way.

“Rose Annivesary” is a piano-driven Detroit trap opener encouraging to get the ball again if you fumbled it the first time prior to “Any Kit” taking the spacious route instrumentally talking about getting their shit together, huddling up & stacking their chips as a unit. “600 Benz” works in more keys & 808s flexing that his money stay hustling while “Holding Up My Line” to say fuck the attention unless it leads to business. “$10M Cribs” hooks up some synths cautioning that you’ll go too far to quit once you see his other side, but then “Cashout” ends the EP brings the synthesizers back advising that they’ll hate seeing you ball & laugh if you fall.

Living in Michigan my entire life, I’ve been following Payroll since the Doughboyz Cashout days & further exemplified himself as a legend in the Detroit trap scene ever since branching off from the crew in favor of a solo career. Have Money, Have Heart however lived up to my expectations in becoming his most consistent body of work in a few years joining the Big Bossin’ series & Another Day, Another Dollar as his most essential solo material. His production is still very much centered around the Motor City’s distinctive trap sound working out in the lab rapping without overthinking.

Score: 4/5

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