Tag: M.I.N.E. Entertainment

Rio da Yung O.G. – “Rio Circa 2020” review

Flint, Michigan rapper Rio da Yung O.G. celebrating his 30th born day by releasing his 10th EP. Breaking through the local trap scene during the latter portion of the previous decade under the mentorship of Peezy, 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 6 years. Rio’s previous EP The F Tape celebrated its 1-year anniversary several days ago, I can totally see why his estate unearthed Rio Circa 2020.

“Warm Up” has a rubbery, atmospheric Detroit trap flare instrumentally to get us started thanking God for allowing this rap shit to change his life whereas “Grease” bouncily talks about having the grease as opposed to the fire. “Grizzly Flow” pays homage to fellow Detroit artist Tee Grizzley over pianos & fingersnaps detailing the gangsta lifestyle prior to “Me & Mike” featuring follow M.I.N.E. Entertainment/#Boyz Entertainment artist RMC Mike demonstrating a back & forth chemistry between the 2 that gave us the Dumb & Dumber trilogy.

Mike sticks around for “Mike Voice” bringing a Bay Area vibe to the beat referencing former 11-time WWE Tag Team Champions, 2-time TNA World Tag Team Champions, ROH World Tag Team Champions, HOG World Tag Team Champions, ΩCW Tag Team Champions & The Crash Mundial Parejas Campeons The Hardy Boyz that is until Louie Ray joins Rio & Mike on “Flint Boyz” representing Vehicle City over a bell-laced instrumental. “Brother Flow” featuring Louie Ray brings in more bells, keys, strings & 808s laying out braggadocio for a few minutes preferring to shoot people than watching the WWE division of the WME Group-owned TKO Group Holdings just before “Primo Beat” keeps the bells in tact throwing the hi-hats into the fold once again continues to flex dissing those who ain’t doing shit.

“Collective Nights” produced by Danny G nears the EP’s final moments calling himself Dr. Seuss since he sold a green egg to a ham on top of having a money fight & doing a drive-by in the Hellcat coming out from up the roof of the demon over a grisly Detroit trap beat that is until the closer “DD4” finishes Rio Circa 2020 teaming up with RMC Mike for 1 more time so they can prelude an upcoming 4th installment of their standout Dumb & Dumb3r trilogy.

Rio been incarcerated for 3 years already & although only has 2 more until he finally comes home, he’s still been able to keep the streets hot in the form of both Fiend Lives Matter & The F Tape. And nevertheless of the material on this new EP being made during the COVID-19 pandemic, I happen to enjoy it more than the last one The F Tape from over a year ago. The guest are boiled down to a couple & his status in the 313 is firmly reminded.

Score: 3.5/5

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Baby Ghost – “Free da Yung O.G.” review

Flint, Michigan rapper Baby Ghost hitting us with his 4th EP. Notable for being one of the earliest signings under Rio da Yung O.G.’s independent M.I.N.E. Entertainment, he made his full-length debut in the summer of 2020 with Emotionless & the debut mixtape Cut the Light Off a couple months later. Other than his well praised sophomore effort Gho Krazy & its sequel, he also has a couple EPs under his belt in the Mislead series with a trilogy chapter on the way. We only got Gho Krazy II a few months ago & looks to make the call for his mentor’s freedom even louder.

“3Hunna Blackout” brings the 808s in for Ghost to talk about fanning out those who run up on his block whereas “Wham!” breaks down his lifestyle recalling not hesitating the first time he ever shot somebody. “Fa Fa Fa” has a general Detroit trap sound showing off his gang ties for almost 2 & a half minutes while the title track blends synthesizers & 808s to talk about him wanting Rio home as much as the rest of us do too.

We get some bells & more 808s on “Circle Pink 10’s” warning to keep his name out your mouth unless you want your brother’s head tapped just before “Wyg Gang??” asks to stop advocating for his bitch made opps to be freed & killing someone who tried to slide on him. “Smoking Her Brother”  brings the synths back in the fold letting his bitch do whatever because he don’t give a fuck leading into “He Know He Smoked” featuring Homi Michel marked the only collab of the 3 I didn’t care for in my respectful opinion.

“Gang Baby” cautions that you’ll catch a headshot tryna creep up on him while “EBK” featuring Babytron finds the duo trading verses with each other excellently for 102 seconds. “WWI” poses the question of why he should trust you when his big cousin snitched & “Blitz” featuring Babytron ends by finishing what they started on “EBK” except they both share 2 verses each instead of the back-&-forth execution of the previously mentioned collab.

Mislead 2.5 was massively disappointing considering that the first 2 entries of the series are on par with the Gho Krazy saga, but Free da Yung O.G. makes up for the last EP with one that joins Mislead & of course the sequel in being the finest. Aside from both crossovers with Tron making up for “He Know He Smoked”, I love that he dedicated to his mentor similarly to what Peezy did on Free Rio a few years back.

Score: 4/5

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