Rich Amiri – “Grit & Grace” review

Here is the 5th studio LP from Boston, Massachusetts rapper & singer/songwriter Rich Amiri. Turning heads for 4 years now off the strength of his debut EP Ethereal, the 4ersona member would go on to follow it up with 6 more EPs before signing to Internet Money Records & introducing himself to a wider audience on the aptly titled Evolution followed by the sophomore effort Ghetto Fabulous. He landed a spot in last year’s XXL Freshman Class, coming off War Ready last winter to spread Grit & Grace.

“So Long” kick things off with Amiri talking about having to cut a few people off in order for him to blow up & having no regrets whereas “Lights Out” apologizes in advance if he’s been too serious since he dislikes young hoes until the buzzkill outro. “I Don’t Mind” assures that this chick will wish she picked him in a matter of time prior to “Flex N Finesse” talking about the 2 things that he likes to do.

The beat switch on “See Us Now” was enjoyable living like a player until he waits for karma gets him for all the bad he’s done in his life while the lead single “Paranoid” asks if the world’s against him or if Amiri’s buggin’. “Twin Flame” talks about feeling like he’s back in 2016 wondering how he lost his sauce when he’s the one who made it just before “Hoes Mad” turns up 1 time out of spite of these bitches.

“Homesick” starts the 2nd half with another highlight moment minimally diving into his spirituality while the final single “In & Out”responds to 9 Vicious wanting to beef with him, assuring that it had nothing to do with a woman. “Moving Dumb” talks about not fucking around with his payroll since he’s a $1M man & being made for this while “In That Mode” compares himself to a punk rockstar, cautioning that you don’t want smoke with him.

We have some cool sampling chops for the couple minutes “Never Had I” has to offer talking about focusing on stacking his cheddar & keeping his head to when his homie died since it always gets better while the rage-inducing “Brick Brick” confidently assures he’ll be fine. “Party Rock” produced by Synthetic could easily be my favorite track here dismissing a female calling him her Romeo while the closer “Code Red” talks about not coming to fuck around.

In no way am I trying to discredit Rich Amiri’s passion to expand by taking a different approach to Grit & Grace as well as taking heavy inspiration from one of my top 10 producers of all-time Ye or formerly Kanye West regardless of having to take a step back from the fandom because of his inexcusable behavior during the first half of the year, but I didn’t enjoy it as much as Evolution & Ghetto Fabulous or even War Ready mostly because the production isn’t as interesting.

Score: 3/5

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Rich Amiri – “War Ready” review

Boston, Massachusetts up-&-comer Rich Amiri returning for the final month of 2024 with his 3rd full-length studio album. Beginning to turn heads since the fall of 2021 off the strength of his debut EP Ethereal, the 4ersona member would go on to follow it up with 6 more EPs before signing to Internet Money Records & introducing himself to a wider audience on the aptly titled Evolution followed by the sophomore effort Ghetto Fabulous. He landed a spot in this year’s XXL Freshman Class over the summer & is now War Ready roughly 6 months later.

“Amiri Trendsetter” featuring OsamaSon finds the pair kickin’ things off with this psychedelic trap instrumental talkin’ about people bitin’ their styles & that life can’t be any better in 2025 whereas “Oh Myy” has a bit of a rage influence living life as if it’s a movie. “Don’t Make Me” hazily suggests that he can show y’all how to move & finesse thanks to Internet Money in-house producer Synthetic & venny just before “U Want That?” flexes that he’s at Maggianos with a baddie over a siren & hi-hats courtesy of Rio Leyva.

OsamaSon & Amiri link back up on the futuristic trap joint “I’m wit It” explaining that shit’s getting gnarly in addition to showing off their new sticks & everyone else’s glitching while “Touché” works in a hypertrap beat talking about bitches tryna fuck him for his paper being outta their minds. “Count My Bandz” with co-production from Taz Taylor triumphantly clarifies that the world don’t owe you shit, but then the hypnotic “That’s It” boasts his lifestyle.

“Hunchos” ends the first half of War Ready expressing his fear of telling a bitch that he loves her because he’ll feel completely stupid if she ends up cheating on him while “Same Old Me” samples “New Person, Same Old Mistakes” by Tame Impala to talk about those thinkin’ shit’s sweet being goners. “I’m Gone” admits that he doesn’t want to choose violence & he’ll dead any beef if they bring it to him over a rage-inducing instrumental while “Stormi Daniels” likens his girl to the titular pornstar.

Meanwhile on “Keep It Cool”, we have Amiri maintaining the hypertrap vibes saying y’all better keep it cool ’cause shit could get ugly at any point while the carefree “So Easy” talks about having his way. “Gutta Gutta” promises that he won’t ever switch on his Day 1s shell shocking people & leaving them wrapped up while “G23” turns the bass up staying focused off the adderrall.

“U Like?” reaches further towards the backend of War Ready turning the distortion up a bit addressing a mischievous bitch who doesn’t love him at all & actually wants to beef him coming to the apparent realization that he doesn’t think he can save himself anymore while “Day After Day” finishes the LP with a cavernous trap cut knowing he’s been making it look like a breeze as a result of doing it from the very beginning.

Starting the deluxe run with a bang, “Heavy Steps” that Toom of Vanguard Music Group helped laced asks how you saying you have a check when you can’t even afford your rent while the intergalactic trap cut “New Celine” talks about him refusing to cop a plea deal. “Ray Charles” happens to be the final bonus track of the 3, treating a bitch as if she’s the rhythm & blues icon not seeing shit alluding to his blindness when he was still here.

Many have criticized Amiri for having a supposed “lack of authenticity” & he pretty much takes the opportunity to silence those individuals by putting out an album that reinforces why he landed a spot the 2024 XXL Freshman Class nearly 6 months ago. Although he’s been experimenting with his music for a while now, he’s trying out more new sounds on here & it results in his most eclectic offering.

Score: 3.5/5

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Rich Amiri – “Ghetto Fabulous” review

This is the sophomore full-length album from Boston up-&-comer Rich Amiri of the 4ersona collective. Beginning to turn heads since the fall of 2021 off the strength of his debut EP Ethereal, he would go on to follow it up with 6 more EPs before signing to Internet Money Records & introducing himself to a wider audience this past spring on the aptly titled Evolution earlier this past spring. And with only a month left of fall to go, Amiri’s returning halfway through the 4th quarter to show off how Ghetto Fabulous he is.

“No Handouts” is a cloudy trap opener co-produced by Rio Leyva talking about bossing up becoming the man now simply tryna play it safe previously whereas “I Want Everything” expresses his desire to have it all over a cloudy backdrop with some hi-hats worked in also. “Quartermill” happens to be another atmospheric trap cut flexing that he’s got $250k on him prior to “Outta There” talking about rockin’ out the show & collect the check afterwards over a glossy trap beat from solely Rio.

The rage vibes throughout “1 Call” are pretty interesting as Amiri let’s it be known he doesn’t trust anyone just before the horn-inflicted “Illuminati” addresses the claims that some of these idiots out here have been making that he’s a part of the titular secret society. “Sticks on Ready” boasts that his whole team’s too rich ‘cause someone put on his guys accompanied by a futuristic trap instrumental, but then “Troops” acknowledges that everyone knows he ain’t a fool & I love the angelic trap vibes to the beat.

“Forza” continues the 2nd half of Ghetto Fabulous by bragging about racing just like the titular video game franchise over more horns & hi-hats while the vibrant “Codeine Crazy” produced by Taz Taylor & ReidMD from Vanguard Music Group is a dedication to the lifestyle that he’s found himself involved in since making music. “Ain’t Nothing” shows off how crazy he’s been going resurrecting the trillwave aesthetics of some of the previous joints that is until “Paper Bag Tags” goes for a playful approach showing a sensual side to Amiri.

The bassy penultimate track “What It Cost” draws near the end confessing he doesn’t know anything about old money even though he’s got a whole lot of new money these days & “Kurt Cobain” wraps it all up by hooking up a trap instrumental reminiscent to that of a retro video game breaking down the ways of him livin’ large now that his music career is taking off alongside his profile continuing to increase as a result of that.

Evolution showed a lot of growth in Amiri earlier this year & as a way of possibly ending his 2023, he’s giving everyone a glimpse into his Ghetto Fabulous lifestyle & making it as consistent as the previous body of work from him. Internet Money’s production continues to bring the best out of him as he flexes his newfound fame & fortune.

Score: 3.5/5

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Rich Amiri – “Evolution” review

Rich Amiri is an 18 year old recording artist from Boston, Massachusetts who’s been turning heads since the fall of 2021 off the strength of his debut EP Ethereal. The 4ersona member would go on to follow it up with 6 more EPs before signing to Internet Money Records not too long ago. So considering a new label deal, it’s only right for Amiri to shake things up harder than normal in the form of a 12-track/25 minute full-length debut.

“Mention” is a spacey trap opener produced by Taz Taylor, Nick Mira & Rio Leyva referring to himself as a top dog & telling this chick he genuinely loves her whereas “Don’t Feel Ya” works in some synths & hi-hats from Vendr talking about drawing a million as well as being the one taking risks whippin’ bricks. “Best Friend” keeps things in atmospheric trap territory detailing a hoe trying hard to get close to him just before the wavy “Friend of Mine” talks about hitting the lottery.

Moving onto “Salty”, we have a bassy yet hazy banger showing off his sticks until Lil Tecca tags along for the vibrant pop rap cut “Poppin’” that eventually became the album’s 3rd single to talk about the famous lifestyle that both of them are living these days. “Ballin’” finds him telling his girl that he wants to have fun with her tonight on top of a minimal yet rubbery beat, but then “Don’t Exist” comes through with a vulnerable letter to his ex.

“Ace” blends some pianos & hi-hats to brush off any & all nonsense that people try to send his way while the song “Casket” is a catchier jam about living lavish & running up the bag. The penultimate track albeit “Dirty Money” opens up on the benefits of his newfound success over a pluggy instrumental & to round things out, “Can’t Die” finishes the album with him over a rage beat Cxdy made talking about cutting off old friends & copping new bands.

TyFontaine was my favorite Internet Money signee up until he left the label quite some time ago, but Amiri most certainly continues to fulfill that roll with Evolution here. The production is as strong as it was on For the Better last summer & dude really does display how much he’s grown within the last couple years with some of his catchiest songwriting yet.

Score: 3.5/5

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