Rio da Yung O.G. – “F.L.I.N.T. (Feel Like I’m Not Through)” review

Flint, Michigan rapper & M.I.N.E. Entertainment founder Rio da Yung O.G. with a brand new mixtape & his 2nd body of work in 2025. 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 & 8 months after Rio Free, he’s taking us on a trip back to F.L.I.NT. (Feel Like I’m Not Through).

“Different Music” teeters between the Flint sound & lowend asking if you really want beef with him because of the casualties of war whereas “Great Day” flexes the 100 racks he made & refusing to listen to the music of those who be cappin’ in their raps. “Never Switched” has bit of a west coast influence to the beat talking about the FBI being the biggest gang prior to “Ghetto Love Story” working in some synths for a sexual Flint trap song.

FBLManny joins Rio for “I Go” tapping into the Detroit sound a bit looking to break the scale regardless if Manny had one of the weaker appearances on the tape while “Back Rubbed” has a cloudier trap vibe talking about picking a different plan if you wanted to rob him. “Aggressive Flow” works in some simple piano & tubular bell patterns getting more hostile in terms of delivery while “Open a Bank” featuring 3200 Tre reminds us that Money Is Not Everything.

“Rich Regardless” featuring YN Jay goes for a cloudier flint sound so they can express their shared desires of becoming wealthy while “Naked Party” talks about his preference of sliding by himself & staying with the crooked jumps. “Dumb n Dumber Flo” featuring RMC Mike calls back to the series of beloved collaborative efforts they have together while “Thug Talk” paints more gangsta imagery over a Flint trap instrumental.

We get treated to a “My Story” sequel in the form of “Another Story” picking up where the Fiend Lives Matter EP intro left off conceptually while “Sneaky B” produced by Danny G talks about blood not making you family in his opinion. “Ask Jay” blends 808s, strings & bells to talk about meeting Jesus if you’re caught sipping’ fake juice around him while the piano-tinged “BS Story” speaks of not giving no fucks regarding the previous day since it’s history.

“Big Ben” embraces the Flint sound again showing off a pinky ring he copped for $90K while “Ghetto Cypher” featuring RMC Mike, VonOff1700 & YN Jay feels like a successor to “Braggin’ Rights” except Baby Money’s not on it & VonOff1700 still having my least favorite verse out of everyone. “Ghetto Star” featuring Star Bandz & “What U Spend” featuring Zillioinaire Doe combined aren’t that much better although Danny G’s beat on the latter is the strongest of them both.

YN Jay reunites with Rio for “Ripped Jeans” to start the deluxe run crip walkin’ all over crisp blue $100 bills while “Chrome Fight” talks about his real street legend status & calls his competition weird as fuck. “Easy Kill” clarifies that he’s still signed to Peezy even though M.I.N.E.’s been popping off ever since coming home & once “YN” cloudily talks about keeping a piece on him first day out of prison, “Imported” poses the question of why people act like he owes them something.

“Morning” brings some bells into the fold talking about doing this Flint sound shit independently while “Smoke” explains that he’ll never know the way Gunna felt during the YSL R.I.C.O. case because he actually did his 60 months. “Skittle Head” featuring Veeze dedicates itself to sippin’ lean & the final bonus track “Paper Trail” talks about learning from his mistakes when he was incarcerated, confessing that he made some poor choices.

Rio da Yung O.G.’s hometown has spawned a handful of hip hop artists that’ve I’ve come to appreciate in my lifetime from The Dayton Family to Jon Connor or Lyte, but the city of F.L.I.NT. (Feel Like I’m Not Through) being widely known for people like him not always making it out gets a 62 minute love letter on the day commemorating it’s 810 area code that I find to be on par with Rio Free.

Score: 4/5

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Rio da Yung O.G. – “Rio Free” review

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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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 Endeavor-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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