RIO FREE (Something Happen)

the take

Rio da Yung OG is a rapper I only know of via his features on a YN Jay project some years ago. I thought his appearances were decent, but apparently Rio is a big deal in the Detroit sound scene the last few years. On the appropriately titled "RIO FREE", Rio lets it be known that he hasn't missed a beat, even after being locked up for some time. He has some nonsensical bars like YN Jay every so often, but Rio says it with so much conviction where it comes off as him just speaking his truth, which somehow captivated me to listen to what he had to say next. If anything, Rio makes it sound like he actually lives his raps, which could be true. It doesn't always make a song automatically good or great by any means, but it does increase the probability of such, though. The production, while mostly staying true to its Michigan sound and expected as such, still has me bobbing my head and doing the Squabble dance pretty frequently. "Do Dat", "WYDT (What You Do Today?)", and deluxe track "Make a Way" are three that are easily my favorites. I went into this album thinking it'd be average, but I don't know, I caught myself vibing to this more than I anticipated.