RIO FREE

Rio Da Yung OG has been out of prison for about a month now, and it feels like he couldn’t wait to get back in the booth. First, he announces a huge U.S. tour, and now he’s dropped a quick mixtape that’s pure Flint, Michigan energy—just a little cleaned up compared to his older stuff. The production leans into that Michigan-style bounce we all know, but it’s polished, almost like he’s signaling that he’s ready to level up.

Let’s be real—when Rio was in his prime back in 2019, it was wild. He was dropping the most out-there, hilarious, and straight-up real bars nonstop, reshaping what a lot of hip-hop sounded like. A&Rs were scrambling to replicate that raw mix of comedy and grit, while regional scenes started running with those Michigan drum patterns that are basically a playground for rappers to let loose. Back then, Rio was all about bold, brash, unfiltered storytelling. It felt like every other line was either jaw-dropping or laugh-out-loud funny.

But this project? It’s a different vibe. You can tell he’s older now, and he’s trying to put some distance between himself and the life that landed him behind bars. He’s still touching on street themes—there’s no pretending he wasn’t in that world—but the music feels less chaotic, less violent. It’s like he’s trying to walk that line between staying authentic and being the rap superstar he’s clearly aiming to become. Honestly, just look at how much his image has changed since he got out—he’s focused on bigger moves now.

That said, Rio hasn’t lost his ability to deliver slick, effortless bars. Tracks like "Shake Back" and "OFF-RAP" are proof that he’s still got it, even if the energy isn’t quite as unhinged as it used to be. The singles he dropped before the mixtape were fire, too. This isn’t Rio’s best project, but it doesn’t need to be. It feels more like he’s feeding the fans, shaking off the rust, and having fun with it. And honestly, after everything he’s been through, that’s kind of the point.

Listening to this tape feels a little surreal. Rio’s back in the real world and already flooding us with new music—it’s almost hard to process. He’s gearing up for what sounds like a grueling tour schedule, and I just hope he doesn’t burn himself out. He’s already released a ton of music in such a short time. But if this project is any indication, Rio’s still in his bag and ready to remind us why he dominated the scene in the first place.

RIO DA YUNG OG - RIO FREE
RATING - 7.8/10

FAVORITE TRACK - OFF-RAP

GENRE - Rap, Hip-Hop, Michigan Rap