THT Cyrus – ‘Mama’s Boy EP’ [Review]

Up-and-coming rapper THT Cyrus makes his entrance on EARMILK with his new project Mama’s Boy EP—a 4 track body of work dedicated to his late mother who recently passed away. The latest EP dives into THT Cyrus' not-so-rosy upbringing that includes an absentee father, a hardworking mother, and the allure of street life.

The EP opens up with the aptly titled “Mama’s Boy Intro” which sets the tone with its nostalgic and reflective soundscape that employs a classic Mary J Blige sample to good effect. Here THT Cyrus’s vivid storytelling comes into play as he takes us back to his not-so-glamorous childhood and the many struggles his mother faced while raising him. THT delivers a reflective performance with heartfelt lyrics such as “Thank you for loving me when the world didn't, not just bring me into this world, you kept me in it”, which shows how much positive influence his mother had on him. This is followed by “Yes”, a church organ-driven track that celebrates the journey thus far. THT Cyrus details the day-to-day hustle and the never-ending grind he put in to realize his goals. Lines like “All my potential is instrumental/ That is beat to the punchline/Hungry to make it and move into clutch/every day was crunch time” helps summarize his work ethic and never-say-die spirit. He is joined by Shaun Flaco who adds his own 2 cents to the track with a smooth melodic performance.

“From The Top” is a solemn and contemplative tune with celebratory elements. Over the lush soundscape, THT Cyrus takes us back to his childhood as a Cali baby trying to find his footing in an unforgiving environment. He sums it up in the following lines "Followed 22, I never knew I lose my heart/ In the moment, lost pop young, mom as a grown man/Imagined when it happened, kicked the habit, tried to zone in/Feeling like the different son but I always figured never had uncles and cousins just big bros and little ones" which give listeners a deeper glimpse into how these events made him the man that he is. On the track, he also shows gratitude for his mother for always believing in him. Vocalist R. Shade helps solidify the emotions in the chorus with an uplifting hook. The final track “Heal” helps wrap up this emotionally powerful project. Over a solemn piano-driven soundscape, THT Cyrus shares a soul-stirring tale of his young self and how it parallels his father in some ways. Far from demonizing his father, THT acknowledges his flaws and his own shortcomings and determined not to repeat the same mistakes opts to take another route in his life.

With 4 tracks and a running time of 14 minutes and 50 seconds, Mama’s Boy EP is straight to the point but dense as THT Cyrus was able to explore the necessary topics needed to bring listeners closer to his life. The topics are intimate while revealing a soul-stirring and uplifting undertone to the artist. Overall, this is a beautiful project with cohesive storytelling and well-crafted production.