Emerging West Philadelphia, PA-raised hip-hop artist RiZ may not be a household name yet but the young rapper seems determined to change that. On his newest release titled IKon, a 5-track EP that displays his love for heavy trap soundscapes and off-the-cuff lyrical style.
The EP opens up with the moody bass-heavy "Rollin’ (Ooh)" and RiZ set it off like a rocket with an array of flows and bravado-laden lyrics. He shows off his swagger in copious amounts on this tune and throws in a catchy chorus for good measure. On "Back In My Bag," he employs a playful piano-driven beat and applies pressure with his energetic performance and knack for weird and funny lines while the drill-infused "Faucet" has more of a moody and ominous aesthetic. Both tracks are just RiZ flexing his lyrical muscles to the fullest. The energy on the project changes on "Know My Name" where he gives listeners a glimpse into his life. From graduating to finally choosing his path in the music business, RiZ shares the good and bad times from a reflective perspective. RiZ closes out the project with "Who Gon Ride" a solemn, electric guitar-driven mellow track that sees him questioning the authenticity of his friends and those close to him.
Overall IKon feels like a short trailer that peers into the rapper's life but doesn't give out too much information, however with the heavy trap production, catchy choruses, and fiery performances, RiZ sure has something worth checking out.
