Review

R.I.O: Narrow Roads

Word for word, up and coming Manchester rapper Rio gives you your moneys worth on his first single, ‘Narrow Roads’. There’s no timekilling to be found on the song, no repeating meaningless catchphrases or pretending to freestyle while the sample play on.

Aside from the female chorus and the brief intro, the lyrics are the most important thing on the track, which need we be reminded, is how it should be in Hip-Hop. The verses have obviously had a fair amount of time and effort put into them, there’s no shoehorning a phrase in just to make it rhyme with the previous line.

The video is also worth a watch, if only to spot Manchester locations and catch Rio recording his vocals while reading the worlds smallest autocue (his mobile phone). Already familiar to mix tape aficionado’s Rio's rap style shows influence from other rappers without blatantly ripping any of them off, ultimately it’s his own voice that comes through on this tracks. His album is no doubt eagerly anticipated.
Words ADAM IRVING