By Isaiah Smith/reporter

Rich Boy, the first hip-hop artist from Mobile, Ala., to sign a major record deal, gets in the flow with his self-titled debut album Rich Boy.

“ Certain songs might tell you a little something about my upbringing,” Rich Boy said in a press release.

“ Certain songs might tell you how I relate to others’ life experiences,” he said in the same press release.

“ On the album, I never get specific on all my dirt because I don’t feel like I need to talk about that,” he said.
“I want to put the spotlight on Mobile.”

Mobile is important to Rich Boy in his music.

Rich Boy said he wanted to express his feelings about his upbringing in this new release by bringing attention to his hometown.

Rich Boy is representing his home state on this CD, as well, even letting Birmingham, Ala., native Attitude rap on “Role Models.”

The song, also featuring David Banner, reminds society that rappers are not role models and that parents need to be more involved with their children.

“ All I want is for people to understand my music and know that I’m not trying to be someone I’m not,” he said.

“ Throw Some D’s,” featuring producer Pollow Da Don, is the first single off the album.

The light, ambient beat allows for flowing raps and a hook that rap fans will appreciate.

“ I had actually just bought a new Cadillac and I took it to my momma’s house. I showed it to her and she said, ‘It looks nice, but you need to do something to it … paint it a different color or throw some D’s on it.’ And that’s where the hook came from, my momma. They say your momma knows best,” he said.

She did.

“ Throw Some D’s” is Rich Boy’s first Top 10 hit, making him a fan favorite on BET and MTV.

“ Boy Looka Here,” a rap accented by Rich Boy’s southern drawl, is the second single.

The music is awesome; the eerie tones get ingrained in the brain.

Rich Boy has many different rhythms he can rap in: one track he is fast and loose; the next he is slow and drawled; nice.

“ Hustla Balla Gangsta Mack” is a more traditional rap. Rich Boy flows about weed, diamonds and the N-word with a catchy chorus.

The beat is good, not great; this is one of the more average tracks.

An eerie backbeat gives a Latin flair to “Get to Poppin,” a good choice for a single.

The rapping is low in tone and well highlighted by the non-English words being looped in the back.

I wish I knew what was being said, but maybe the mystery adds something.

Reggae influences the more topical song “Lost Girls,” featuring Keri and Rock City.

Rich Boy tells young girls on this track to stop looking for money in men instead of love.

The island sound is excellent and highlights all of the vocals well.

“ I made that song off of true experiences. I noticed a lot of girls throwing their life away chasing men for money. I felt I had to put some positive on the album. It couldn’t all be about drugs, dope boys and cars,” he said.

All in all, Rich Boy’s Rich Boy is a good album. I give it four stars.

Rap fans will like it because he has some great beats and flows.

I doubt he is the next 50 Cent, but the album is good enough.