From the days of Jungle right through to his involvement in the Pay as you go & Roll deep movement Riko has always been an Mc to trust for raw unadulterated lyrics as well as a Ragga inspired Flow which has thrown many crowds into a frenzy and which only a few Mc's can say they have fully mastered.
After a brief hiatus Riko has made a welcome return to the game with his 'woooo riddim' as well as a few more warning shots but really threw his hat back into the ring with the now infamous track 'The Phone call'
Not one to rest this was followed up with 'Blowing up again' Ep and now with 'Sleeping Giant' which is 22 tracks of Riko at his best with a well balanced mixtape with all bases covered and covered well.
Starting things off with the Ragga tinged 'Sleeping Giant' which sees Riko killing a wizzy wow instrumental with bars like ("My bullets them big like a temping bowling ball,bowling ball,this a the rolling call,rolling call,we left a bwoy head a bawl") this is followed by a hard futeristic breakbeat track 'May to September'and the Gully sounding 'Yard Man' and 'The phone call' next is the anthem triumphant sounding 'Blowing up again' but its not just street tracks as the track'Punani Run' demonstrates with Riko Spitting about linking chicks and his preferences ("what you know about bbw?where girls are so big they cover you,smother you,when they cover you up,them big girls there will swallow you spit you out,any girl wanna try can't kiss my mouth")
Other hot tracks include the boxing inspired story 'Fight night' with Riko paying homage to all Legendary Fighters which is something I can't ever recall any UK artists doing.
For the hardcore Grime heads check out 'Ganja Man','Call of Duty' and 'Grime Reaper' where Riko lyrically murders any Mc who sights him.
Sleeping Giant is a very good effort from Riko Dan as it is peppered with different moods and styles of music from Grime to Rock,but not in a rushed or forced way as he sounds comfortable on all tracks.
The main thing which stands out on this mixtape is the grown man feel that runs throughout with Riko dropping jewels here and there check out the introspective 'My life' with a chorus that touches the heart ("I wish I could have started again, would never ever make yo mumma cry,would never robbed my friends I would have never spent so much time in pen,My Life,My Life")
With music like this its fair to say that the Sleeping Giant has definitely awoken,the only thing missing from this mixtape is the lack of features but on the other hand it to him for making a mixtape the good old fashioned way showing he can rely on his own talent to carry him!
All in all this is a mixtape with something for everyone and fans of Riko Dan will definitely be satisfied with This his latest effort.Be sure to support this.
8.5/10
track 16's the best track
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