When I came across RICCO BARRINO‘s EP, ‘Bad’, I had to sit up, take note and give it a trial. If the surname brings a bell, well this R&B powerhouse is the older brother of Americana Idol winner, Fantasia Barrino and although he appeared on her single, ‘Bore Me (Yawn)’, he’s definitely a star on his own right.
Ricco has consistently been in and out of the spotlight since the early 2000s, lending his vocals to T.I.’s chart-topping single, ‘Whatever You Like’ and Colonel Loud’s hit ‘California’. A former signee of T.I.’s Grand Hustle label, Ricco has been hard at work on new music since his peak in 2015, landing records with Blacc Zacc, Da Baby, and other A-listers.
Ricco has now released a collection of these records, including those that were previously unreleased, across a series of new EPs via Common Cents/EMPIRE. Serving as a follow-up to ‘Good’ EP, released earlier this month, ‘Bad’ EP, the second installment in the series, which contains the new catchy single ‘Quavo’ as well as other previously unreleased music.
Roaring guitar riffs introduces the five piece set with track, ‘Give It To You’, leading to an uptempo summery drive, working in perfect harmony with Ricco’s robustly soulful vocals…and that vocal performance is turned up a notch or two through second funked-up, soulful effort ‘Fire’.
Changing the tone of the project, comes ‘Nothing I Would Not Do’, which brings in an intimate setting of vibrantly airy vibes later joined by rhythmic claps…and of course that vocals provided by Ricco, where he delicately shows off his falsetto range.
Flaring up to an emotional state, Ricco’s voice takes centre stage in the final atmospheric track, ‘Pray For Me’, which is guaranteed to leave any prospective listener quenching for more…
It’s a good job there’s more as BAD EP, will be quickly followed by Ricco’s third and final installment – Ugly EP – coming out 3rd September – now, that’s going to be pure FIRE! Pre-save your copy here:
Must Listens: Nothing I Would Not Do, Pray For Me
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