Harlem’s own Riviir is back with a sonic boom, unleashing his highly anticipated EP Rap 4 Me on August 1, 2025. This two-track powerhouse, featuring rap legend The Game, marks Riviir’s bold leap into the mainstream while staying true to his roots in the gritty sound of 2000s East Coast Hip-Hop. With both tracks self-produced, Riviir delivers a nostalgic yet fresh vibe that’s set to crank speakers.
The lead single, Rap 4 Me, is a testament to Riviir’s creative process. Conceived in April 2025, the track began as an experiment in LoFi hip-hop, aiming for a laid-back feel. But after countless scrapped sessions, Riviir pivoted, preserving only a haunting string section that sparked inspiration. Weeks later, he returned with a vision: a high-tempo banger layered with soulful, self-recorded background vocals cleverly filtered to mimic a female voice. Bass, drums, and snares followed, crafting a beat that pulses with energy. Riviir penned the first and third verses, then passed the track to The Game, whose verse adds a razor-sharp edge to the record.
The EP’s second track, Kochi, is a resurrection of a beat born in 2014, originally titled “Don’t Do That There” and destined for a mixtape that never saw the light. Stored on a hard drive, the beat survived a near-fatal data corruption that claimed most of Riviir’s early work. In February 2025, he revisited the track, reworking the lyrics and renaming it Kochi as a nod to the vibrant city in Kerala, India. Riviir recorded three verses, later trimming one to make room for The Game’s commanding contribution.
Riviir’s Rap 4 Me EP is a bold and unforgettable showcase of talent, cementing his place as one of Harlem’s most exciting voices. With just two tracks, he manages to create an entire world of sound—gritty, soulful, and unapologetically raw. The title track hits with explosive energy, pairing Riviir’s inventive production and clever vocal layering with The Game’s commanding presence, while Kochi resurrects a decade-old beat into something fresh, powerful, and deeply personal. Every moment feels intentional, from the haunting strings to the razor-sharp verses, proving Riviir’s ability to honor hip-hop’s golden era while pushing it forward. This release doesn’t just highlight his skills—it announces him as an artist destined to shape the culture.
Both Rap 4 Me and Kochi showcase Riviir’s knack for crafting beats that hit hard while weaving stories of his Harlem upbringing, historical reflections, and social consciousness. The music videos for both singles, dropping August 4, 2025, promise to amplify the EP’s impact, building momentum for Riviir’s upcoming debut album.
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