Harlem-based rapper and producer Riviir has released a new three-track project titled Stay Down (Turn on You), available now on all major streaming platforms. The project comprises three songs: Stay Down (Turn on You), Head Kisses, and Tinubu (Slave of the West).
Riviir, who began writing lyrics and producing instrumentals around the age of 11, has built his catalog around personal experience, social commentary, and historical research. His previous project, the World War II mixtape, required extensive research into actual wartime events, which he has cited as one of the more significant learning experiences of his career.
The title track opens with themes of poverty, distrust, and survival, while also addressing government violence against civilian populations. The final track, Tinubu (Slave of the West), named after Nigerian President Bola Tinubu, continues the project’s outward political gaze beyond American borders.
Riviir has been critical of the current state of hip-hop, stating in a recent interview that the genre is in decline, with songs lacking proper structure and audio engineering standards falling short. His own work stands as a deliberate counter to that trend — self-produced, carefully written, and rooted in a tradition he traces back to influences including Nas, 2Pac, Damian Marley, Vybz Kartel, and Shyne.
