'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Tommy Richman's highly anticipated debut studio album, COYOTE, was finally delivered to streaming platforms on September 27, 2024, via ISO Supremacy, under an exclusive license to PULSE Records.
The 11-track project finds Richman returning to his roots, with the rapper delivering passionate records featuring his close peers and collaborators. The rapper took to X a few hours before COYOTE's release to dedicate his album to the people he "started out with".
Trending
Trevor Spitta, Paco, Zachary Moon, and mynameisntjmack, make featured appearances on the album. However, Tommy's COYOTE does not include his breakout chart-topping singles, Million Dollar Baby, and Devil Is A Lie.
Meet a little girl with a big heart RIGHT HERE
The rapper spoke on his impact on the music industry, given the massive attention and commercial acclaim he received after MDB went viral, during his exclusive interview with Billboard Magazine in July.
"This is a big record, but this s–t doesn’t define me. I’m using this as ‘We’re here. We arrived.’ Not as ‘We made it!’ This is the start of a run" - Tommy Richman states.
Breaking down Tommy Richman's debut studio album 'COYOTE'
Richman's COYOTE is an 11-record LP with a complete runtime of 36 minutes, with production assistance from the likes of Jonah Roy, John Wehmeyer, Keesh, and more. The album includes previously released lead singles Thought You Were the One and Whitney, as part of its official tracklist.
Tommy's debut studio album leans heavier toward R&B, with elements of punk rock and hip-hop sprinkled in the mix. A lot of the rapper's lyricism on this project is deeply reflective of his recent success and rise to fame. Notable themes COYOTE delves deeper into have been listed below:
- Family
- Trauma
- Struggles
- Failure
- Growth
- Maturity
- Success
- Wealth
- Ambition
- Relationships
- Love
- Heartbreak
- Intimacy
Disclaimer: This review is rated explicit. Reader discretion is advised.
ELEPHANT IN THE ROOM
(Production Credits: Jonah Roy)
Tommy Richman opens his album with a track titled ELEPHANT IN THE ROOM, whose upbeat, spacy, production invites listeners into the self-reflective lyricism showcased on the record.
Throughout the track's runtime, Richman delves into themes of growth, success, loss, and relationships, opening his first verse on ELEPHANT IN THE ROOM by delivering lines like:
"I'm back on my own / Don't know where to go / Which one can I choose again? 'Cause I don't wanna lose a friend / I don't wanna lose a friend / But all good things must come to an end / I said, 'That's just how things go' / That's just how things go / 'Cause I'm back on my own"
WHITNEY
(Production Credits: Jonah Roy, John Wehmeyer, and lim0)
Listeners are then re-introduced to WHITNEY, which was distributed to streaming services earlier in the month as the final lead single for COYOTE.
The song's hyper-electric R&B sonic elements effortlessly blend into the rapper's high-pitched vocal performances. Where the track falters, lyrically, Tommy's cadence and the spacy production significantly help elevate WHITNEY's up-tempo vibe.
"If we're made in the image of God / If we're made in the image of God / Why do things get odd? Why do things get odd? / I don't know, I said, bitch, I don't know / So, let me just understand this, understand you, yeah / I can't think of so many ways to try to give you some chances, baby" - Tommy Richman raps on 'WHITNEY'.
TEMPTATIONS
(Production Credits: Jonah Roy and Keesh)
Tommy then delivers TEMPTATIONS, opening as the third track on COYOTE, which seemingly incorporates production elements that draw inspiration from old-school R&B records, mixed with rapid drum progressions and energetic vocal performances.
The track primarily revolves around the rapper's failing relationship, with him citing his partner's "bad intentions" are the reason why he would never give her "one more chance". This is best evidenced on TEMPTATIONS' bridge, where Richman sings:
"And I know you think that I could change your life / But you got bad intentions, baby / Oh, bad intentions, baby, now / I said don't think about me (Woo-ooh-ooh-ooh) / Don't think about mе now, said don't think about me (Woo, ooh-ooh) / Don't think about me now (Ooh-ooh) / If you drill it in my head onе time, I don't think I could give you one more chance"
WHISPER IN MY EAR
(Production Credits: Jonah Roy, John Wehmeyer, lim0, and Kavi)
Tommy Richman's performance on the record, WHISPER IN MY EAR, is a major standout on COYOTE. The production is transient and effortlessly accentuates the deeper lyricism brought forward on the record.
The song's hook is extremely catchy and finds the rapper reflecting on past relationships, citing his longing for intimacy. Tommy also suggests an evident tendency to drown out his desires with excess and substance abuse, as seen in lines like:
"I wish that I could live forever / Just to think of all the things that we done did together / I'm feelin' like the weather man / You're oblivious, you're not really clever, man, yeah / Whisper in my ear just for the one time, yeah / Baby, I cannot control the blurred lines / But you're countin' me out / But you're countin' me out"
GIVE IT ALL
(Production Credits: John Wehmeyer, lim0, and Kavi)
Tommy Richman then delivers a more upbeat, bouncy, track titled GIVE IT ALL, built up by its slow-paced production featuring fun keystrokes, R&B-fueled drum progressions, and spacy vocal deliveries.
A majority of the lyricism on GIVE IT ALL seemingly revolves around themes of relationships and love, with Richman highlighting a desire to spend every minute of his day with his partner. Notable bars from this track include lines like:
"We hang out in the boulevard, oh why? We gotta make it true, oh why? / I'm thinkin' 'bout it every night, every day / We don't gotta play / But I don't wanna turn around, turn around / 'Cause you don't gotta stay / 'Cause you're keepin' my mind so clear again / You're makin' me chase my fears again"
TENNESSEE (Feat. Trevor Spitta x Zachary Moon)
(Production Credits: Jonah Roy and Mannyvelli)
On TENNESSEE, Tommy Richman teams up with peers and frequent collaborators, Trevor Spitta and Zachary Moon. The trio delivers an electric record filled with bouncy loops over a smooth and consistent tempo, fueled by enticing drum and hi-hat sequences.
Each verse effortlessly transitions into the next performance, with each rapper's verse and vocal performances building on themes of success, growth, maturity, wealth, and luxury. Notable bars from this song include the self-reflective lyricism showcased in Trevor Spitta's verse, which includes lines like:
"Baby, I know everything, pinky ring, not a wedding ring / I was ten years old and then I blinked and I was seventeen / Baby, time move way too fast, come here, enjoy some better things / What you know 'bout being nauseous? Never nervous, like my women Japanese"
THOUGHT YOU WERE THE ONE
(Production Credits: 1stFrom92, lim0, Jonah Roy, and Mannyvelli)
Tommy Richman opens on THOUGHT YOU WERE THE ONE with his now-iconic high-pitched vocal delivery, fueled by the slow-paced, Jazz-infused, R&B instrumental.
The track primarily finds Tommy reminiscing on a failed relationship, with the rapper alluding to various instances and situations that eventually led to his partner breaking up with him. This is best evidenced in Richman's verse, where he sings:
"Maybе there's a chance if I pray every day, I'ma get what I want to / I dreamed last night, you're in my head / You're always sticking with me even when I don't want you / I'm treating you right, not doing you wrong / I know you won't forget that night, it's been so long / Looking at my face, my eyes are a maze"
LETTERMAN (Feat. Paco)
(Production Credits: Jonah Roy)
Opening with enticing Bass strums, Tommy Richman introduces listeners to another R&B love song titled LETTERMAN. The track's production is impressive and perfectly blends into the vocal performances brought forward on this record.
Tommy teams up with upcoming rapper Paco on COYOTE's eighth track, with the song citing instances of Richman's desire for the woman who owns his "Letterman" jacket, as seen on lines like:
"Oh, girl, put your hands on me / 'Cause I gave you my letterman now / Yeah, 'cause it's 32 out / It was cold outside in Washington, D.C / It's been a few weeks since you seen me, but I never left your mind (Your mind) / You don't forget that night, you took me to the speakeasy / Talk to me nice and easy, talk to me nice and easy, girl"
GREEN THERAPY
(Production Credits: Maverick Fabela, Kavi, and Jonah Roy)
Tommy delivers an extremely self-reflective and honest track on GREEN THERAPY. The record is fueled by its slow-paced rhythm which perfectly sets up room for Richman's emotional vocal performances.
The track is extremely memorable and finds the rapper recounting personal instances from his past, delving into themes of family trauma, failure, and loss, as well as the nature of Tommy's relationship with his father.
"Thinking 'bout thе time that I was seventeen, I coulda been anything, anything / I tеll my mama sorry 'cause I threw it away / I had to leave home for a long time / I said my father always yelling at me every night / It's true, we didn't get along / I had to pick the pieces up, had to start a tone / I had to smack him in his face and tell me leave me alone"
VANITY
(Production Credits: Jonah Roy, Max Vossberg, and SpizzleDoe)
Opening with electric keys and synths, Tommy Richman delivers VANITY as the ninth track of his debut studio album. The rapper highlights his excessive lifestyle, with a sense of inflated pride, explaining why his success should be credited to him wishing to do everything "for himself".
The track's production is bouncy and interestingly very reminiscent of old-school R&B and hip-hop, based on the instruments and sonic elements incorporated into VANITY's composition.
"Get on straight, I don't get no money / Been on the road, I've been on tour / This s--t's not funny / Seein' just everything that I've been through, but you wanna go back home / I'm heart attack prone / Come on, just look what we've done, oh-oh / We've got a lot to do still / I'm sayin' it's thirty till you break me down / You're talkin' about dirty millions breakin' me down"
seems like time moves forever. (Feat. mynameisntjmack)
(Production Credits: Jonah Roy, Max Vossberg, and Curtis Waters)
The final track on COYOTE is Tommy Richman's collaboration with close friend and rapper mynameisntjmack titled seems like time moves forever.
Both artists deliver exceptional vocal performances over the synth-infused instrumental, delivering honest and memorable lyricism revolving around time, growth, failure, doubt, and ambition.
The high-tempo production, filled with rapid drum progressions and spacy keystrokes, helps in perfectly closing out Richman's debut studio album. Notable bars from seems like time moves forever include lines like:
"I never was clever, it seemed like time / Could move on forever, is it perpetual? Could it be better than what I put on the pedestal? Could I do better than puttin' bread on the medical? Could I do better than all the s--t that I said to you? Could I do better? / I think that I could / If only time, could move on forever / Could it move on forever?"
Tommy Richman's debut studio album, COYOTE, is an interesting listen and dives into the rapper's mindset regarding his tough come-up in the industry, with instances of him reflecting on past mistakes and failures.
Although there are times when COYOTE portrays Richman as an artist still finding their style, the production of the album is quite remarkable. That matched with his vocal performances and the nostalgia of 80's R&B makes Tommy's debut LP a standout moment across his discography.
