Tommy Richman, ACTIN UP | Song Review

Following his debut album COYOTE (considered a flop), Tommy Richman reinvests in hip-hop on the entertaining, minimalist banger, “ACTIN UP.”

“Bend it over, break it down, back it up / I just got you a flight, a couple thou’, don’t gas me up (Ah) / And now you think the world is in your hands, you’re actin’ up.” Ooh-wee! Tommy Richman had a big year in 2024, thanks especially to his multiplatinum single, “MILLION DOLLAR BABY”.  Unfortunately, his debut album, COYOTE, was a flop, and failed to include his biggest hit or the respectable follow-up single, “DEVIL IS A LIE”.  Richman ‘goes back to the drawing board’ by dropping another hip-hop banger, “ACTIN UP”. Bobby Banks, Gio Vaun, Kavi, and Jonah Roy produced the single with its trap stylings, Soulja Boy-lifted steel pans, and distorted drum programming.  The minimalist, skeletal backdrop is a fitting canvas for Richman, even if the intentionally muddy mix is, well, muddy.

Here’s the thing. There’s nothing profound about “ACTIN UP.” Tommy Richman is on his rap shit, dropping his fair share of f-bombs throughout. In the first verse, two fuckin’ things happen from the 24-year-old: “I gotta stay alive for my fuckin’ soulmate,” and, “I’ll tell you, that’s the fuckin’ story.” As for the second verse, he drops on bomb at the end, rapping, “I gotta cut a tie, baby, fuck for with what it is.” Sure… The second half of the chorus (excerpted at the top) speaks to the vibe:

“Yeah, my bitch is bad as fuck, and I got you mad as fuck

You sayin’ you’re the highest in the club right now (Ah)

I think I’m gon’ forget it, it’s a dub right now.”

All told, “ACTIN UP” is enjoyable but not game changing. “MILLION DOLLAR BABY” remains the song to beat, but this single has a shot at being a hit too.

Tommy Richman // “ACTIN UP” // ISO Supremacy. / PULSE / Concord // 2.7.25

[: ISO Supremacy. / PULSE / Concord]