iheardasongtoday vol 3: Noah-O & Big No "Richmond Brave 2"

iheardasongtoday is my quality control. I do not talk about a project until I have tried to live inside it. If it cannot survive the commute, the chores, the silence, and the days where I am not in the mood for anything, it does not make the cut.

With Richmond Brave 2, the focus is not just Noah-O and Big No. It is the production, the atmosphere, and the world Retro Izzy built around them. This is one of those albums where the beats are not just a backdrop, they are the spine. The sound is doing as much storytelling as the verses, and once you hear it that way, the whole project hits different.

Noah-O and Big No made a moment with Richmond Brave 1. The branding was strong, the presence was strong, and it felt rooted in Richmond. It captured a piece of the city. For me though, as a full body of work, it did not connect the way I wanted it to. There were high moments like “Uncle Phil” and "4 seasons" among others but overall left me thinking there’s potential but still a lot to be desired.

Richmond Brave 2 is the opposite feeling.

This album is simply excellent. The writing is sharper, the performances are more locked, the themes land heavier, and the production is a conversation by itself. It feels intentional without feeling stiff. It feels confident without forcing the confidence. It feels like two artists who know exactly what they are building and exactly who they are building it for.

And most importantly, it feels like Richmond without trying to prove it.

The production is a real factor. I have heard Big No talk about Retro Izzy for years. Respectfully, I get it now in a different way. The production on this project does not just support the raps, it shapes the identity of the entire record. The beats are cohesive without being repetitive, and they leave space for the verses to actually breathe. A lot of projects confuse hard with loud. This one has texture. It has pacing. It has moments that feel cinematic without turning into a gimmick.

Izzy is a major piece of why this album feels like a complete world.

Mixing and mastering wise, I wanted a little more consistency. A few moments sound like they were recorded in different rooms. Some of the dubs sit louder than they need to across the album. None of this ruins the experience, but it does show up if you are listening closely, especially when the record is this strong.

Now let’s get into the music.

“Intro” featuring Uncle P.Hed is iconic. It makes the album feel huge immediately. It is not even a song, it is a skit, but it is necessary because it plants a flag. You know what kind of time they are on before the first record drops.

“Briley Brothers” is probably the most cohesive song I have heard from the duo. Bars on bars, and you can feel the passion right away. The way they pass verses back and forth works because it sounds like chemistry, not a relay race. I even went and looked up who the Briley Brothers were, which tells you the record did its job. And Big No making a claim like “I’m the Gucci of the city” is exactly the type of boldness this album wears well.

“Richmond Times” featuring King Delt is where I get blunt. I could live without this. The hook is cool, and I respect the collab, but it feels like a throwaway on a project that is otherwise moving with purpose. It gave me nothing. Easy pass.

“Red Flag” has me split because it is a banger, but I do not love the use of it here. I honestly think it should have been a Big No solo record, or at minimum structured differently. The concept had another level available. Swap Noah’s verse for a strong Richmond female voice and now you have a modern dialogue record with real personality and tension - think "Chicken Head". As it stands, the song hits, but it also feels like a missed opportunity.

“Bigger Than Bars” is not a bad track at all, and the title speaks for itself. It is personal and I respect the depth. But when I put it next to the rest of this tracklist, it starts to feel redundant. If I am tightening the album, this is one of the songs I cut to reduce bloat. Not because it is weak, but because the album is strongest when it is moving.

“Liberty Bell” featuring Street Religious Fry and T.R.I.G. is another one where I feel like the play was set up and they still missed the layup. The hook is decent, Fry is a powerful addition, and I want to hear more from him, but I needed them to tap into T.R.I.G. more for what he brings. If you are going to keep Big No on the hook, this was also a perfect time for him to play background and let the record breathe differently by not adding a verse. The ingredients are there, the execution just does not fully cash in.

“Light of Mine” featuring Ed Da Realist is the definition of a love hate relationship for me. I hate the hook. Hate it. But I also know it is the kind of hook that will follow you around the house and get stuck in your head out of pure annoyance. And that frustrates me because every verse is genuinely great. They are speaking from the soul, tapping nostalgia, bringing an emotional pull that feels real. Big No has lines on here that are heavy in the best way. The problem is simple: Ed is right there. Use Ed for the hook. It is an easy alley oop and they chose a tougher shot. The verses deserve a better chorus.

“Nothing for You” is street gospel. I cannot say enough good things about Big No’s approach to this song. It spoke to my soul. Noah’s contrast complements it perfectly because it breaks the melodic pocket just long enough to keep the record from getting monotonous. Easily a favorite. On repeat. This is also where I feel the best half of the project really starts. I can't say this enough, this song is spectacular.

“Fear or Love” is decent, the hook is fine, but I can take it or leave it. If I am cutting bloat, I am taking this out. Simple.

“Triple Crown” is how you do it if you are going to bring Nickelus into the mix (and production). This is a rapper’s delight. If you love gritty hip hop and bars, you are going to run this back over and over. The writing is fearless - "slap your girl a** with the same hand I knock you out with” - the energy is raw, and the record has that filthy confidence that makes hip hop fun. Why am I waiting until the middle of the album to hear one of the dirtiest records on the project!? Big No snaps "ayo Nick I don’t know a SAM turret is, but for you!? I'll flip a n*gga Taurus with kids” - AYOOOO!

“All I Need” featuring Michael Millions is a strong middle of the album record because the beat selection is smart. It allows the feature to shine in his own style while Big No, with his louder and more aggressive presence, still floats on it harmoniously. It also feels like there is real perspective tucked in here -“chose silence when my words weren’t beautiful” - the type of mature line that makes you pause and take inventory of how you move. This song plays its role well.

“Blowing The Win” featuring T.R.I.G. is a great collab. T.R.I.G. is utilized in a way that actually compliments his strengths with that off key, on key melodic style, and the formula sets Noah-O and Big No up perfectly. This is how you use a feature. Nothing feels wasted.

“I Remember” is one of the most important songs on the album. This feels like Jay Z with a raspy voice. Do not ask me to explain. The vulnerability is special. “I remember Granny told me that Daddy don’t care, I was jealous of Mikey because his daddy was there” There is real talk all over this track “I had to cremate my parents, we couldn’t bury them/ still f*cked up, twice a month I see a therapist” That is not regular rap, that is mirror talk that comes from self reflection, and it is definitely not common to hear it said that plainly. Noah’s verse is pain, but it gives you perspective on the person outside of the brand and the character of a rapper. That matters.

“Solid As They Come” is exactly what the title says. The streets will love this. I already see my brother Tae playing it back to back. It embodies how I feel about it, sturdy, direct, built for repeat.

“Ain’t This” is where I have to say what the discussion has been for years surrounding Noah. I have heard too much backhanded praise. “His brand is incredible.” “I respect his grind.” Said like that is separate from being a real rapper or a lyricist. Meanwhile, he has the accolades and discography to compete with any indie artist. So I will say three things clearly. 1, no musician has a stronger brand in the state of VA in my opinion. 2, Noah has been a great rapper. 3, if you do not believe either of those, this track will change your mind. This is some of the best rapping I have heard from Noah, and I have been listening for over fifteen years. Not a single line wasted. He addresses the poverty mindset that plagues our city, the crab in a bucket mentality, and the envy disguised as friendly gestures. This beat and these raps are a testament to a true emcee. And to just quote him “I was cut from the cloth God created when he made Christ”. I rest my case.

“Keep Your Head Up” surprised me in the best way. This is a pure stylistic and production surprise. The sound is modern, different from everything else on the project, and it still does not feel out of place for one second. That is not easy. I gave Izzy his flowers already, but this is another reminder he deserves more. Noah-O and Big No are transcending. It is time we elevate with them.

“Never Alone” is exactly how I like an album to end. I do not know what it is about me, but I love an inspirational closer. Talk to me about God, but keep it raw. The beat switch after the church vocals makes it feel like a new song comes on, but not in a bad way. It rounds off the album with a reflective feeling that fits the arc.

This is one of those projects I will always be thankful I heard early, and I do not take that for granted. Noah-O is cementing his name in Richmond history with his 30th official release. Big No is killing the stereotype that street rappers are not lyricists. Retro Izzy is putting every producer in the industry on notice. But most of all, I truly felt I left the project with pride for Richmond and that I knew all 3 of them a little more, it gave me something tangible to take with me... insight and perspective.

Richmond Brave 2 is a classic.

LISTEN HERE

Written by Will

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