Maybe in Nirvana

Remember when you were in grade school and the kids used to draw all over the desks? Well, Smino does, and he puts a talented ten-year-old’s artistic skills to use in his video for “Dear Fren,” giving the tween a tattoo gun instead of a ballpoint and putting himself between the needle and the desk. The results (which are likely CGI, so don’t worry, he didn’t really get a tattoo from someone who shops in the kids’ section at Old Navy) are typical of what you’d expect: A Stussy logo, what looks like a cartoon bunny, and handwriting practice tables. It’s cute!

“Dear Fren” appears on Smino’s fourth studio album, Maybe In Nirvana, which he released independently today. He recorded the ten-track project during COVID-19 lockdowns, which accounts for the reflective nature of songs like “Dear Fren,” and why it has taken so long to put it out. Themes so heavy deserve lighter times (and times are probably about as light as we can expect them to be for the foreseeable future). The album features guest appearances from Bun B, Ravyn Lenae, and Thundercat.

Now… Ghetto Sage, please?

Watch Smino’s “Dear Fren” video above.

Maybe In Nirvana is out now via Zero Fatigue. You can listen to it here.

St. Louis’ own, Smino, is returning with a new album this week, his first since 2022’s Luv 4 Rent. The new album, Maybe In Nirvana, is due on Friday, December 6, bringing nine new songs with titles paying homage to staples of his millennial upbringing such as “Ready Set Goku” and “NSYNC.” Smino announced the album with “Soufside Skit,” a short video offering an early listen to the soulful music as Smino rides in the back of a station wagon with a young woman who can’t help complaining about the Midwestern heat.

Smino’s had a relatively quiet 2024, dropping the video for “Polynesian” back in June, and recently popping back up with a feature on Aminé’s new single, “Passenger Princess.” Last year, though, he joined JID on their joint Luv Is 4ever Tour promoting his and JID’s 2022 albums. He also joined Noname in her NPR Music Tiny Desk Concert to remind fans that they still haven’t dropped their Ghetto Sage project with Saba — but such are the trials of releasing music independently.

Maybe In Nirvana is due 12/6 via Zero Fatigue. You can pre-save it here. See below for the tracklist.

Smino Maybe In Nirvana Tracklist

01. “Dear Fren”
02. “Ready Set Goku”
03. “Maybe In Nirvana”
04. “Lee”
05. “NSYNC”
06. “Ms. Joyce”
07. “Tequan”
08. “Hoe-Nouns”
09. “Glo-Fi”