Smino

Khalid Embarks On A ‘Scenic Drive’ With Smino And Ari Lennox

by

It’s been a couple of years since Khalid delivered a project to the world. His last release, his sophomore project Free Spirit, arrived in the spring of 2019, and since then, the Forth Worth singer has released a bunch of singles while he continues to craft his third album. That upcoming project, Everything Is Changing isn’t ready for a release yet, but to feed his patiently waiting fans, Khalid returns with his latest tape, Scenic Drive. “Been waiting for this one and I can’t wait for you guys to hear it,” he wrote in a tweet to announce the project last month and now it’s finally here.

The project is highlighted by its lead single which also features Smino and Ari Lennox. The trio brings their talents together for an enticing record focused on escaping to a better place with your partner. Khalid, Ari, Smino each detail the best aspects of their respective partners that they love to run away to. Elsewhere on the project, Lucky Daye, 6lack, Kiana Lede, JID, Majid Jordan, Quin, and Alicia Keys all make appearances throughout the nine songs that appear on Scenic Drive.

Prior to releasing Scenic Drive, Khalid spoke about the struggles and pressures behind making a new body of work. “I only wanna be the artist I want to be, because creating is what keeps me from losing my mind but my passion goes away a little more every day, he wrote on Twitter. “I just want to finish this album and it’s really driving me crazy at this point.” He concluded, “I’m gonna refocus, finish this album without stress, and put out something that I truthfully believe in.”

You can listen to “Scenic Drive” in the video above.

Scenic Drive is out now via RCA Records. Get it here.

Majid Jordan is a Warner Music artist. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group.

Smino Rallies His Community To Help A Neighbor In A Tough Spot In His Video For ‘I Deserve’

by

It’s been a while since Smino delivered a full project to the world, but that could be changing very soon. He returned with “Rice & Gravy” in May, his first single since 2020’s “Tempo,” and it would begin a return to form that brings us to his latest single, “I Deserve.” The track is a mellow effort, one he dedicates to a let friend Pooh, and on Tuesday he shared the music video for it.

In the visual, Smino learns that his neighbor is facing eviction after failing to pay rent. Here, the rapper decides to plan and promote a “rent party” for family and friends around the block. The funds that were made from the event were collected and given to Smino’s neighbor which saved him from eviction. Prior to releasing the track, which Smino previously revealed was dedicated to his late friend Pooh Man, he spoke about its importance to him.

“Tbh I ain’t gave much of a f*ck bout bein onna internet or eem bein a artist since bro left,” he wrote in a tweet. “I’m talented/blessed af tho so I can’t stop.. God gave me a lot to share so i did my best @ channeling this shit into sumn meaningful.”

The new video arrives after Smino teamed up with Syd for their “Right Track” collaboration. More recently, Smino lent his vocals to Terrace Martin’s new album Drones as he appeared on “This Morning” with Arin Ray.

Watch the “I Deserve” video above.

Smino Counts His Blessings In The Endlessly Lush New Single ‘I Deserve’

by

Following up on a busy year for the prolific rapper, Smino returns with an introspective single. Dropping his effortlessly smooth track “I Deserve,” the rapper continues to keep his fans waiting for his third studio album, which he’s been teasing for a while but has yet to release.

“I Deserve” sees Smino flexing his flow over a polished piano beat. Armed with his song-song lyrical delivery and clever verses, Smino raps lines about counting his blessings and reminding himself that he really does deserve all the good things that come to him. Throughout the song, Smino sneaks in an ode to a friend who passed last August, as well as a clever reference to Omarion’s 2006 hit track “Ice Box.”

Prior to releasing “I Deserve,” Smino collaborated with a few other artists this year. His surprise quarantine project She Already Decided boasted guest features by the likes of T-Pain and Sevyn Streeter. Before that, Smino teamed up with Chance The Rapper and MadeInTYO for “BET Uncut.” He was also tapped by Thundercat to offer a remix of the hit track “Dragonball Durag” with Guapdad 4000.

Listen to Smino’s “I Deserve” above.

Some of the artists covered here are Warner Music artists. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group.

Terrace Martin’s New Album ‘Drones’ Will Feature Cordae, Kendrick Lamar, And Ty Dolla Sign

by

Although Terrace Martin’s last solo full-length collection came out four years ago (2017’s criminally overlooked Sounds Of Crenshaw Vol. 1 with The Pollyseeds), the Los Angeles producer has nevertheless remained busy throughout the past year, co-producing a number of EPs including They Call Me Disco with Ric Wilson and joining the jazz supergroup Dinner Party with 9th Wonder, Kamasi Washington, and Robert Glasper. However, today he announced his solo return with Drones, a new album coming out this Friday, November 5.

Included on the album’s 13 tracks are appearances from a veritable who’s-who of hip-hop luminaries including Cordae, D Smoke, Kendrick Lamar, Smino, Snoop Dogg, Ty Dolla Sign, and YG. Martin’s Dinner Party bandmates Kamasi Washington and Robert Glasper are also set to appear, along with a genre-hopping collection of rising stars and well-known hitmakers including Arin Ray, Celeste, Channel Tres, Hit-Boy, James Fauntleroy, Kim Burrell, and Kim Burrell.

In his press release for the new album, Martin teases the eclectic mix of sounds he intends to display throughout: “There are touches of R&B, touches of jazz, touches of hip-hop, touches of classical, Cuban music, West African music, house music,” he says. “You’re going to hear all elements of Black music within this record. It’s not one element I can leave out if I call myself a true Black artist.”

Drones is due 11/5 via Sounds of Crenshaw / BMG. You can pre-order here and check out the lead single, “Leave Us Be,” above.

Some artists covered here are Warner Music artists. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group.

Syd And Smino Look To Keep Things On The ‘Right Track’ With Their New Collaboration

by

It’s safe to say Syd has something special on the way for her faithful listeners. The singer’s last solo project came in at the end of 2017 with Always Never Home. The 3-track EP came months after she released her solo debut album, Fin. From the looks of it, it appears a second dose of the latter could be on the way, but until that is confirmed, fans can enjoy her latest single, “Right Track” with Smino. The new release is a change in tempo for the singer’s often breezy and chilled-out songs. In the song, Syd and Smino use a giddy beat to beg for trust and commitment from their partner while promising that they’ll reach the next level together if things stay on the “right track.”

Syd’s latest single arrives after as her third track of the year. She launched her 2021 campaign with February’s “Missing Out,” a track she described as an “anti-Valentine’s Day ode” while singing about her partner’s inability to “spend the proper time trying to work it out.” Months later she returned with “Fast Car,” a more positive record focused on the intimate moments a couple spends together when they ignore the rest of the world. “I wanted to make something for the gay Black girls,” Syd said about the song. “I want them to see themselves in this and in me.”

You can press play on Syd and Smino’s new collaboration in the video above.

Smino Shares A Reflective Verse In Yebba’s Nostalgic ‘Louie Bag’ Video

by

St. Louis rap-crooner Smino lends a spacey verse to “Louie Bag,” the latest single from Arkansas singer Yebba. The song, a thoughtful, downtempo trip down memory lane, employs a washed-out beat evocative of early Radiohead, while the similarly nostalgic video makes use of home videos of a young Yebba to track her growth from being a child in West Memphis to her current status as a simmering underground star. Smino’s verse picks up the narrative threads to offer further perspective, contrasting expectations with reality and counting his blessings.

Along with Yebba’s “October Sky” and “The Past And Pending,” as well as Lucky Daye’s “How Much Can A Heart Take,” “Louie Bag” constitutes something of a comeback for Yebba, who until now could count the high points of her career as a handful of collabs with high-profile partners like Ed Sheeran (“Best Part Of Me“) and Mark Ronson (“Don’t Leave Me Lonely“) in 2019.

Likewise, Smino is working on a resurgence of his own after securing release from his label, dropping “Rice & Gravy” in May and collaborating with longtime friends and peers like Denzel Curry (his cousin), JID, and more. With his newfound creative freedom, expect to hear more from him soon.

Watch Yebba’s “Louie Bag” video featuring Smino above.

Smino Gives A Spacey, Laid-Back Performance Of ‘Rice & Gravy’ In His Return To ‘A Colors Show’

by

One surefire sign of a rising artist’s impending success is an appearance on ColorsxStudios YouTube performance show COLORS. Artists who previously appeared on the show before big breakouts include Billie Eilish, Daniel Caesar, Doja Cat, Jorja Smith, and Kali Uchis, while rappers like Black Thought, Earthgang, Gunna, Little Simz, and Rexx Life Raj have all made fan-favorite appearances over the years as well.

Today, St. Louis rapperSmino achieved the rare accomplishment of appearing on the show twice as he performs his new song “Rice & Gravy.” As he previously called the song the beginning of a “new journey,” and said he felt “like a brand new artist” upon its release, it’s possible he’s using the performance as a career reset, getting back to basics before he makes a push to return to the buzzy, blog-approved stature he reached with his prior projects Blkswn and Noir.

The spacey, soulful crooner/rapper pulls up with a signature, boundary-breaking look that’ll certainly call to mind a fusion of both members of Outkast in this performance, the last of ColorsxStudios’ collaboration with British fashion house Burberry which included alt-R&B stars like Maria Isabel and Serpentwithfeet. Burberry outfitted each of the artists for their appearances; here, Smino appears in a vibrant, two-toned blue jacket, which truly pops against the warm caramel background for his performance.

Watch Smino’s COLORS return above.

Smino Begins His ‘New Journey’ With The Nourishing ‘Rice & Gravy’

by

St. Louis rapper Smino is back with a new song, “Rice & Gravy,” which he calls the beginning of a new journey. Releasing the single with a minimum of fanfare, Smino seemed to reveal a change in his label situation with a tweet just before the new song’s release. “dawg I went thru so much bullsht tryna release music over da past couple years,” he wrote. “I’m jus happy af to begin my new journey tonite… I feel like a brand new artist rn.”

He may feel like a new artist, but “Rice & Gravy” is vintage Smino, with a glitchy, synth-and-bass beat produced by Monte Booker and a rubberband flow that springs between melodic and staccato cadences delivered in Smi’s signature, grits-thick St. Louis accent. Longtime fans will surely be satisfied with this recipe, and anyone who has been awaited a follow-up to Smino’s 2018 album Noir may be excited to learn that he’s once again in the driver’s seat of his own release schedule.

Despite whatever troubles he’s had in getting new music out, Smino has tried to stay busy, featuring on tracks from Thundercat (“Dragonball Durag Remix” with Guapdad 4000), and his recently discovered cousin Denzel Curry (“So.Incredible.Pkg” with Kenny Beats and Robert Glasper), working with his Zoink Gang compatriots Buddy, Guapdad, and JID, and dropping the surprise quarantine tape She Already Decided.

Listen to Smino’s “Rice & Gravy” above.

JID Gives An Update On His Next Album With Studio Shots Of His Collaborators

by
Getty Image

If you were ever wondering how to make an album, Atlanta rising star JID recently shared his version of an instruction manual, posting a photo dump of behind-the-scenes glimpses of the recording sessions for his upcoming album, The Forever Story. “This is how u make an album,” he wrote in the slideshow’s caption. The slideshow itself captures plenty of in-studio shots and shenanigans with collaborators like fellow Spillage Village member 6lack, Compton rapper Buddy, Florida rebel Denzel Curry, DMV area genre-bender Rico Nasty, and St. Louis space poet Smino.

Meanwhile, in his efforts to tide fans over until the new album is completed, JID has been releasing freestyles like “Cludder Freestyle” and “JIDtranada Freestyle“; remixes like the Denzel Curry collaboration “Bruuuh,” the updated Spillage Village track “Baptized” with Deante’ Hitchcock, IDK, and Flatbush Zombies, and the explosive Conway The Machine track “Scatter Brain” with Ludacris; and his own standalone single, “Skegee,” which sheds light on a dark corner of American history.

The Forever Story, whose title references JID’s debut album The Never Story, will be the dynamic rapper’s first full-length solo release since 2018’s DiCaprio 2. In the meantime, however, he could be found giving standout performances on group efforts like 2019’s Dreamville compilation Revenge Of The Dreamers III and 2020’s Spillage Village excursion, Spilligion.

Check out JID’s behind-the-scenes slideshow above.