Nobody sounds like Smino. The St. Louis rapper has been forthright about his musical influences, but he’s able to put such a unique spin on them that he always sounds like himself. Smino continues to prove that he is carving his own hip hop lane with his new album, Maybe In Nirvana. In an era largely defined by overly-long, unfocused projects, Smino treats fans to a concise, ten-track exploration of himself and the people in his life. “Dear Fren,” the first proper track, employs one of the strangest Smino vocals to date, but his lyrics keep the listener engrossed from start to finish.
Mellow is definitely the operative word for Maybe In Nirvana. The album may traffic in emotional strife and turmoil, but Smino packages it within smooth melodies and soulful instrumentation. The title track is the closest the album to a bop, thanks to the snappy drums and the whistle sample. Smino raps with the utmost conviction, which makes his pivot to singing on the next song, “Lee,” all the more impressive. He can do it all, while still maintaining sonic cohesion. Maybe In Nirvana may just be Smino’s most focused album to date, which is saying a lot. It’s the sort of the album that gets better with each new listen.
Let us know what you think of this brand new album, in the comments section down below. Additionally, stay tuned to HNHH for the latest news and updates from around the music world. We will continue to keep you informed on all of your favorite artists and their upcoming projects.
Smino Gives Fans A Thoughtful, Cohesive Listen
Maybe In Nirvana tracklist:
- Intro
- Dear Fren
- Ready Set Goku
- Maybe In Nirvana
- Lee
- Tequan (featuring Ravyn Lenae)
- NSYNC
- Miss Joyce (featuring Bun B)
- Hoe-Nouns (featuring Thundercat & Reggie)
- Glo-Fli (featuring Ravyn Lenae)
About The Author
Elias Andrews is a music and entertainment writer for HotNewHipHop. He joined HNHH in 2024 as the lead night shift contributor, which means he covers new music releases on a weekly basis.
In the year since joining, Elias has covered some of the biggest and most turbulent stories in the world of music. He covered the Drake and Kendrick Lamar battle, and the release of the disses “Family Matters” and “Meet the Grahams,” in particular, in real time. He has also detailed the ongoing list of allegations and criminal charges made against Diddy.
Elias’ favorite artists are Andre 3000, MF Doom, pre-808s Kanye West and Tyler, The Creator. He loves L.A. hip-hop but not L.A. sports teams. The first album he ever bought was Big Willie Style by Will Smith, which he maintains is still a pretty good listen.
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