Smino’s rise to prominence was paved with lauded guest appearances - his verse on Noname’s “Shadow Man” brought his distinctive sound to a new audience, whilst his contribution to the leaked Big Sean/Chance the Rapper cut “Living Single” sent him into the mainstream. All the while, the St. Louis-born rapper quietly honed his craft, releasing two EPs - 2015’s ‘S!CK S!CK S!CK EP’ and 2016’s ‘blkjptr.’ For longtime fans of Smino, the wait has been unbearable.
Despite his St. Louis lineage, Smino finds his place amongst Chicago’s next-gen rap scene - he counts artists such as Noname, Ravyn Lenae, theMIND and Akenya as his contemporaries. Although he’s fallen in with this well-respect clique, Smino brings his own unique feel to ‘blkswn.’ His bars contrast with featuring artists on cuts like “Edgar Allan Poe’d Up” and “Silk Pillows,” where guest verses carve their own distinctive niche within Smino’s greater vision.
Having only previously released EPs, ‘blkswn’ is quite the achievement - crafting an hour long, eighteen-track rap album is no mean feat. The album’s seamless transitions blur tracks together, the work of producer Monte Booker. His largely sample-free instrumentals lend a smooth backing to Smino’s rhymes - smoothness that’s only compounded by the flexibility of Smino’s flow. It’s no coincidence that Booker and Smino have been collaborating since 2015.
‘blkswn’ is one of the most engaging debut albums in recent memory - lyrically inventive, sonically unique and artistically indulgent, it represents the new school at the peak of its powers. Boasting something for everyone, the diverse record showcases an artist who’s impressively surefooted in his experimentation. Smino’s relative obscurity can only last so long.
| A1 | –Smino | Wild Irish Roses | 2:49 |
| A2 | –Smino | Maraca | 3:25 |
| A3 | –Smino, Ravyn Lenae | Glass Flows | 3:08 |
| A4 | –Smino, Bari | Flea Flicka | 2:43 |
| A5 | –Smino | Spitshine | 2:10 |
| A6 | –Smino | Netflix & Dusse | 4:19 |
| B1 | –Smino | Anita | 3:57 |
| B2 | –Smino | Lobby Kall | 2:44 |
| B3 | –Smino, theMIND | Edgar Allan Poe'd Up | 3:11 |
| B4 | –Smino | Father Son Holy Smoke | 1:01 |
| C1 | –Smino | B Role | 3:01 |
| C2 | –Smino, Jay2 | Blkoscars | 3:40 |
| C3 | –Smino | blkswn | 2:53 |
| C4 | –Smino, Via Rose | Long Run | 4:52 |
| D1 | –Smino | Innamission | 2:15 |
| D2 | –Smino, Akenya | Silk Pillows | 3:28 |
| D3 | –Smino, Drea Smith | Ricky Millions | 2:55 |
| D4 | –Smino | Amphetamine | 7:50 |
