Smino Luv 4 Rent
One of the lazy ways to describe the sound of a new artist to someone is to use the over-used ‘it’s like if Artist A and Artist B had a baby’ cliché. I sit here trying my best to describe the sound and vibe of St. Louis rapper Smino without falling into a lazy pattern. Smino describes his sound as Futuristic Funk and Soulful Rap and that’s a spot-on way to characterize Luv 4 Rent.
The 15-track project features some heavy hitters in the rap game including J. Cole and Lil Uzi Vert, but the real standout is the production from Monte Booker, Kal Banx, Groove, Pheolix, Childish Mayor, and others. Despite all of the hands involved with the making of the album’s sound, each track flows effortlessly from one another with no disruption in its flow.
Luv 4 Rent explores all of the different types of love Smino has experienced over his life and his pursing of a love interest is spotlighted on the Kal Banx produced single “Matinee.” In his pursuit, the rapper rhymes “I romanced her, I enhanced her” and tries to play hard to get with “I don’t text her, let it fester.” “Matinee” is also the only song to ever put together the name of a vegetable with a WWE/UFC legend, “I’m a wrestler, Broccoli Lesnar.”
The lead single, “90 Proof”, finds Smino re-teaming with J.Cole. The two had previously collaborated on “1993” and “Sacrifices” from his Dreamville compilation Revenge of the Dreamers III. “90 Proof” was produced by Monte Booker and Groove and demands the listener to bob their heads along to the stinging drum beat from the sample of Nigerian artist Bola Johnson. Smino’s flow shines brightly on the track as his glides seamlessly from his singing to rapping styles and the two match perfectly with the laid-back stylings of J.Cole.
Luv 4 Rent is an album that all hip-hop lovers should check out and for those that enjoy the old ‘had a baby’ depiction, Smino’s sound is if Common, Kendrick Lamar, and Andre 3000 had a baby.
Smino is ready to hit the road and bring the sounds of Luv 4 Rent to life and will do so when he joins forces with J.I.D. for The Luv is 4Ever Tour. The co-headlining tour starts in January and will travel to 32 cities across the country with a stop in Nashville on March 29 at Marathon Music Works. Get your tickets soon as they are selling fast as the V.I.P/Meet and Greet ticket options are already sold out. Tickets can be purchased here.
Check out some of the other great releases out this week including…
- Lainey Wilson Bell Bottom Country
- Kodak Black Kutthroat Bill: Vol. 1
- Yung Gravy Marvelous
- Royal & the Serpent Happiness is an Inside Job
- Tom Odell Best Day of My Life
Steven McCash is the Lead Music Writer and Utility Man for SoBros Network. Steven is the host of the ‘Drinking With…’ podcast, and the pioneer of New Music Friday, highlighting each week’s new releases in the world of music in addition to the occasional live show review. He also pitches in as a Nashville lifestyle writer and football analyst (hence the ‘Utility Man’ title). Follow on Twitter: @MC_Cash75
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