St. Louis’ Smino has played in a league of his own over the course of his career.
His collective Zero Fatigue is a mantra for out-working everyone and everything, as he and fellow Fatigue founder Monte Booker have rode their wave to the highest of acclaim. Stemming from his groundbreaking debut album blkswn, Smino has ascended to superstar status in his own way — embodying uniqueness, finesse and an incomparable amount of swagger all at once.
This month, Smi celebrated the three-year anniversary of his sophomore effort NOIR — a luxurious escapade of hypnotic hip-hop and woozy R&B. Standouts in “MERLOT,” “TEQUILA MOCKINGBIRD” and “Z4L” bolstered the St. Louis native’s appeal across the industry. While Smino gears up for another full-length release in the near future, he strives for further prosperity on his new track “I Deserve” — dedicating the track to his late cousin who passed away this year.
Smino took to social media teasing the single with a collage of photos, revealing that “album 3 onna way” in his most recent Instagram post. His success has been measured by the quality within his music, as the St. Louis rapper’s label Zero Faitgue inked a joint partnership with Motown Records this week (Nov. 16) further displaying Smino’s standing within the industry.
— Smi (@smino) November 18, 2021
As the rollout to his long-awaited third studio album begins, “I Deserve” is yet another immaculate highlight in his robust discography. Produced by FATBOI, WU10, and Kal Banx, the instrumental features punching kicks, waning, ambient pianos and Smino’s versatile vocal range on full display. Sampling Gucci Mane’s “In My Kitchen,” the track is a refined reassertion of the Lou singer’s one-of-a-kind presence, he croons about mental health and self-worth while rapping about the feelings of losing a loved one. NOS offers a section of his own at the end of the bridge — putting his own spin on “I Deserve’s” infectious groove.
11/11 🕯RIP POOH MAN 🕯 https://t.co/YkhFERKfcT pic.twitter.com/26xw2GvSoy
— Smi (@smino) November 11, 2021
Odorize, I been on overdrive, tryna feel somethin’
Lost my lil’ nigga in August and aw
Am I ‘posed to feel normal about it? Likе, nah
Caution when you puttin’ on a facade
Let it ridе for too long and ya’ soul be gone
Ooh, Jamie Foxx and that cartoon role
We send balloons to the sky for my new angel
Smino — “I Deserve”
The last fans heard from Smino was on “Rice and Gravy” with Monte Booker in May — and before that, he dropped his Audiomack / SoundCloud exclusive mixtape She Already Decided. Touting memorable tracks in “Chips & Juice,” “2MuchFronto” and others, Smi is in his element on S.A.D. — having fun and remixing tracks like Megan Thee Stallion’s “Savage” and Baby Keem’s “Orange Soda.”
Pivoting from his 2020 tape, the eclectic alt-rapper has been relatively quiet throughout 2021, hopping on Reggie’s “Avalanche,” Syd’s “Right Track” and Yebba’s lead single off her debut LP “Louie Bag.”
Now as Smino starts to usher in a new era, expect nothing but more unforgettable moments when he drops his third full-length project.
Listen to Smino’s ‘I Deserve’ below!
