Luv 4 Rent is NOW RELEASED!
Smino has blessed the nation with his new album “Luv 4 Rent” which was released on October 28th. Mind blowing metaphors, smooth similes, and finesse of figurative language has never been an issue for Smino, and he shows this constantly throughout each track. From start to finish, “Luv 4 Rent” requires your undivided attention and no skips.
Each track on this album deserves a round of applause as Smino lyrically, attentively, and tastefully told us a story about true love. In an interview with Complex, Smino gave a breakdown of what his album was truly about. He gives a synopsis of what self love means to him and how he reflects that same love to the community.
The Chicago and St. Louis lyricist not only shows love for his people, but his love for natural black hair. Within the black community, one of our biggest traditions of black love is through the maintenance of our hair. Smino knows how to advertise this practice of cultural appreciation like never before.
His two previous albums “blkswn” and “NOIR” have album covers of Smino getting his hair maintenced by someone else. This album spreads emotional awareness to self love and love for others and the cover screams that message; black women and black men maintenicing their own hair, welcoming love for self even in the presence of others.
I rate this album an easy 10/10 from start to finish, but there are a few songs that I have fallen in love with. Here are some of my favorites from the album so far:
4rm Da Source
This song is such a beautiful way to introduce the album to us. It almost sounds as if the lyrics are a prayer, or an analysis of where he is spiritually on his journey. I like how he did not emphasize any conformity to religion, but he reiterated his belief in a source of life that directs him.
“I get my food from the source / My answers from the master / Who guides my spirit”
This song gave me a chance to reflect on who I currently am, and where I am trying to be. Then, the telephone conversation after the singing stops leurs us into how we interact with the community in our journey to growth. It is okay to believe in other things, as long as you believe in something. Since his album is concentrated around the reality of love, it is important to emphasize the importance of belief.
Defibrillator
This song welcomes the theme of self love. In times like this, self love should be the main concentration of society. A lot of rappers do not dedicate their work to self love, and love for others. Smino has stepped outside the box of mainstream ideology, and made music for those who are going through real life practices such as self love.
The Chorus repeats the phrase “ I’ll be loved when no ones around.” This opened my eyes to a new perspective. Oftentimes, it is easy to get wrapped up in love that is only present in the moment. Real love is always in the presence of us, and that is the main takeaway of this album. Love is in the form of many things, and sometimes love can also be displayed through absence.
This line reminded me that love is not always the interactions we have with others, but how love can resonate even when you are alone; how transferable love can be from a distance. While on a journey to self love, it is important to remember that we are loved even when we isolate ourselves.
Garden Lady
The aura of this song made me feel like I was traveling outside of earth into space. This song drifts into many different tempo changes, giving its listeners unpredictable excitement.The drum pattern and chord progressions gave an authentic vibe to chill and reset.
Louphoria
This is one of my favorites for so many reasons, the essence of this song made me feel like I was in the clouds, in a euphoric atmosphere.
The song highlights adult love, and what it really looks like. The romantic aspect is not only about physical interaction, but the overall connection that is built, and how you can always go to someone.
At the end of the end of the song, he gives a facade as if his listeners are boarding “the lovercraft” and someone cannot afford their ticket.
“Just pay me in cash / and if you aint got that, just pay me mind / I’m the Love Lord, just tryna / lose less and love more / I tell you what, it’s on the house this time”.
This one line is what life is truly about, getting the privilege to lose less and love more. It is not alway about paying someone in currency, but paying someone acknowledgement in the current moment. Being present for others and assisting others also provides love for self, and I think that is the lesson that Smino is trying to teach through his music.
90 Proof
The presence of J. Cole is always invited to my speakers, it was refreshing to hear Smino and J. Cole on another track together. J. Cole has been a hot commodity in the rap industry, and Smino is an artist who can keep up with the type of skill set that Cole has to offer. However, “90 Proof” is not the only time these two MC’s have collaborated together.
In 2019, we were able to hear Smino first work with Cole on “Sacrifices” and “1993” in the “Revenge of the Dreamers III” collaborative album. In the Complex interview, Smino talks about how Cole originally wanted “90 Proof” to be on his new album. However, after working with Smino and finishing the record, he let Smino have the song. This song was released a week before “Luv 4 Rent” was released, and this was the perfect way to advertise the album.
Lee & Lovie
The composition of the outro was magnificent, the chord progressions and bassline gave me chills. The musicianship that Smino’s music consists of is impeccable. The lyrics are already top tier, but the instrumentation matching the greatness of the message makes his music hard to resist.
The bassit in this song is Matthew Skillz, a Chicago native who I consider to be one of the best bass players in the music industry. He has been working with Smino since 2017 on “blkswn.”. “blkswn” is the album that jump started Smino’s music career, and it is nice to see artists work with the same people that worked with them since day one.
Recently, the track that Matthew Skillz played for on “blkswn” titled, “Wild Irish Roses” was RIAA gold certified in September. This means that this track alone sold over 500,000 copies since its release. This particular track is the most popular on that album, and that same energy is placed in this new album “Luv 4 Rent.” “Lee and Lovie” was an amazing way to celebrate their success.
If you haven’t already heard “Luv 4 Rent”, check it out here on Spotify!
About Post Author
