Smino Noir Zip _top_ • Best
NOIR is the sophomore studio album by St. Louis rapper Smino, released on November 8, 2018, through Zero Fatigue, Downtown, and Interscope Records. The 18-track project is known for its blend of neo-soul, funk, and Midwestern hip-hop, featuring production largely handled by long-time collaborator Monte Booker. Album Tracklist The album consists of the following 18 tracks: KOVERT L.M.F. (Lead single, stands for "Lion Mufasa") KLINK TEQUILA MOCKINGBIRD SPINZ SUMMER SALT (feat. Bari) Z4L (feat. Bari & Jay2) MERLOT WE GOT THE BISCUITS HOOPTI PIZANO LOW DOWN DERRTY BLUES FENTY SEX (feat. Dreezy) BAM 2x KRUSHED ICE (feat. Valee) SKEDOS MF GROOVE (feat. Ravyn Lenae) VERIZON Notable Collaborators
Abstract
The contemporary hip-hop landscape is often dissected through regional dichotomies (East Coast lyricism vs. Southern trap) or commercial metrics. However, artists like Smino (Christopher Smith Jr.) elude such taxonomies. This paper examines the conceptual triad of Smino, Noir, and Zip as a cohesive artistic framework. “Smino” represents the artist’s idiosyncratic vocal delivery and St. Louis-to-Chicago migratory influence. “Noir” signifies a tonal darkness—not purely tragic, but cinematically shadowed, dealing with hedonism, loneliness, and urban surrealism. “Zip” embodies both the sonic compression of his flows (fast, zipping cadences) and the archival act of “zipping up” a complete, sealed aesthetic world. Analyzing his 2018 album NOIR and subsequent loosies, this paper argues that the “Zip” is the kinetic mechanism that binds melancholic jazz chords with agile, percussive wordplay, producing a unique genre of nocturnal funk. smino noir zip
- Noir (Intro)
- _Klink _
- Krushed Ice (feat. Junglepussy)
- Z4L
"L.M.F.": The lead single, known for its soulful melodies and bouncy production. NOIR is the sophomore studio album by St