Smino - blkswn [2LP Clear]

Smino's debut album blkswn arrived in 2017 as a burst of St. Louis colour, a woozy, playful mix of rap and R&B, spread here across two clear vinyl LPs.

Raised in St. Louis and part of the Chicago collective Zero Fatigue, Smino built blkswn with close collaborators, above all producer Monte Booker, whose bouncy, off-kilter drums and soft synth textures shape much of the record. It quickly marked him as one of the most inventive voices in the wave of soulful hip-hop coming out of the Midwest.

Wild Irish Roses opens with slippery flows and sly wordplay, and Anita is a smooth, sing-song highlight that became a fan favourite. Netflix & Dusse leans into lazy, late-night grooves, while Glass Flows brings in Ravyn Lenae for a dreamy pairing of voices.

Smino's voice is the real instrument here, bending from rapid-fire rapping into elastic, gospel-tinged singing within a single bar and often stacking harmonies over himself. The guest list stays close to home, keeping the album's loose, family feel intact from start to finish.

Playful, warm and full of surprises, blkswn still sounds fresh years later, and the clear double vinyl gives this inventive debut a fittingly bright home on the shelf.