Following his Christmas release High 4 Da Highladays, St. Louis star Smino returns to the fold with his new single “Tempo,” which may or may not have been released following an exchange with fellow hip hop peer Noname. “Tempo” features production from VXZN and sees the artist boasting about sex, weed, Rihanna, and the Greek Freak:
“Way too much funnel, I’m soundin’ like Trae Tha Truth, baby/
I don’t be trippin’ like that on the title, just take a trip, baby/
I don’t be drinkin’ like that, hope this Hen’ feelin’ Roddy Ricch, lazy/
Hop in the back of the boat … in the water/
With a bih like Rihanna? I’m anti-broke, hoe, you ain’t ballin’, be honest/
Antetokounmpo, huh, damn I caught my tempo, huh…/”
In a recent interview with Wonderland Magazine, Smino spoke on how it’s becoming more important to be yourself in the music and entertainment industry:
“It’s a matter of — if s*** be too good — you’re too far into your success. It makes it harder to have some s*** to relate to, or have s*** other people relate to, because you’re just not there anymore. That’s why I try and stay real.”
Last December saw the short-but-sweet High 4 Da Highladays, which featured the tracks “Kushmas” and the Monte Booker and Masego-assisted “Sleigh.” In the same year, he contributed verses to Pivot Gang’s “Bad Boys,” Leven Kali’s “Homegirl,” and — on a larger scale — some four songs on Dreamville’s Revenge Of The Dreamers III compilation. Prior to that, he released his second studio album NØIR in 2018, which saw 18 tracks and assistance from Bari, Dreezy, Valee and Ravyn Lenae.
You can check out “Tempo” below, which is available via Smino’s YouTube and Soundcloud. Presumably, his third studio album is on the way. In related news, clothing entity HUF recently teamed up with Smino for their Spring 2020 campaign. Said campaign also coincides with HUF’s Sound Series, which saw Smino and others perform earlier this month in support of the skateboarding and streetwear brand.