Smino

Smino
Smino performing in October 2016
Background information
Birth name Christopher Smith Jr.
Also known as C. Smi
Born (1991-10-02) October 2, 1991
St. Louis, Missouri
Origin Chicago, Illinois
Genres
Occupation(s) Rapper, singer, songwriter
Instruments Vocals, drums
Years active 2011-present
Labels Zero Fatigue, Downtown Records, Interscope Records
Associated acts

Christopher Smith Jr (born October 2, 1991), better known by his stage name, Smino, is an American rapper from St. Louis, Missouri. In 2015, he released two EPs: S!Ck S!Ck S!Ck and blkjuptr.[2] His debut album, blkswn was released on March 14, 2017.[3]

Early life

Chris Smith Jr. was born in St. Louis, Missouri into a musical family: his father plays keys, his mother sings, and his grandfather played bass guitar for Blues Hall of Fame musician Muddy Waters. Both his father and grandfather were given opportunities to take their music far, but they gave up their success to be with their families. When he was seven, his father gave him a set of drums, which he played in his church’s band, and also began rapping. He later moved to Chicago, Illinois for college under the wing of his older cousin, singer Drea Smith.[4][5]

2016 lollapalooza

Musical career

2012-16: Various projects and Zero Fatigue

In 2012, Smino went by the stage name C. Smi, and was in a rap duo with his friend Bari Allen called "Young Dumb and Outta Control" (YDOC), where they released a mixtape titled Retail. They started to gain popularity locally but had a hard time getting their music out into the world. Smino then released his first solo mixtape, Smeezy Dot Com, and moved back to Chicago. At Columbia College Chicago, he met engineer Chris "Classick" Innumerable, who became his closest friend and is now his manager.[6][7]

Smino is part of a musical collective called "Zero Fatigue" with producer Monte Booker, and artists Jay2, Bari, and Ravyn Lenae. On October 2, 2015 Smino released his first EP, S!Ck S!Ck S!Ck.[8][9] On December 11, he released his second EP titled Blkjuptr.[10] On July 31, 2016, Smino appeared on Noname's mixtape, Telefone, with Saba and Phoelix on the track "Shadow Man".[11] On August 17, it was announced that Smino will be alongside Mick Jenkins on the A Quest For Love Tour. On October 27, he made another guest appearance on Bucket List Project on the song "World in My Hands".[12]

2017-present: blkswn

On December 2, 2016, Smino released the title track to serve as first single from his debut album, blkswn, which was released on March 14, 2017. The release date holds a special significance to the St. Louis rapper because 314 is the area code of his hometown. The album includes guest appearances from Ravyn Lenae, Bari, Noname, theMIND, Jay2, Via Rosa, Drea Smith, and Akenya, with production coming from Monte Booker, THEMpeople, Sango, Phoelix, and J. Bird.[13] Following the album's release, he headlined in his month-long Swanita Tour, which included 22 dates with guests Monte Booker, Jay2, Bari, and Jean Deaux.[14] On July 6, it was announced that Smino and Ravyn Lenae will be opening for SZA on The CTRL Tour.[15] He later released music videos for "Anita", "Netflix & Dusse", and "Wild Irish Roses". During October, he was opening act for T-Pain on his Acoustic Tour, who later appeared on the remix for "Anita".[16][17]

In April 2018, he and Monte Booker co-headlined the Kouple Drillz Tour which included shows in Asia and Australia.[18] On May 17, he released a one-off single "New Coupe, Who Dis?" featuring Mick Jenkins.[19] He also appeared on some of his frequent collaborative producers tracks, Cam O'Bi on "TenderHeaded", Phoelix on "Taranphoeno", and Sango on "Khlorine".[20]

Artistry

Influence

Smino describes his sound as futuristic funk and soulful rap. He grew up listening to a lot of jazz, gospel, and hip hop. Smino names Kanye West as his biggest influence, as well as his cousin, Drea Smith.[21]

Discography

Studio albums

Title Album details
blkswn
  • Released: March 14, 2017
  • Format: Digital download

Extended plays

Title Album details
S!Ck S!Ck S!Ck
  • Released: October 2, 2015
  • Format: Digital download
blkjuptr
  • Released: December 11, 2015
  • Format: Digital download

Singles

As lead artist

List of singles as lead artist, with showing year released and album name
Title Year Album
"blkjuptr"[22] 2016 blkjuptr
"Oxygen"[23]
"blkswn"[24] blkswn
"Anita"[24] 2017
"Netflix & Dusse"[24]
"Wild Irish Roses"[24] 2018
List of non-singles as a featured artist, showing year released and album name
Title Year Album
"Money Man"
(NAPALM featuring Smino)[25]		 2015 Life as a Bachelor
"Kolors"
(Monte Booker featuring Smino)[26]		 2016 Soulection White Label - Monte Booker
"Shadow Man"
(Noname featuring Saba, Smino, & Phoelix)[27]		 Telefone
"World in My Hands"
(Saba featuring Smino & LEGIT)[28]		 Bucket List Project
"TenderHeaded"
(Cam O'bi featuring Smino)[20]		 2018 Grown Ass Kid
"TROOP"
(tobi lou featuring Smino)[29]		 N/A
"Taranphoeno"
(Phoelix featuring Smino & Jean Deaux)		 TEMPO
"Khlorine"
(Sango featuring Smino)		 In The Comfort Of
"Intrigue"
(Bari Allen featuring Smino)		 The Prefix
"Ace"
(Noname featuring Smino & Saba)		 Room 25

Tours

Headlining
  • Swanita Tour (2017)
  • Kouple Drillz Tour (with Monte Booker) (2018)
Supporting

References

  1. ↑ Madison, Taylor. "Smino: Meet the Midwest MC Behind One of the Summer's Coolest Love Songs". Rolling Stone. Retrieved May 24, 2017.
  2. ↑ "Smino News". DJ Booth.
  3. ↑ Tanzer, Myles (March 8, 2017). "Smino Announces Debut Album 'blkswn'". The Fader.
  4. ↑ Mahadevan, Tara. "Smino is making a midwest musical moment". Noisey.
  5. ↑ Burney, Lawrence (May 13, 2017). "Smino Isn't Singing to Himself Anymore". Noisey.
  6. ↑ "Meet Smino, the rapper about to put St. Louis back on the map". Pigeons and Planes.
  7. ↑ Frazer, Wes. "Meet Smino, The Deeply Loyal Rapper Putting His People First". The Fader. Retrieved May 5, 2017.
  8. ↑ Drake, David. "Zero Fatigue: Chicago's Next Hip-Hop Visionaries". Pitchfork.
  9. ↑ Moore, Jacob. "Listen to Smino's 'S!CK S!CK S!CK' EP". Pigeons And Planes.
  10. ↑ "Smino Releases Debut Video "Blkjuptr"". HipHopDX.
  11. ↑ Daramola, Israel (August 8, 2016). "Noname: Telefone Album Review". Pitchfork. Retrieved August 9, 2016.
  12. ↑ Mench, Chris (October 27, 2016). "Stream Saba's New Project 'Bucket List'". Complex.
  13. ↑ Pickens, Ashley (March 8, 2017). "Smino Wants To Reflect A New Light On St. Louis With Debut Album 'blkswn'". Vibe.
  14. ↑ Ketchum III, William E. "'I Know Exactly What I Want': St. Louis Rapper Smino on New Album 'blkswn' and Focusing on What Comes Next". Billboard. Retrieved May 24, 2017.
  15. ↑ http://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/hip-hop/7857764/sza-ctrl-tour-dates
  16. ↑ http://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/hip-hop/7940883/t-pain-acoustic-tour-dates
  17. ↑ https://www.hotnewhiaphop.com/smino-lands-t-pain-for-the-anita-remix-new-song.1976074.html
  18. ↑ http://handsometours.com/tours/smino-x-monte-booker/
  19. ↑ Kim, Michelle. "Smino "New Coupe, Who Dis?" [ft. Mick Jenkins]". Pitchfork. Retrieved 19 August 2018.
  20. 1 2 "Cam O'bi - TenderHeaded [ft. Smino]". Retrieved January 23, 2018.
  21. ↑ C. M., Emmanuel. "The Break Presents: Smino". XXL Magazine.
  22. ↑ "blkjuptr by Smino on Apple Music - iTunes". Retrieved April 20, 2017.
  23. ↑ "blkjuptr by Smino on Apple Music - iTunes". Retrieved April 20, 2017.
  24. 1 2 3 4 "blkswn by Smino on Apple Music - iTunes". Retrieved April 20, 2017.
  25. ↑ "Life as a Bachelor by NAPALM on Apple Music - iTunes". Retrieved April 20, 2017.
  26. ↑ "Soulection White Label: Monte Booker – EP by Monte Booker on Apple Music - iTunes". Retrieved April 20, 2017.
  27. ↑ "Telefone by Noname on Apple Music - iTunes". Retrieved April 20, 2017.
  28. ↑ "Bucket List Project by Saba on Apple Music - iTunes". Retrieved April 20, 2017.
  29. ↑ "Smino Assists Tobi Lou On "Troop"". Retrieved March 30, 2018.
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