Everything we know about Smino's upcoming album 'MAYBE IN NIRVANA' dropping this Friday

Christopher Smith Jr., professionally known as Smino, is gearing up for a new album release this Friday with a project titled MAYBE IN NIRVANA.

Smino's upcoming fourth studio album will be distributed to all major streaming platforms on December 6, 2024, via Motown Records and Zero Fatigue LLC, under an exclusive license to UMG Recordings Inc.

On Tuesday (December 3), Christopher took to Instagram to share the official tracklist for MAYBE IN NIRVANA, alongside its black and white cover art. According to the album's "pre-save," on Spotify, the following records will feature on his fourth studio album:

1. Intro
2. Dear Fren
3. Ready Set Goku
4. Maybe In Nirvana
5. Lee
6. Tequan (feat. Ravyn Lenae)
7. NSYNC
8. Ms. Joyce (feat. Bun B)
9. Hoe-Nouns (feat. Thundercat & reggie)
10. Glo-Fi (feat. Ravyn Lenae)

The album was originally intended to act as the deluxe for Smino's third studio album, Luv 4 Rent, released in 2022 featuring guest performances from J. Cole, Lil Uzi Vert, Lucky Daye, and more.

In a 2023 tweet, the rapper confirmed the deluxe for Luv 4 Rent was now a completely new album, suggesting a potential tracklist featuring "12 new songs".

"Luv 4 Rent deluxe actually a whole new album," Smino tweeted.

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"I made this album before I made Luv 4 Rent" - Major Highlights from Smino's 2024 Billboard interview

Earlier this week, on Monday (December 2), Christopher Smith Jr. sat down with Billboard, in their New York office, to discuss his upcoming album, which the publication describes as a "reflective and experimental" project.

While playing games of Mario Kart, the rapper discusses his recent collaboration with Aminé titled Passenger Princess, released to DSPs on October 23, 2024, before getting into the concepts behind his upcoming fourth studio album.

The St. Louis native explains being "indecisive" about releasing MAYBE IN NIRVANA, highlighting how he made the project before Luv 4 Rent.

"When I’m in a place where I’m at peace with my mind, you know, I’d be able to put this album out. You feel me? ‘Cause I had made this album before I made Luv 4 Rent, the last album I put out," Christopher Smith Jr. stated.

The rapper goes on to confirm the project contains tracks that were originally recorded four years ago, during the COVID-19 Pandemic, in collaboration with Grammy award-winning audio engineer MixedByAli.

He explains how MAYBE IN NIRVANA is a lot more "debaucherous" than any of his previous projects, citing that the raw nature of his project convinced him to hold off on releasing it earlier.

"This album, it’s a lot more debaucherous. I’m talking about a lot more like... It’s just my young a** mind at work, just saying sh*t, not really understanding my emotions. So, I felt like at the time it was just bad timing for it. But then when I went back and listened to it, I’m like, “This sh*t is amazing.” It still works," Christopher Smith Jr. explained.

According to Smino, MAYBE IN NIRVANA was recorded around the time he wrapped up his 2020 tour, claiming he was in "full-on rock star" mode when coming up with the project.

The official cover art for Christopher Smith Jr.'s upcoming studio album 'MAYBE IN NIRVANA' (Image via Instagram/@smino)

Smino also highlights that his favorite record off of the upcoming album is a track titled Dear Fren, which he explains as an emotional record written in memory of his late grandmother and younger cousin.

"It’s called “Dear Fren.” It’s like the most personal one. I wrote a letter to my grandma and to my little cousin, who both aren’t here anymore. They passed away. So, I’d probably say that song is my favorite personally," Christopher Smith Jr. described.

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Smino's upcoming MAYBE IN NIRVANA LP will also mark the rapper's first independent album release, under his newly formed record label Zero Fatigue LLC.