blkjuptr | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
EP by | ||||
Released | December 11, 2015 | |||
Recorded | 2015 | |||
Studio | Classick Studios | |||
Genre | ||||
Length | 15:21 | |||
Label | ||||
Producer | Monte Booker | |||
Smino chronology | ||||
|
blkjuptr (pronounced "black jupiter") is the second extended play by American rapper Smino. It was released on December 11, 2015 with Zero Fatigue under license to Downtown Records. [1] The EP was later re-released on June 3, 2016 on all digital platforms. [2] Production was handled by Monte Booker, who previously worked with Smino on his S!Ck S!Ck S!Ck EP. He would go on to produce the bulk of his debut album, 2017's blkswn. Guest features came from Jay2 and Julien Bell. [3]
Smino stated that he created Blk Juptr as an escape from alienation on Earth, which is reminiscent of Parliament-Funkadelic and Sun Ra. His goal is an intergalactic flight to a far off, pretend planet; he achieves his mission. [4] Smino also explained in an interview "The black metaphor thing. [What] the song embodies fucking made me wanna just name the whole project, because I was listening to it like damn, it sound like a journey. These five songs sound like a little journey... [blkjuptr] is me feeling like I feel everyday, except when I’m with my friends. If I leave [my friends], I swear to god, if I go out into the world by myself, I feel like a whole ass alien. Most people be on some like systematic, going to work shit. Most people be on some still stuck in racist shit… [The art world is] pretty much like alienating ourselves, but we are like real observant. We just watch the world and get inspired. When I go out there, I be like tenser than a mug. Art world just feels good. You never feel like something gonna happen to you when you go to an art show, bruh." [5]
Upon release, he title-track "blkjuptr" was made as the lead single for the EP, with a music video directed by Jacob Chavez released on June 6, 2016. [6] Smino later released a live-performance of "Oxygen" on SBTV. [7]
In a review, James Elliott of Earmilk said "Chicago has been pumping out artists for a few years now, but its next star might actually call St. Louis home. Smino's Blk Juptr is a fantastic sophomore project, and for many a first introduction. It is a multifaceted EP that will take some time to get through, but is worth the time spent." [4] The Chicago Reader claimed "The instrumentals chatter and hum, reverberating with intimacy and quietly blossoming as Booker arranges and rearranges his minimal palette. Smino follows the music's changing moods with his slippery flow, which can shift from a poised croon to a playful, coiled snarl without drawing too much attention to the change. Even in its quietest moments, Blk Juptr sounds bustling." [8] These Days said "blkjuptr is a body of work rooted in Smino’s awareness of his surroundings. As the title track begins, Smino’s saccharine drawl hides in producer Monte Booker’s crescendoing synths. Smi soon makes his presence fully known with a punch, 'Black hoodie / Black timbs / Black leather jacket / Sun beatin on my black skin,' all at once evoking imagery of Trayvon Martin, and symbolically alluding to American black consciousness." [5]
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Producer(s) | Length |
---|---|---|---|---|
1. | "Blkjuptr" |
| Monte Booker | 3:09 |
2. | "Zoom" |
| Monte Booker | 3:36 |
3. | "Runnin'" (featuring Jay2) |
| Monte Booker | 3:19 |
4. | "Poppa" (featuring Julian Bell) |
| Monte Booker | 3:14 |
5. | "Oxygen" |
| Monte Booker | 2:08 |
Total length: | 15:21 |
Notes
Melissa Arnette "Missy" Elliott, also known as Misdemeanor, is an American rapper, singer, songwriter, and record producer. She embarked on her music career with R&B girl group Sista in the 1990s, and later became a member of the Swing Mob collective alongside her childhood friend and longtime collaborator Timbaland, with whom she wrote and produced music for acts such as 702, Aaliyah, SWV, and Total. Following several collaborations and guest appearances, she began her solo career in 1997 with her debut album Supa Dupa Fly, which spawned the top 20 single "Sock It 2 Me". The album debuted at No. 3 on the Billboard 200, the highest charting debut for a woman rapper at the time.
"Bitches Ain't Shit" is the final song of Dr. Dre's debut solo rap album, The Chronic, which was released in December 1992 as Death Row Records' first album. Though never a single, "Bitches Ain't Shit" was a huge underground hit. The song's popularity was a major contribution to the success of The Chronic's sales.
Jahmaal Noel Fyffe, better known by his stage name Chip, is a British rapper and songwriter from Tottenham, North London. In the past 14 years he has collaborated with the likes of Skepta, T.I., Meek Mill, Young Adz and many others. In 2009, he released his debut album, I Am Chipmunk, featuring four songs which peaked in the top 10 of the UK Singles Chart, including the chart-topping "Oopsy Daisy". In 2011, Chipmunk released his follow-up album, the American hip hop-influenced Transition. It included the single "Champion" featuring Chris Brown, which peaked at #2 on the UK Singles Chart.
TrapGold is the second mixtape by Australian rapper Iggy Azalea, who released it as a free digital download on 11 October 2012. American DJ and music producer Diplo and 1st Down of FKi executive produced the project, along with Azalea and Stix serving as co-executive producers. It also features a guest appearance from Juicy J and samples interviews from Salvador Dalí, Andy Warhol, David LaChapelle and Reiner Opoku.
Live in Concert is a collaborative EP by American rappers Wiz Khalifa and Curren$y. The EP was released on April 20, 2013, by Jet Life Recordings and Rostrum Records. The EP was originally planned to be released as a free mixtape, but was released to retail due to sample clearance issues.
Denzel Rae Don Curry is an American rapper. Born and raised in Miami Gardens, Florida, Curry started rapping while in the sixth grade and began working on his first mixtape in 2011, which was influenced by underground Florida rapper SpaceGhostPurrp. The mixtape was later featured on SpaceGhostPurrp's social media, giving Curry attention in the local music scene and resulting in him joining the former’s hip-hop collective Raider Klan.
Fatimah Nyeema Warner, known professionally as Noname, is an American rapper, poet, and record producer. Since 2019, she has run the Noname Book Club, which focuses on radical texts by authors of color. She is also one-third of the musical supergroup Ghetto Sage with fellow rappers Smino and Saba.
Tahj Malik Chandler, better known by his stage name Saba, is an American rapper and record producer. He grew up in the Austin neighborhood of the West Side of Chicago. He is a co-founder of the musical collective Pivot Gang with his brother Jerrel Chandler, their late cousin Walter Long Jr, their high school friend Logan Yutters, Jevunte Wheeler (squeakPivot),and Jimmy. He is also one third of the supergroup Ghetto Sage, with Smino and Noname.
Freddie Gibbs & Madlib, sometimes known as MadGibbs, is an American hip hop duo formed in San Francisco, California, in 2011. The duo is composed of Gary, Indiana-based Freddie Gibbs rapping and Oxnard, California native Madlib producing. The duo has released two studio albums, Piñata in 2014 and Bandana in 2019. They have also released five extended plays (EPs) together.
Christopher Smith Jr., better known by his stage name Smino, is an American rapper. Smino is the founder of the musical collective Zero Fatigue with Bari, Monte Booker, Jay2, and Ravyn Lenae. He is one third of the supergroup Ghetto Sage, with Saba and Noname. Smino is signed to Downtown Records and Interscope.
blkswn is the debut studio album by American rapper Smino. It was released on March 14, 2017 with Zero Fatigue under license to Downtown Records.
Simmie Sims III, known professionally as Buddy, is an American rapper, singer, and dancer. Previously on the I Am Other label, he is now signed to Cool Lil Company and RCA Records. He is also a member of the hip-hop supergroup Zoink Gang, with JID, Smino and Guapdad 4000.
Revenge of the Dreamers III is the third compilation album by American record label Dreamville, released on July 5, 2019, by Dreamville and Interscope Records.
Noir is the second studio album by American rapper Smino. It was released on November 8, 2018, with Zero Fatigue under license to Downtown Records and distributed by Interscope Records.
Zero Fatigue is an American musical collective and independent record label with a split-base in both St. Louis, Missouri and Chicago, Illinois. The collective was founded by Smino and includes artists and producers Monte Booker, Ravyn Lenae, JayBaby TheGreaty, and Nosidam. The label is run by Chris "Classick" Innumerable.
She Already Decided is the second mixtape by American rapper Smino. It was released on April 20, 2020. The mixtape includes guest appearances from Sevyn Streeter, T-Pain, Bari, JayBaby TheGreaty, and Rizz Capolatti. Production on the mixtape came from Groove, Kal Banx, VZN, and Phoelix among others.
"Break My Heart Again" is a song by American singer-songwriter Finneas. It was released by OYOY for digital download and streaming as a single on February 9, 2018. The song was later included on the deluxe edition of Finneas' debut EP, Blood Harmony (2019). An indie pop ballad, the song's lyrics address Finneas breaking up with his girlfriend through on and off texting. The song received mainly positive reviews from music critics, several of whom praised the music and lyrical content.
Sobhhï is a Dubai-based R&B artist. He has been ranked the number one streamed hip-hop and R&B artist in the UAE, and one of the top artists in the Middle East. Beginning his career in computational mathematics, he now creates music full-time between the US and Dubai.
Ahmanti Booker, professionally known as Monte Booker is an American producer from Chicago, Illinois. He is part of the musical collective Zero Fatigue, and has worked with artists such as Smino, Ravyn Lenae, Noname, Saba, Mick Jenkins, Sango, Ari Lennox and JID, among others.
Luv 4 Rent is the third studio album by American rapper Smino. It was released on October 28, 2022, with Zero Fatigue under license to Motown. The album includes guest appearances from J. Cole, Doechii, Fatman Scoop, Cruza, Lucky Daye, Phoelix, Cory Henry, Ravyn Lenae, Lil Uzi Vert and Reggie.