After moving the culture to the beat of his own drum, generating hundreds of millions of streams, and earning widespread critical acclaim - Last week, St. Louis artist, rapper, songwriter, producer, and disruptor Smino presents Luv 4 Rent. This is his third album and debut project with Motown Records, in partnership with his independent label Zero Fatigue.

Produced primarily by The Yute (Monte Booker, Groove, Phoelix, Smino) as well as Kal Banx and Childish Major, and narrated by ‘The Luv Lord,’ Luv 4 Rent serves as an audio representation of the Black experience for millennials. Smino shares, “Luv 4 Rent is based on the different types of love. Bad love, petty love, obsessive love, real good love, family love. It’s about the different ways I leant out my heart to the point where I didn’t have enough left for myself.”

The first official single off the album, “90 Proof” [with J. Cole], welcomed critical acclaim. In addition to plugs from Pitchfork, FADER, and more, Rolling Stone declared, “Both Smino and Cole have a penchant for unearthing the intertwined roots of hip-hop and blues with tender melodies and concerns…it’s why they make an excellent duo when they reconnect on ‘90 Proof.’” Furthermore, Hypebeast touted the track’s “exquisite production work,” and Vibe described it as “smooth like a cognac.”

Among many other highlights on Luv 4 Rent, “Matinee” [with Kal Banx] showcases Smino’s wild high-register wails as he admits, “I don’t stress her; I just stretch her,” as a jazz-y groove simmers. V Magazine declared, “[‘Matinee’] does so much more with shifting genre and blurring into different ideas of what a rap hit could be. It’s inventive in the best way.” Then there’s “Pro Freak” [with Doechii & Fatman Scoop], which struts through an old school sample, claps, and gospel-style harmonies. Smino locks into an undeniable and unpredictable fast-paced flow between Doechii’s instantly irresistible hook only to double back to one final funky breakdown offset by fire courtesy of Fatman Scoop. Lil Uzi Vert lights up “Pudgy,” while the rollercoaster concludes on the otherworldly soul of “Lee & Lovie” [with Reggie], presenting the perfect comedown awash in vocal bliss.