For the last two years we have all been left wondering when we were to receive another album from the incredibly gifted Nines and the time is finally here. Since 2012, year after year the UK rapper has been turning out project after project, until he wowed the world and gained well-deserved recognition with his sophomore studio album Crop Circle.
After a sneaky ‘I’m still in the game’ single release with “Pride”, Nines is finally back with his latest album Crabs In A Bucket. In celebration of the release, we wanted to bless you with 11 tracks that may have slipped under your radar from various stages in Nines’ career.
“Nu Crack”
First up is a one minute blast of old school Nines. At just 17, Nines is heard spitting over Outkast’s instrumental “Two Dope Boyz (In a Cadillac)”. Many of his tracks around 2007 begin to show off his incredible gift of articulating life into music.
“Dreaming”
From his first full project From Church Rd to Hollywood, Nines lays down his dreams of success. Now listening back to the lyrics, his words make you find faith in the idea of law of attraction. Dreaming in 2012 of not only for greatness for himself, but also for his hood, fast forward to 2020 and Nines has shared his plans to redevelop the Church End and Roundwood Unity Centre in North London.
Keeping it local, the track features a beautiful melodic hook from North West singer-songwriter B-Anca.
“Metalic Black”
Another track from mixtape From Church Rd to Hollywood, is “Metalic Black”. One of many brilliant examples of how he verbalises the lifestyle of a drug dealer from Church Road estate in an original way still exclusive to Nines only. The mixtape itself holds a candidly emotive body of tracks, painting vivid pictures.
“Certified North West G”
The next year Nines unfortunately spent some time behind bars but that didn’t stop him from blessing us with the mixtape Gone Till November. “Certified North West G” is one of the many bangers to come from the project and features fellow Ice City Boy, Fatz.
The song features the iconic bar “when I finish trimming the crop my hands are the same colour as Shrek”.
“Handle It, Pt.2”
Track number 10 on Gone Till November is “Handle It, Pt.2”. The song features a skit of Nines talking from inside prison during a phone call between himself and Jazzy. On top of a cold Mac Miller instrumental Nines deeps how he is going to miss the whole summer, “I had big plans, I meant to do numbers”. J-Man also features on the track sharing his feelings towards the situation. The lyrics are a perfect example of the realness that comes from Nines’ tracks.
“Tap Dat”
Showing off as a heavyweight of the UK scene, “Tap Dat” was featured on the Brotherhood soundtrack.
“Never Be Another”
Marking three back to back years of projects, Nina’s third mixtape Loyal to the Soil was released in 2014. A chorus from a female vocalist always seem to be some of the best Nines tracks and “Never Be Another” was no different. After all “there will never be another” like Nines.
“Gave It All”
Nines is no stranger to sampling tracks, and “Gave It Al” samples the late Aaliyah’s “Never No More”.
“Just Another Day”
“Just Another Day” comes from the mixtape One Foot In, which was packed full of strong instrumentals to compliment his infamous lyricism, just like this track. While “Yay” may be his most well known track off the mixtape, there is a song on there for everybody as he proves he is capable of producing tracks for both the streets and the radio.
“Going In”
Going In is the first track off Nines’ debut album, One Foot Out.
“I Wonder”
Saving the best till last is “I Wonder”, a track that really can hit home. The lyrics discuss how life would be different if certain things never occurred, if his parents never met or as Akala, who features on the track questions, “what kind of person would you have been if you grew up in Hampstead instead of Harlesden?” “I Wonder” is filled with thought provoking lyrics.
Stream his latest album below right now!