Smino Releases Video for New Track "24-8"

Smino is ready for his next chapter.

On Thursday, the St. Louis native unleashed his Phoelix-produced “24-8” along with its official video. The title is an homage to the late Kobe Bryant, who donned No. 24 and No. 8 jerseys during his NBA career.

“24/7, I’m gettin’ my dough,” Smino raps in the chorus. “24/8, ’bout feelin’ like Kob’.’”

Ahead of the release, Smino shared a lengthy message on Twitter explaining why he’s been dragging his feet with new music releases. The rapper has appeared on a number of joint tracks in 2022—including “Still” with Saba and 6lack, and “Ameyonce” with EarthGang—but has been relatively quiet when it came to solo efforts.

“It been a while…I spent alotta time becoming a better fren to myself,” he wrote. “I spent alotta time searching for time I already had…I spent alotta time tryna make this shit perfect only to realize the only perfect things come from God and just being myself is perfect bc I come from God Himself…I spent alotta moments wondering if I even gave a fuck about dropping Music bcuz in dis world…it seems like the talent isn’t appreciated as much as the ‘Challenge’ or the moment ...”

The song is expected to appear on Smino’s Luv 4 Rent album, the much-anticipated follow-up to 2018’s NØIR. He spoke about the project during a December 2021 interview with Teddy Ray, where he explained the album’s overall theme and message.

“This album is called Luv 4 Rent. It’s based on different types of love,” he said. “It could be bad love, petty love, obsessive love—just real good, family love. But it’s about the different ways I lended out my heart to the point where I didn’t have enough for myself. You feel me?”