One of Canada’s sharpest wordsmiths has, once again, proven that he’s a beast in his own right. Belly returned with the release of his highly-anticipated new album, Mumble Rap 2, executive produced by Hit-Boy. Marking the follow-up to See You Next Wednesday, Belly enlists a slew of heavy hitters for the anthem. Rick Ross, who Belly describes as one of his favorite rappers, appears on “Cocaine Spoon,” while Gucci Mane joins the rapper on “De La Hoya.” However, the XO presence looms heavily, as well, with Nav appearing on “Just Like Me.”
Perhaps, the most surprising inclusion on the tracklist comes from the late Gil Scott-Heron. The influential poet’s voice appears on “Loyalty v. Royalty,” a bluesy banger with production from Hit-Boy and Scott-Heron’s estate’s blessing. “We reached out. They were incredible, great about it. They just wanted to hear the record, heard the record. They were like, ‘Yeah. Done.’ Signed off on it,” Belly told HotNewHipHop in a recent interview. “Even for me, it was like, shocking because I had never tried to clear something like that.’”
Belly Unveils “Mumble Rap 2”
The latest effort from the rapper comes shortly after he announced that he has three albums left before stepping away from the music industry. Earlier this year, he confirmed that after Mumble Rap 2, he would hit the road before dropping two more albums and heading on a farewell tour. “I love yall with all my heart, sincerely, but this industry has taken it’s toll on me,” he wrote. “MR2 will be the first of my last three albums ever. Mini tour for MR2 then a farewell tour after my next 2.”
At this point, he hasn’t revealed any further details on his last two albums. However, it’s unlikely that we see the long-awaited Jay-Z collaboration land on either. The rapper previously teased a song titled “Midnight Zone” alongside the Roc Nation boss. But, in a recent interview with HotNewHipHop, he revealed the status of the record. “Honestly, I don’t know. I don’t think that’s gon’ be the case,” Belly explained when asked if the Jay-Z collab might appear on his future projects. “Just the fact I was able to get in the studio with Hov and just be in there and just to have him pull up to a couple of sessions – that’s a life-long dream for me right there.”
“Cocaine Spoon” Ft. Rick Ross
In addition to the release of Mumble Rap 2, Belly also unveiled the official visuals for the single, “Cocaine Spoon” ft. Rick Ross. The new video comes after the release of both “American Nightmare” and “Ambiance,” which share a similar aesthetic to his latest video. Check it out above.