Crop Circle (Nines album)

Crop Circle is the second studio album by English rapper Nines. It was released on 20 April 2018 by XL Recordings.[1] It is the follow-up to Nines' debut album One Foot Out (2017), which peaked at number 4 on the UK Albums Chart. The album features guest appearances from Dave, Ray BLK, Haile, Tiggs da Author and numerous Ice City Boyz members. Production is handled by 5ive Beatz, Steel Banglez, Beatfreakz, Pinero Beats, Show N Prove and Zeph Ellis.

Crop Circle
Studio album by Nines
Released	20 April 2018
Recorded	2017–18
Studio	Wendyhouse Productions (London, England)
Genre	British hip hop
Length	52:19
Label	XL Recordings
Producer	5ive Beatz Beatfreakz Jahmori Simmons Tejai Moore Bopfa Eyes JB John Savage Karlos Music Ken Samson Lupe Mubz Got Beats Pinero Beats Rascal Remedee Shadow Show N Prove Steel Banglez Zeph Ellis
Nines chronology
One Foot Out (2017) Crop Circle (2018)
Singles from Crop Circle
"I See You Shining" Released: 6 April 2018

The album was supported by lead single "I See You Shining", peaking at number 38 on the UK Singles Chart.

Background

Nines' debut album, One Foot Out, was released in February 2017 and entered the UK Albums Chart at number 4, while receiving positive reviews from critics. Nines announced the release of his second album on 17 April 2018 via social media, three days before release.[2]

Promotion

The lead single, "I See You Shining", was released on 6 April 2018 for digital download.[3] It peaked at number 37 on the UK Singles Chart, becoming Nines' highest-charting single to date.

A short film written and directed by Nines titled after the album was released on 17 April 2018 to promote the album.[4]

Critical reception

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
Pitchfork	7.5/10[5]

Ciaran Thapar of Pitchfork summarised that Crop Circle "perhaps lacks some of the standout street anthems that have, in the past, propelled him into hood stardom. But the result is something entirely new, an impressively unconfined body of work. It doubles as a snapshot of London’s cross-pollinating music scene and a signal towards the rapper’s maturation as he continues to transition from being a homegrown talent into an increasingly reputable MC on the world-stage." [5]

Commercial performance

Midweek forecasts by Official Charts Company slated Crop Circle to enter the UK Albums Chart at number 5.[6] It is set to become Nines' second top 10 album after One Foot Out.

Track listing

Crop Circle

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Producer(s)[7]	Length
1.	"Pictures in a Frame"	Courtney Freckleton Dean Simpson Jeff Bhasker Philip Lawrence Rodney Jerkins	Shadow	3:29
2.	"Rubber Bands" (featuring Ray BLK and Skrapz)	Freckleton Christopher Kwei Paul Oseh Rita Ekwere Sadiki Forbes Shirley Murdoch Larry Troutman	5ive Beatz Karlos Music	3:08
3.	"Trapstar" (featuring J Styles)	Freckleton Forbes Jordan Lindsay	5ive Beatz	3:34
4.	"Liz" (featuring Tee Supreme)	Freckleton Abdul Mubeen Tonye Johnson	Mubz Got Beats	3:59
5.	"Eagles" (featuring Fundz)	Freckleton Lewis Green Fundz	Lupe	3:32
6.	"Haze" (featuring Fundz)	Freckleton Obi Ebele Tejai Moore Jahmori Simmons Uche Ebele Fundz	Beatfreakz	3:03
7.	"Same Way"	Freckleton Kenneth Samson	Ken Samson	2:59
8.	"I See You Shining"	Freckleton Joseph Ellis Pahuldip Sandhu	Steel Banglez Zeph Ellis	2:45
9.	"Oh My" (featuring SL, Tiggs da Author and Yung Fume)	Freckleton Ellis Taylor	Show N Prove	4:06
10.	"Tony Soprano"	Freckleton Forbes	5ive Beatz	2:42
11.	"Venting" (featuring Dave)	Freckleton Janis Strazdins David Omoregie	John Savage	2:21
12.	"Re-Up" (featuring Trapstar Toxic)	Freckleton Trapstar Toxic Jagraj Bains (AKA JB)	JB	2:42
13.	"Make It Up 2 You" (featuring Haile)	Freckleton Sandhu	Steel Banglez	3:09
14.	"Line of Fire Pt. 5" (featuring Likkle T, Fatz, Storm, Fundz and Streetz)	Freckleton Alexander Thomas	Pinero Beats	5:30
15.	"Cash Interlude"	Freckleton Rammy Malachi	Remedee Eyes	3:41
16.	"Outro"	Freckleton Brice El Yati Tobias Breuer	Bopfa Rascal	1:39
Total length:				52:19

Notes

• "Trapstar" features additional vocals by Streetz.
• "Re-Up" features additional vocals by Jagraj Bains (AKA JB).
• "Cash Interlude" features additional vocals by Rammy Malachi and Ca$h Mon£y (AKA Cash).

Sample credits

• "Pictures in a Frame" contains a sample of "Long Distance", performed by Brandy and written by Jeff Bhasker, Philip Lawrence, Rodney Jerkins and Bruno Mars.
• "Rubber Bands" contains a sample of "Computer Love", performed by Zapp and written by Roger Troutman and Larry Troutman.
• "Cash Interlude" contains a sample of "Jump Off 2009", performed by Ca$h Mon£y (AKA Cash), written by Cash.

Personnel

• Adam Lunn – engineering, mixing
• Dave Turner – master engineering

Charts

Chart (2018)	Peak position
Dutch Albums (Album Top 100)[8]	99
UK Albums (OCC)[9]	5

Release history

Region	Date	Format	Label
Worldwide	20 April 2018	Digital download	XL Recordings
		CD

References

1. "Crop Circle by Nines". iTunes. Retrieved 21 April 2018.
2. "Nines on Twitter: "Even the aliens know when that shits out. Crop Circle the album available to preorder at midnight. Album out Friday 4/20". Twitter. 17 April 2018. Retrieved 21 April 2018.
3. "I See You Shining – Single by Nines". iTunes. Retrieved 21 April 2018.
4. "Crop Circle - A Film By Nines". YouTube. 17 April 2018. Retrieved 21 April 2018.
5. "Nines: Crop Circle Album Review". Pitchfork. 28 April 2018. Retrieved 29 April 2018.
6. "The Shires and J. Cole battling to become this week's highest new entry on the Official Albums Chart". Official Charts Company. 23 April 2018. Retrieved 25 April 2018.
7. "Meet the producers behind Nines' 'Crop Circle' album". Link Up TV. 22 April 2018. Retrieved 25 April 2018.
8. "Dutchcharts.nl – Nines – Crop Circle" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved 27 April 2018.
9. "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 28 April 2018.