Steve Lacy – Nice Shoes

One of the more eccentric hitmakers of this generation has returned, and he is not delaying in reimmersing himself in the full spectrum of his craft. The artist in question is none other than Steve Lacy. The native of Compton has been relatively inactive since 2022, which marked the pinnacle of his career.

During that time, he released his critically acclaimed sophomore album, Gemini Rights, which featured his most popular track to date, “Bad Habits.” This song was ubiquitous, particularly in the realm of short-form content on social media.

Both this track and the remainder of the album contributed to Steve Lacy securing a GRAMMY award for Best Progressive R&B Album.

However, he is now transitioning from that cherished period with the release of “Nice Shoes,” the lead single from his upcoming third LP, OH YEAH? Although a release date has not yet been disclosed, it is expected to arrive before the end of the year. In an upcoming cover story for the September issue of Rolling Stone, he discussed the creative process behind this new endeavor.

“This one has taken a lot of time and thought. I keep using the word ‘design.’ It feels like fully designing a new language for myself,” he remarked, as reported by Pitchfork.

This new language, at least as expressed in “Nice Shoes,” is both passionate and direct, yet fraught with tension. Lacy finds himself struggling to manage this surge of emotions and repeatedly implores for it to cease. It appears to be a glimpse into a larger concept and thematic exploration, which has piqued our interest, particularly with its chaotic and enthralling instrumental.