Just in time for Black History Month, Bay Area rapper and hip-hop artist Nimsins has released another album–Black August 2.
This project is Nimsins' way of speaking on Black literature, discussing politics, and showing his ideas and thoughts during a period of fasting he underwent during the month of August, when many African Americans honor the struggles and resistance of the Black people throughout history.
This album is the second installment from Nimsins' 2024 album Black August, and was written and recorded last September.
The 30-year-old artist has a history of rapping about his Black experiences from Oakland, California, and throughout the Bay Area.
From the very first track "OG Paul Intro," Nimsins prepares the listener for a moment in time to appreciate Black culture.
He makes this even clearer in the second track “If I’m Not,” through Jazz piano tunes, he raps, “If I’m not standing for the cause, then what do you call that? Imma stay Black and die, like what do you call that? They speaking on the culture, we dressed in all Black.”
Nimsins continues rapping on Black music and the rap scene in the third track, "Cuz Doin Time," but returns to letting the listener know what it is like to wake up Black every day in the fourth track, “Apple Seeds.”
Along with the violin instrumentation, he says, “I’m Black in the morning. I’m Black in the afternoon. I’m Black when I’m sad and blue. Still Black when I don’t watch the news. You see one part, the other half never met the dude.”
The essence of “Apple Seeds” is a reminder of how the news and media portray violence toward the Black community—what’s seen on the “Apple screen,” or more simply, what people consume on their phones.
On the fifth track, “No Pape,” he reflects on the resilience of Black people, working hard and finding beauty even in difficult moments. Nimsins raps, “Tired early and I woke late. If you ask me, then I got no pape … I hope you know this Black spirit just won’t break.” It’s a short, sweet track that encourages the listener to stay motivated and headstrong.
The jazz and soul beats return on the sixth track, “If you leave,” where the listener feels transported back to the ’50s as Nimsins freestyles about life lessons. He weaves in wordplay and layered rhymes while keeping the song smooth and easy on the ear.
After the playful tone, Nimsins gets serious again on “ALR Peep Dis,” rapping about pursuing music not for money, but to shed light on real life and real trauma. He also makes it clear that even his haters are still listening.
This comes through in lines like, “Quisiera vivir la vida. That’s a cold play. I got game. I'm seasoned. From the old Bay. I put big Ls on a wax. Like the old jay. Aye I’m trippin huh. You don’t like it, what you in my Black business for?”
In the music video, Nimsins is seen rapping at night near MacArthur BART station in Oakland, closing the track with, “It always starts slow. It get to pickin up. You gotta keep on grinding. Other people have jewelry, boy, the knowledge blind em. And I ain’t talking ’bout no meek flips. A wise woman said, ‘offense is defense.’ All right peep this.”
On the following tracks, “War Is Peace” and “Cayenne,” hip-hop beats take center stage as Nimsins reflects on Oakland city politics, his upbringing, family, and friendships, all while rejecting the need to be cast as either the hero or the villain in any narrative.
On the final two tracks, “You Know The Rest” and “Seance,” Nimsins continues to unpack the hardships faced by his relatives while reflecting on his own musical journey, from recording in a small room to where he is now. He also touches on gratitude and growth as a father to a young daughter, before closing by speaking for the dead—the spirits of past generations and their sacrifices toward Black liberation.
Though the album spans 11 tracks, each song runs under three minutes. Time slips by unnoticed as the listener is drawn into the journey, left to appreciate both the artistry and the depth of Black expression.
Connect with Nimsins: Instagram
