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
Released20 April 2018
Recorded2017–18
StudioWendyhouse Productions
(London, England)
GenreBritish hip hop
Length52:19
LabelXL 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)
Crabs in a Bucket
(2020)
Singles from Crop Circle
  1. "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

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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

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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

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Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Pitchfork7.5/10[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

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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

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Crop Circle
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)[7]Length
1."Pictures in a Frame"Shadow3:29
2."Rubber Bands" (featuring Ray BLK and Skrapz)
  • 5ive Beatz
  • Karlos Music
3:08
3."Trapstar" (featuring J Styles)
  • Freckleton
  • Forbes
  • Jordan Lindsay
5ive Beatz3:34
4."Liz" (featuring Tee Supreme)
  • Freckleton
  • Abdul Mubeen
  • Tonye Johnson
Mubz Got Beats3:59
5."Eagles" (featuring Fundz)
  • Freckleton
  • Lewis Green
  • Fundz
Lupe3:32
6."Haze" (featuring Fundz)
  • Freckleton
  • Obi Ebele
  • Tejai Moore
  • Jahmori Simmons
  • Uche Ebele
  • Fundz
Beatfreakz3:03
7."Same Way"
  • Freckleton
  • Kenneth Samson
Ken Samson2:59
8."I See You Shining"
2:45
9."Oh My" (featuring SL, Tiggs da Author and Yung Fume)
Show N Prove4:06
10."Tony Soprano"
  • Freckleton
  • Forbes
5ive Beatz2:42
11."Venting" (featuring Dave)
John Savage2:21
12."Re-Up" (featuring Trapstar Toxic)
  • Freckleton
  • Trapstar Toxic
  • Jagraj Bains (AKA JB)
JB2:42
13."Make It Up 2 You" (featuring Haile)
  • Freckleton
  • Sandhu
Steel Banglez3:09
14."Line of Fire Pt. 5" (featuring Likkle T, Fatz, Storm, Fundz and Streetz)
  • Freckleton
  • Alexander Thomas
Pinero Beats5:30
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.
  • "Venting" contains a sample of 'Tell Me The Truth' performed by Lapsley.

Personnel

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

Charts

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

Certifications

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Certifications for Crop Circle
Region Certification Certified units/sales
United Kingdom (BPI)[10] Gold 100,000

Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Release history

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Region Date Format Label
Various 20 April 2018 XL
CD

References

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  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. ^ a b "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.[permanent dead link]
  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.
  10. ^ "British album certifications – Nines – Crop Circle". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 25 June 2021.