Meek Mill is ready to deliver his first album in nearly three years. The Philly rapper announced plans for Expensive Pain on Wednesday (September 15) and Meek’s CHAMPIONSHIPS follow-up is slated to arrive on October 1.
“My Album ‘Expensive Pain’ Releases 10/1 Pre-Save Now @ninachanel it’s giving me heavy NFT VIBES,” Meek Mill wrote.
?My Album ‘Expensive Pain’ Releases 10/1 ?
Pre-Save Now: https://t.co/KiLohqFnRj pic.twitter.com/SfOyu8Kj6l— Meek Mill (@MeekMill) September 15, 2021
Salutes from Meek’s Hip Hop compatriots poured in from the likes of Pusha T, DJ Khaled, YG, Bobby Shmurda, HipHopDX Rising Star 42 Dugg, Hitmaka, Slim Thug and more. Even 76ers owner and business partner Michael Rubin congratulated Meek on the announcement.
The Dreamchasers boss has released a pair of recent singles to heat up the streets in “Blue Notes II” featuring Lil Uzi Vert and the Lil Durk and Lil Baby-assisted “Sharing Locations.” Both call the Billboard Hot 100 chart home this week in the No. 87 and No. 63 slots, respectively.
While fans are hyped for a new project, not everyone was enthused with Meek’s cover art selection, which is a depiction of an original painting by famed artist Nina Chanel Abney.
“I didn’t think that this year could have even worse album covers than clb and Donda and now here we are,” one fan wrote.
I didn’t think that this year could have even worse album covers than clb and Donda and now here we are
— Keegan ?☄️? (@TKman323) September 15, 2021
Another petitioned fans to do their research on Abney’s work, “Watch what you say. @MeekMill’s #ExpensivePain cover art is actually one of the best in music this year. Black, queer, female ARTIST designed @ninachanel, abstract style, title and imagery aligns, NFT-worthy; just different.”
Watch what you say. @MeekMill’s #ExpensivePain cover art is actually one of the best in music this year.
Black, queer, female ARTIST designed (@ninachanel), abstract style, title and imagery aligns, NFT-worthy; just different.
More of her work: pic.twitter.com/D1EAmmhqpv
— PHATS (@MARAPHATS) September 15, 2021
During a Q&A with fans regarding the album, Meek teased a possible JAY-Z feature, revealed one U.K. rapper guest appearance and said there will be production from Nick Papz, DougieOnTheBeat and Cardo.
Look for Expensive Pain come October 1 and for now, check out fans’ reactions to the cover art below.
What is this album cover man dfkm? pic.twitter.com/dZsXn9kcaS
— King Wow (@WowThatsHipHop) September 15, 2021
pic.twitter.com/95RGIfuRCp
— Paulo (@PeediPaulo) September 15, 2021
Me:Can we have faces Mom for dinner?
Mom: No we got faces at home
-Faces at home pic.twitter.com/hf4Oa2xkwa— o (@FactsandTruth_) September 15, 2021
everybody roasting the cover need to do their research on the artist.. you might be trashing something you’d stand behind otherwise pic.twitter.com/b4adKK7c8c
— Joey Moffett (@joeymoffett87) September 15, 2021
Looks like a Ghetto Bootleg Version of Mac Miller’s Faces Cover
— RETROH-H (@RetrospectiveHH) September 15, 2021
Cover is trash. Come on Meek you killing me. ??♂️
— Cinco (@h3lla_dope) September 15, 2021
Meek Mill might just take the cake for worst cover art of 2021 pic.twitter.com/FLireCUfCj
— Squirt Reynolds (@SquirtReynoIds) September 15, 2021
the new meek cover looks like a lost page from chicka chicka boom boom pic.twitter.com/fOEB75GhNZ
— Nonnie? (@NonnieNarko) September 15, 2021
nah this man Meek Mill has gotta have a humiliation kink? WTF IS THIS COVER ?? pic.twitter.com/kOBjBKMEu8
— ????☔️⁶? (@HunchoSeann) September 15, 2021
Meek Mill… what tf is this album cover pic.twitter.com/680f6hEZKM
— Wost???♂️? (@mosthiphop) September 15, 2021