MBNel & BOE Sosa Put on for Their Hometowns on "Next Up"

Last year, fast-rising Stocktown artist MBNel made quite an impression on his region’s rap scene with Lifestyle, a 14-track studio project that features collaborations with Aflacko, Lil Slugg, $tupid Young, JoeMariMB, TC Low and Domo and production by Jay P Bangz, Lil O, Bullet Loko, Eli Beatz and others. Now, the 22-year-old up-and-comer is planning to follow-up his previous LP with another new full-length project, Misunderstood. Set to serve as his sophomore studio album, Misunderstood is scheduled to see release on March 29. To introduce Misunderstood and give his fans a preview of its sonic direction, MBNel is linking up with fellow Northern California star-in-the-making BOE Sosa for a new collaborative cut known as “Next Up.” Billed as Misunderstood‘s lead single, “Next Up” is an ode to the talented youth of MBNel and BOE Sosa’s hometowns.

“‘Next Up’ with Sosa is about two upcoming youngsters putting it down for their respective cities,” MBNel tells us, breaking down his latest track and opening up about his next studio album, “The project is called Misunderstood; I kind of got the idea from one of Wayne’s old songs called ‘Misunderstood,’ and I feel like a lot of people box in certain people, but’s there more to it than what they see and hear so I’m trying to let the supporters hear my stories on every side of the fence — which is why I showcase different melodies, patterns, and go from rapping to singing. All facts no rap cap.”

You can stream MBNel and BOE Sosa’s new joint single “Next Up” below, while Misunderstood is on course to hit streaming services on March 29 via EMPIRE.

For more new sights and sounds from the West Coast’s current rap renaissance, check out Rucci’s “Till The Day I Die” video.