Black Sheep is inspired by seeing the world, by embracing the nightlife and building community. Cakes' critical and communal acclaim precede him: in the past two years, he’s played Glastonbury, Governors Ball, Sonar, and Whole Festival. He’s worked with everyone from HoneyDijon to Injury Reserve to Rye Rye. Whether holding court, going through customs, or crushing competition, Cakes stands firm as a seasoned vet who knows his role and knows the game.

Reuniting with longtime collaborator SamKatz, the producer behind 2022’s Svengali, BlackSheep finds the duo at their most comfortable and confident: Cakes wrote every bar, Katz did every beat. Over the course of the album, Cakes guides us through a spiritual trip from the clubs of Manhattan to the back blocks of Brooklyn. Black Sheep is a work of survival and sees the decorated emcee fully aware of his power, his place, and no longer settling for less than he deserves.

Featuring his sharpest writing and most electrifying performances to date, Black Sheep is a coronation of his graduation to foremother: a figure who spent his 20s hustling alongside his peers, focusing on the work, and paving the way for the generation we see today. He’s a rapper’s rapper, a girl’s girl, and he’s ready to be a superstar.