Royce Da 5’9” and J. Cole head out on the “Boblo Boat.” Months after filming the visual, the rappers unleash the soulful, reflective clip.
The J. Cole-directed video plays out like a memory. It starts with a group friends riding through the night, smoking, and stealing from a liquor store. They then break into a carnival before sleeping security guards wake up with a fury.
Meanwhile, Royce and Jermaine are at that same carnival, only this one is lit with neon lights and fog smoke. Nickle rhymes about the old Boblo Island Amusement Park near his beloved hometown Detroit. Carolina’s Finest opts to think about his 6-year-old self, and how his new music slaps.
“Boblo Boat” is the lead single from Royce’s forthcoming album Book Ryan, which is due May 4. The Bad Meets Evil MC said he hopes it works as a manual sorts.
“I just want the fans to hear my evolution as an artist as well as me as a man and learn from my mistakes,” he said. “I think they got a little bit that with Layers, but Book Ryan is me letting it all out. We’ve been taught everything but the right way to do shit. I want to be an example to the younger artists and help out any way I can.”