Nino Paid’s “Somewhere Over The Rainbow” Brings Uniqueness The Rap Game Needs
Written by WIlliam Mann on October 20, 2026
Hip-Hop and rap artist Jacquan Andrews, more so known as “Nino Paid” has added a new addition to his catalog with his third album “Somewhere Over The Rainbow.” This follows his debut album released in 2024 named “Can’t Go Bacc” and “Love Me As I Am” released in 2025. This project expands his catalog of Trap and DMV rap, but also adds more mixes of alternative rock with hip hop beat builds.
This new 19 song album, released on August 4th, 2026, goes deeper into his past struggles, his current tribulations, and his rich but dangerous lifestyle while keeping his Trap and DMV rap pattern. He also attacks certain beats with a Conscious and Emo Rap tone, a style that’s well known in his discography, which is why he often calls his sound pain music. Unlike many other albums, this doesn’t have one producer singlehandedly responsible for the production of the majority of the songs.
Instead, Andrews purposely collaborated with hip-hop producers from all over the country. According to Genius, these producers are Buddah Bless, Deyflo, Dmur3x, HariRoc, IzzyNG, Jacobeats, Jorko, jstcap, KJMadeit, Lc , Nick Seeley, Orchid2k, Prodbydaee, Rx Ant, Sahara, sickboi, Tone P, TYTO, Wayv, wixxy, Wonderyo and xynothing. “Somewhere Over The Rainbow” includes a mix of Trap, DMV Rap, Emo Rap, with indie/alternative rock sampled beats and a sprinkle of go-go influence.
While it touches on his childhood endeavors inside his family, it also examines drug use, identity struggles, relational grief, and many more daily life experiences. However, it isn’t all bad, this album also touches on love, joy and hoping to find peace, complementing its title. This variation of points gives the album a wider range of focus and allows Andrews to somewhat tell a story to the audience. A story that isn’t yet finished, but instead looking towards brighter moments along his journey and a hopeful ending.
Andrews’s lyric delivery makes this album deep and enjoyable for the listener. He is versatile with his cadence, allowing him to switch his tone depending on the beat and style of song he’s rapping. From beats with heavy DMV trap scene influence, to up beat go-go instrumentals. This flexibility in his ability reflects throughout the album, and also reflects how complex and versatile the album is in itself.
His versatility also shows growth and true development in Andrews career as a musician. Since the release of his first album, he continues to keep in mind the feedback his fans give him, and always looks to be more positive and dynamic. “Somewhere Over The Rainbow” merges many different life trials with multiple genres of rap music. Creating an album that talks about different topics in an irregular way, but it’s a style that’s slowly becoming more accepted in rap.
“Somewhere Over The Rainbow” has been getting many positive reviews, especially for an album released independently. Many streamers are saying that his versatility is the strength of the album, while others say it’s his consistency of rapping “pain music”. Major music review websites like Pitchfork claimed his album to be an introverted narrative transcending traditional “pain rap” highlighting live instrumentation and go-go fusions such as on “Shine” and “Step With Me”. It’s clear Andrews’s third and brand new project has gotten a lot of attention from new and old fans. Due to its blend of one’s own trials and tribulations, different genre influences and its storytelling ambience, “Somewhere Over The Rainbow” brings another milestone in Andrews’s thriving music career.
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