both a group member and a solo artist already under his belt, Brown spent 2022 through 2024 under the tutelage of more established emcees at Pendulum Ink, Hip-Hop's official lyricism academy. The rigorous training significantly expanded Brown's skillset, leading to prolific studio sessions with the pioneering Hip-Hop production duo Da Beatminerz (Mr. Walt & DJ Evil Dee).Those sessions resulted in Waxing In Mecca, a full-length collaborative album due out on June 5th via Soulspazm/Fatbeats.
Last week, the trio revealed the cover art and full tracklist for the album. Today (4/24/2026), after teasing the record on SiriusXM's Shade45, they officially shared the album's lead single, "Extraordinary," along with its official music video. Backed by a menacing Boom-Bap soundscape from Da Beatminerz, Brown steps to the mic with purpose, establishing who he is, what he stands for, and why his voice cuts through the noise. The track captures the raw energy fans can expect from the forthcoming album, pairing sharp lyricism with the rugged sound of underground Hip-Hop that Da Beatminerz helped shape in the early '90s.
"This was one of the earlier songs that we did for this record. It was definitely the point in our collaboration where we started to feel like we had something really special. After we would mix the rough cuts at the end of the sessions, I would listen to what we worked on during my train ride from Bushwick back uptown to Harlem. And I remember just riding the train and playing this song over and over again. I remember it gave me that exact same energy that other great Beatminerz records had given me over the years, only this time it was my voice rapping... For people who truly remember the golden era, this song serves as a real-life time machine. Or for those who weren't there, it's the closest you're going to get in 2026... When it came time to shoot the video, we found this amazing location that had movie posters, and video games, and memorabilia from the '90s. They even had a pay phone in the lobby. So the whole theme on 'Extraordinary' really comes full circle with the visuals" - John Brown The Rapper
Stream/purchase "Extraordinary" here.
The new single's music video is chock-full of nostalgia. The creative space where it was shot represents the convergence of music and ideas. John Brown lays down his verse in a home theater, while Da Beatminerz appear throughout the space, including scenes in the kitchen with their production equipment as a nod to the humble places where many producers first began making beats. The video's director, Victorious De Costa, is a East Flatbush filmmaker and Tribeca Film Fest alum known for his work in documentary storytelling. His projects include Digging for Weldon Irvine and the NAACP Image Award nominated HBO Max documentary Yusuf Hawkins: Storm Over Brooklyn. De Costa captures the spirit of John Brown The Rapper & Da Beatminerz building together in a space that blends nostalgia, culture, and creativity.
Watch "Extraordinary" on YouTube here.
Waxing In Mecca will feature guest verses from Your Old Droog, Smif-N-Wessun, Mickey Factz, Ras Kass, Rockness Monsta, and more.
Pre-order/save Waxing In Mecca here.
