{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2024}} {{Infobox album | name = Crop Circle 3 | type = studio | artist = Nines | cover = Nines - Crop Circle 3.png | alt = | released = {{start date|2023|10|06|df=y}} | recorded = <!-- Please source recording dates/years --> | studio = | genre = <!-- Please source genres --> | length = 42:38 | label = * Zino | producer = * 1st Born Music * Babycashy1 * Daniel Miles * Handz Beatz * Harrijay * I Don't Rap I Dress * Jackson Romain * Jacob Manson * Jojo Mukeza * Karlos * LuqMakesBeats * ProdByDizzy * RJ Cherry * Show N Prove | prev_title = Crop Circle 2 | prev_year = 2023 | next_title = Quit While You're Ahead | next_year = 2024 | misc = {{Singles | name = Quit While You're Ahead | type = studio | single1 = Daily Duppy | single1date = 24 September 2023 | single2 = Toxic | single2date = 5 October 2023 }} }} '''''Crop Circle 3''''' is the fifth studio album by British rapper Nines, released on 6 October 2023, through Nines' own independent record label, Zino Records.<ref name="CC3">{{Cite magazine|last=Keith|first=James|date=6 October 2023|url=https://www.complex.com/music/a/james-keith/nines-crop-circle-3|title=Nines Returns With ''Crop Circle 3'' f/ Skrapz, Blade Brown, Debbie, Tunde & More|magazine=Complex UK|access-date=3 October 2024|archive-date=11 October 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231011183241/https://www.complex.com/music/a/james-keith/nines-crop-circle-3|language=en-GB|url-status=live}}</ref> It features guest appearances from Bad Boy Chiller Crew, Big Narstie, Blade Brown, Fatz, George the Poet, Little Torment, Mark Morrison, Max Valentine, M Dot R, Miraa May, Mugzz, Ouraa, ShockTown, Skrapz, Streetz, Tiggs Da Author, Trapstar Toxic, and Tunde, while the album's production was primarily handled by Jacob Manson, Karlos, and Show N Prove with assistance from Handz Beatz, Jackson Romain, RJ Cherry, and several other producers.<ref name="GRM Review">{{Cite web|last=Smith|first=Niall|date=6 October 2023|url=https://grmdaily.com/nines-crop-circle-3-review/|title=Nines Looks To The Future On New LP ''Crop Circle 3''|website=GRM Daily|access-date=3 October 2024|archive-date=7 October 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231007164020/https://grmdaily.com/nines-crop-circle-3-review/|language=en-GB|url-status=live}}</ref> The album serves as a follow-up to Nines' third, ''Crop Circle 2'' (2023) and will serve as the final part of an album trilogy that began with ''Crop Circle'' (2018) and continued with ''Crop Circle 2'' (2023).<ref name="ES">{{cite news|url=https://www.standard.co.uk/culture/music/nines-new-album-crop-circle-3-b1111907.html|title=Nines: here's five talking points from the rapper's new album ''Crop Circle 3''|newspaper=Evening Standard|last=Kanengoni|first=Jonathan|date=6 October 2023|access-date=3 October 2024|archive-date=7 October 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231007031016/https://www.standard.co.uk/culture/music/nines-new-album-crop-circle-3-b1111907.html|language=en-GB|url-status=live}}</ref> Upon the release of the album, Nines released a short film of the same name.<ref>{{Cite magazine|last=Ramage|first=Jack|date=9 October 2023|url=https://djmag.com/news/nines-releases-new-album-crop-circle-3-accompanying-film|title=Nines releases new album, ''Crop Circle 3'' with accompanying film|magazine=DJ Mag|access-date=3 October 2024|archive-date=10 October 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231010081242/https://djmag.com/news/nines-releases-new-album-crop-circle-3-accompanying-film|language=en-GB|url-status=live}}</ref>
==Release and promotion== Months after the release of the second instalment of his ''Crop Circle'' album trilogy, on 15 September 2023, Nines took to his Instagram to announce the release of ''Crop Circle 3'' while sharing the album's cover art and release date for 6 October.<ref>{{Cite web|date=16 September 2023|url=https://grmdaily.com/nines-crop-circle-3-announced/|title=Nines announces ''Crop Circle 3''|website=GRM Daily|access-date=3 October 2024|archive-date=21 September 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230921215153/https://grmdaily.com/nines-crop-circle-3-announced/|language=en-GB|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite magazine|last=Murray|first=Robin|date=18 September 2023|url=https://www.clashmusic.com/news/nines-lines-up-new-mixtape-crop-circle-3/|title=Nines Lines Up New Mixtape ''Crop Circle 3''|magazine=Clash|access-date=3 October 2024|archive-date=18 September 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230918202202/https://www.clashmusic.com/news/nines-lines-up-new-mixtape-crop-circle-3/|language=en-GB|url-status=live}}</ref> On 24 September, Nines released his highly anticipated "Daily Duppy" which premiered on GRM Daily.<ref>{{Cite web|date=21 September 2023|url=https://grmdaily.com/nines-daily-duppy/|title=Premiere: Nines Makes His Long Awaited Debut Appearance on "Daily Duppy"|website=GRM Daily|access-date=3 October 2024|archive-date=30 September 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230930124023/https://grmdaily.com/nines-daily-duppy/|language=en-GB|url-status=live}}</ref> The song served as the album's lead single.<ref>{{Cite magazine|last=Kelly|first=Tyler Damara|date=22 September 2023|url=https://www.thelineofbestfit.com/news/nines-returns-with-the-brand-new-track-daily-duppy|title=Nines returns with the brand new track, "Daily Duppy"|magazine=The Line of Best Fit|access-date=3 October 2024|archive-date=28 September 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230928164629/https://www.thelineofbestfit.com/news/nines-returns-with-the-brand-new-track-daily-duppy|language=en-GB|url-status=live}}</ref> On 30 September, Nines shared the album's official tracklist to his Instagram.<ref>{{Cite web|date=30 September 2023|url=https://grmdaily.com/nines-crop-circle-3-track-list/|title=Nines Reveals Track List For The Third Instalment of ''Crop Circle''|website=GRM Daily|access-date=3 October 2024|archive-date=30 November 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231130005501/https://grmdaily.com/nines-crop-circle-3-track-list/|language=en-GB|url-status=live}}</ref> On 5 October, just a day prior to the release of the album, Nines released the album's second single, "Toxic" featuring Bad Boy Chiller Crew.<ref name="CC3"/> Upon the release of the album, Nines released a short film of the same name, co-starring Alhan Gencay, Talliah Storm, and Nines himself.<ref>{{Cite web|date=7 October 2023|url=https://grmdaily.com/nines-crop-circle-3-track-list/|title=Nines Releases Brand New ''Crop Circle'' Film|website=GRM Daily|access-date=3 October 2024|archive-date=3 October 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241003182711/https://grmdaily.com/nines-crop-circle-3-film/|language=en-GB|url-status=live}}</ref>
==Critical reception== {{Music ratings | rev1 = ''AllMusic'' | rev1score = {{Rating|3.5|5}}<ref name="AM">{{cite news|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/crop-circle-3-mw0004104054|title=''Crop Circle 3'' Review|website=All Music|last=Crone|first=David|access-date=3 October 2024|archive-date=3 October 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241003174829/https://www.allmusic.com/album/crop-circle-3-mw0004104054|language=en-GB|url-status=live}}</ref> | rev2 = ''The Guardian'' | rev2score = {{Rating|4|5}}<ref name="TG">{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2023/oct/06/nines-crop-circle-3-review-possible-swansong-for-a-uk-rap-great|title=Nines: ''Crop Circle 3'' review – possible swansong for a UK rap great|newspaper=The Guardian|last=Joshi|first=Tara|date=6 October 2023|access-date=3 October 2024|archive-date=6 October 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231006124402/https://www.theguardian.com/music/2023/oct/06/nines-crop-circle-3-review-possible-swansong-for-a-uk-rap-great|language=en-GB|url-status=live}}</ref> | rev3 = ''The Observer'' | rev3score = {{Rating|4|5}}<ref name="TO">{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2023/oct/08/nines-crop-circles-3-review-a-comfortably-class-act|title=Nines: ''Crop Circles 3'' review – a comfortably class act|newspaper=The Observer|last=Morris|first=Damien|date=6 October 2023|access-date=3 October 2024|archive-date=8 October 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231008151846/https://www.theguardian.com/music/2023/oct/08/nines-crop-circles-3-review-a-comfortably-class-act|language=en-GB|url-status=live}}</ref> }} ''Crop Circle 3'' received positive reviews from music critics. Writing for GRM Daily, Niall Smith wrote that "overall, ''Crop Circle 3'' is a solid body of work" and that it's difficult to compare the album to Nines' past work. He stated that on the album, "there's a medley of cohesion, chaos and crystalline penmanship".<ref name="GRM Review"/> ''AllMusic''{{'}}s David Crone wrote that the project is a "smooth, blunt-voiced trap & hip-hop" album and that he "[weaves] struggle and success together in the [his] signature narratives".<ref name="AM"/> In a positive review, Tara Joshi for ''The Guardian'' hinted towards Nines' retirement from music in her review, writing that "Nines is dreaming of a new, unconfined chapter: perhaps that’s why Crop Circle 3 sounds so enticingly free".<ref name="TG"/> ''The Observer''{{'}}s Damien Morris wrote that "we find Nines in a comfortable holding pattern" and that on the album, "he rehearses familiar topics" ranging from "his irresistibility to women" to "unfeasibly large bags of weed, and displays little desire to traverse deeper hinterlands".<ref name="TO"/>
=== Year-end lists === {| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" |+ Select year-end rankings of ''Crop Circle 3'' |- ! scope="col"| Publication ! scope="col" class="unsortable"| List ! scope="col"| Rank ! scope="col" class="unsortable"| {{abbr|Ref.|Reference}} |- ! scope="row"| ''Complex UK'' | Complex UK's Best Albums of 2023 | style="text-align: center;"| 12 | style="text-align: center;"| <ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.complex.com/music/a/joseph-jp-patterson/complex-uk-best-albums-of-2023|title=Complex UK's Best Albums Of 2023|magazine=Complex UK|last1=Patterson|first1=Joseph JP|last2=Keith|first2=James|last3=Cagna|first3=Claudia|date=15 December 2023|access-date=3 October 2024|archive-date=15 December 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231215145516/https://www.complex.com/music/a/joseph-jp-patterson/complex-uk-best-albums-of-2023|language=en-GB|url-status=live}}</ref> |}
==Track listing== {{Track listing | headline = ''Crop Circle 3'' track listing | extra_column = Producer(s) | title1 = Intro | writer1 = Courtney Freckleton | extra1 = {{hlist|Karlos|Show N Prove|Harrijay}} | length1 = 1:57 | title2 = Only One | note2 = featuring Skrapz and Ouraa | writer2 = {{hlist|Freckleton|Christopher Kyei|Oyinkansola Aderbigbe}} | extra2 = {{hlist|Jacob Manson|Jackson Romain}} | length2 = 3:04 | title3 = So High | note3 = featuring Max Valentine and ShockTown | writer3 = {{hlist|Freckleton|Max Valentine|ShockTown|Luke Grieve}} | extra3 = {{hlist|Luke Grieve|1st Born Music}} | length3 = 3:59 | title4 = Toxic | note4 = featuring Bad Boy Chiller Crew | writer4 = {{hlist|Freckleton|Gareth Kelly|Sam Robinson|Kane Welsh}} | extra4 = {{hlist|Jacob Manson|ProdByDizzy|LuqMakesBeats|I Don't Rap I Dress|Babycashy1}} | length4 = 2:58 | title5 = Daily Duppy | note5 = with GRM Daily | writer5 = Freckleton | extra5 = Karlos | length5 = 3:12 | title6 = Never Be Me | note6 = featuring Blade Brown | writer6 = {{hlist|Freckleton|Jonathan Wrate}} | extra6 = {{hlist|Jacob Manson|Karlos}} | length6 = 2:24 | title7 = Not Guilty | note7 = featuring Mark Morrison and Tiggs Da Author | writer7 = {{hlist|Freckleton|Mark Morrison|Adam Muhabwa}} | extra7 = {{hlist|Karlos|Show N Prove}} | length7 = 2:34 | title8 = I Do | note8 = featuring Mugzz and Tunde | writer8 = {{hlist|Freckleton|Mugzz|Olu Finni}} | extra8 = {{hlist|Jacob Manson|Show N Prove|RJ Cherry}} | length8 = 2:15 | title9 = Good Morning | writer9 = Freckleton | extra9 = {{hlist|Jacob Manson|Karlos}} | length9 = 2:58 | title10 = Max Elliot | note10 = featuring Big Narstie and M Dot R | writer10 = {{hlist|Freckleton|Tyrone Lindo|Moses McGeorge}} | extra10 = {{hlist|Karlos|Show N Prove}} | length10 = 2:41 | title11 = My Turn | writer11 = Freckleton | extra11 = Karlos | length11 = 2:28 | title12 = Could of Been | note12 = featuring Miraa May | writer12 = {{hlist|Freckleton|Miraa May}} | extra12 = {{hlist|Jacob Manson|Handz Beatz}} | length12 = 2:26 | title13 = Line of Fire Pt. 7 | note13 = featuring Fatz, Little Torment, Streetz, and Trapstar Toxic | writer13 = {{hlist|Freckleton|Fatz|Little Torment|Streetz|Trapstar Toxic}} | extra13 = Karlos | length13 = 3:19 | title14 = Devils Rejects | note14 = featuring Skrapz and George the Poet | writer14 = {{hlist|Freckleton|Kyei|George Mpanga|Jacob Manson}} | extra14 = {{hlist|Jacob Manson|Handz Beatz}} | length14 = 3:22 | title15 = Outro | note15 = featuring Debbie | writer15 = {{hlist|Freckleton|Debbie Ehirim}} | extra15 = {{hlist|Jojo Mukeza|Daniel Miles}} | length15 = 3:01 | total_length = 42:38 }}
==Charts== {| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;" |+ Chart performance for ''Crop Circle 3'' ! scope="col"| Chart (2023) ! scope="col"| Peak<br />position |- {{album chart|Ireland3|12|date=20231019|rowheader=true|access-date=6 October 2024}} |- {{album chart|Scotland|13|date=20231019|rowheader=true|access-date=6 October 2024}} |- {{album chart|UK2|2|date=20231019|rowheader=true|access-date=6 October 2024|refname=UK}} |- ! scope="row"| UK Independent Albums Chart (OCC)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.officialcharts.com/charts/independent-albums-chart/20231013/131/|title=Official Independent Albums Charton: 13 October 2023 - 19 October 2023|publisher=Official Charts Company|date=13 October 2023|access-date=3 October 2024|archive-date=14 October 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231014182232/https://www.officialcharts.com/charts/independent-albums-chart/20231013/131/|language=en-GB|url-status=live}}</ref> | 3 |- {{album chart|UKR&B|1|date=20231019|rowheader=true|access-date=6 October 2024}} |}
==Certifications== {{Certification Table Top}} {{Certification Table Entry|region=United Kingdom|artist=Nines|title=Crop Circle 3|award=Silver|type=album|relyear=2023|certyear=2025|accessdate=20 January 2025|id=20705-4904-2}} {{Certification Table Bottom|streaming=true|nosales=true|noshipments=true}}
==References== {{reflist}}
{{Authority control}}
Category:2023 albums Category:Nines (rapper) albums