N!C Releases New EP ‘Things Are Quite Different 2’: Review

Nic (stylized N!C), released the sequel to his 2020 project Things Are Quite Different 2 on Oct. 25. The seven-track project is led by singles “New Growth” and “Surface,” which gave new fans a sneak peek of N!C’s vocal versatility, strong cadence, and infectious lyricism. 

Things Are Quite Different 2 starts off with singing over a stripped-down melody on “Surface” as he questions if he’s going in the right direction.

“So what's my purpose?/If I crash and burn, will all this sh*t be worth it?/Tryna come find me, gotta dig deeper than the surface,” he sings.

The theme of “Surface” flows into the dynamic track “Kidney Beans” where N!C dismisses comparisons from others as he gives insight on how his childhood was like.

“They always want to say a sound like another n*gga/ who sound like another n*gga/ who sound like that n*gga/ who sound like that n*gga,” he raps. 

The third entry to TAQ2 is “New Growth,” the second single in the project, which takes the theme of self-worth and recognizes that he must shed some old habits and people to propel him forward in his journey. The single cover art showcases the physicality of N!C’s growth through a grid of nine different hairstyles from adolescence to adulthood. In the song, he takes a hard look at the community he has behind him and decides it’s in his best interest to lean on them.

The second half of TAQ2 begins with “Mallories Interlude” as it breaks up the project for an engaging four-title run to the end. N!C shows off the lyrical prowess in “No Damage,” before he leads up to a new fan-favorite on “Bad” about an unrequited love. He concludes the project with an alt-rock-inspired “Lemon Lime” which is aptly titled as OG supporters and the new ones who will await are thirsty for more. 

TAQ2 follows his other 2024 project, Tea Leaves, released back in March. The title track went viral earlier this year earning millions of views across social platforms which propelled the Raleigh native to gain more attention in the emerging R&B scene. Things Are Quite Different 2 is the sequel to his 2020 project which featured songs such as “Ray Rice,” “Phased,” and “Lonely.”

Favorite songs:

“Bad,” “Mallories Interlude,” and “Lemon Lime”

Tracklist

1. Surface

2. Kidney Beans

3. New Growth

4. Mallories Interlude

5. No Damage

6. Bad

7. Lemon Lime

Stream Things Are Quite Different 2 out now.