P.O.S. to start off 2017 with new album via Doomtree Records

About time. Almost five years after the release and unfortunate derailment of his cult-revered LP "We Don't Even Live Here," Twin Cities hip-hop star P.O.S. will finally release a new album Jan. 27 and then hit the road through much of the spring.

Titled "Chill, dummy," the 12-song collection features co-production by longtime cohorts Ryan Olson (Polica) and Lazerbeak (Doomtree) as well as newcomers Cory Grindberg and Makr. Other collaborators include Justin Vernon (Bon Iver), Open Mike Eagle, Busdriver, Lizzo, Lydia Liza, Astronautalis and Kathleen Hanna (Bikini Kill), the latter four of whom all contributed vocals to the eight-minute epic "Sleepdrone/Superposition," one of two songs already released from the record. Another track from the record debuted today with the album news, a punky, dark quickie called "Lanes" (posted below).

Vinyl editions of the record won't be available until March, but fans who pre-order the vinyl will be given a digital download on Jan. 27. "Chill, dummy" will be the first P.O.S. record released in-house on the Doomtree Records imprint since his 2004 debut "Ipecac Neat." All his albums in the interim came out via Rhymesayers, including 2012's "We Don't Even Live Here." The promotion of that record was stymied by a damaged kidney that led to P.O.S. undergoing transplant surgery in early 2014.

The real-life Stef Alexander has been working his way back into the performance ring since then and must be feeling strong again, based on the intense tour schedule he has lined up starting Jan. 20 in Anchorage, Alaska (only a Minnesota rapper would consider such a booking). There's no local release party announced yet, but chances are good we'll hear about one and see P.O.S. in action at Sims' First Ave show on Jan. 6, where his Doomtree cohort is celebrating his own new album, "More Than Ever."