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Newcomer Shotta Kush is making waves in the melodic trap realm with his new EP “Tales of a Lonesome Trapper, Pt. 1,” which he released in August. The four-track project houses the lead offering “Suburban Identity Crisis” and shows his potential in marrying raw storytelling with ambient trap beats.
This release represents the most unified expression of his artistic expression in Shotta’s canon thus far. “I took my time with this project,” he says. “I didn’t hurry it. Each song had to feel intentional.” That level of focus carries through the EP, which feels more like a tightly knotted narrative than a simple compilation of songs. The melodies move from hypnotic to heavy, and his lyrics cut straight to the heart of loyalty, survival, and the search for self.
The path behind the melodies matters just as much. Shotta was born in New Rochelle, New York, and his journey brought him through Miami Gardens and Michigan and finally landed in Charlotte, North Carolina. He fought along the way with the difficulties of having glaucoma and being bipolar—the things that could have derailed his career but only provided him with a unique voice instead. “I’ve always been the outsider type,” he says. “But music’s always stuck with me.”
“Suburban Identity Crisis” also emerged earlier this year as one of his best songs to date, a dreamy trap ballad that captures his vulnerability and his keen lyricist skills. But among the other songs, the motifs are the same: working for the family, overcoming disappointments, and eliminating the fake glitz that often attends trap. Shotta Kush was never about searching for superficial validation. Success is simple to him. “Success is being able to take care of my mom and me and no longer having to trap anymore,” he says. He’s that much closer to making that a reality with the release of “Tales of a Lonesome Trapper, Pt. 1.”.
Having the support of a distribution deal with Empire, Shotta feels the EP can expand his range while keeping his message real. He’s pragmatic with the process, but his plan in simple terms: grow slowly, stay honest, and let the music speak.
Tales of a Lonesome Trapper, Pt. 1″ is officially out everywhere. Listen with supporters on Spotify, Instagram, and YouTube for more songs, videos, and updates.
