Shakewell – “Dangerously Close” review

This is the 3rd EP from Los Angeles, California emcee Shakewell. Coming up in the spring of 2017 off his debut EP Keystone Prince, he followed it up a year later with his 2nd EP Big Juice tha Sip resulting in the $uicideboy$ signing him to G*59 Record$ right when the pandemic started & releasing the full-length debut album Pray 4 Shakewell. 2 & a half years later, he’s coming off the Shameless $uicide & Kevlar Money Bags collaborative EPs with $B & Germ respectively to get Dangerously Close.

“Grimace Shake” is this synth-driven trap opener feeling like the Prince of Keystone calling back to his breakout debut EP whereas “Life at tha Moment” kinda gives me a Mobb vibe instrumentally telling us how life’s been at that exact point recording the shit. “.40 Talkin’” featuring Ramirez grimly works in keys & hi-hats getting on the gangsta rap tip lyrically while “Gun Louder” goes off-the-top boasting he has more mags than the New York Times does. “My Beanie Gone (Lame Killer)” morbidly looks to exterminate the lames & “When “My Way” Kills” featuring SXMPRA keeps the heat for every partner in case people want beef.

Big Juice tha Sip happens to be my favorite EP in Shakewell’s discography excluding Shameless $uicide & I was hoping for him to come out with something in 2024 due to the fact it’s almost been 2 & a half years since introducing himself to the G*59 audience but if Dangerously Close is his way of holding everyone off until the official Pray 4 Shakewell follow-up, then I’ll gladly take it. Instrumentally, it’s matches the bar that his full-length set & letting people know what’s been going on since we last heard from him.

Score: 3.5/5

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Shakewell & $uicideboy$ – “Shameless $uicide” review

This is the brand new collaborative EP between Shakewell & the $uicideboy$. The latter is a well regarded underground duo from New Orleans with the other being a recording artist out of Los Angeles that Ruby da Cherry & $crim signed to their very own Virgin Music imprint G*59 Record$ during the pandemic. The trio have a couple songs together like “Venom” & “Solutions” but considering that the boy$ have a few collab EPs with fellow G*59 signees Germ & Ramirez, it was only right for them to get one in with Shakewell in the form of Shameless $uicide.

The title track sets it off with the trio getting locced the fuck out accompanied by a somber trap instrumental whereas “Whole Lotta Grey” works in some synthesizers & hi-hats talking everything that they got. “Gutter Bravado” keeps the futuristic sounds going as all 3 of them spit that gangsta shot while the song “Went to Rehab & All I Got Was This Lousy Shirt” is an eerie trap banger about half men, half demigods. The penultimate track “6 Lines, 2 Dragons & a Messiah” has a more shimmering quality to the beat sampling “Tire Shop” by Gangsta Blac as they refer to themselves as the founders until the spacious closer “Big Shot Cream Soda” gets to the paper.

It’s always interesting when the $uicideboy$ link up with another one of their artists signed to G*59 Record$ for a collaborative EP & not only do I consider Shameless $uicide to be amongst my favorites of the bunch, but it makes me hope that this is only the beginning from them & Shakewell going forward. There are some interesting ideas with the production & the chemistry between everyone on the mic is better than it was on DIRTIESTNASTIEST$UICIDE a couple months back with all respect to Germ.

Score: 3.5/5

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Shakewell – “Pray 4 Shakewell” review

Shakewell is a 30 year old MC from Los Angeles, California who came up in the spring of 2017 off his debut EP Keystone Prince. This was followed up a year later with his 2nd EP Big Juice tha Sip but in light of him signing to G*59 Record$ right when the pandemic started & the 5 year anniversary of Keystone Prince approaching this weekend, Shakewell is finally dropping his long-awaited full-length debut.

“Symphony No. 1” is a quirky yet fun opener talking about getting a new phone whereas “Take the Field” has a earlier tone to it asking why he’s still depressed despite his success. “The Foil & The Damage Done” takes a cloudier route melodically saying that you don’t wanna feel the pain he’s lived just before “Felonious” declares himself as a prodigy over some eerie trap production.

Meanwhile on “Nuestra Señora”, we have Shakewell talks about his ride or die bitch accompanied by a beat with a vintage west coast flare to it leading into the aggressive “Biscuit” confessing that he always rides strapped. “20/20 Vision” incorporates some organs talking about seeing shit clearly, but then Fat Nick tags along for “Survival” to passionately express their hatred for the pigs.

“Late Night” returns to more atmospheric trap territory talking about serving packs to get his change while Boobie Lootaveli comes into the picture with one of the weaker features on “Woke Up” despite the piano instrumental & concept of what kind of man he wants to be today. The $uicideboy$ themselves make up for this on the tropical “Solutions” talking about using drugs to solve their problems while the song “Voodoo Walked” shoots for a more pillowy aesthetic bragging about the famous life.

The penultimate track “5 Ways” returns to a more quirkier yet bassy sound asking his opposition to choose 5 ways he can kill you & last but not at least, “Branzino” ends the album with some ghoulish trap talking about how he’s the type to pull up on you with the sticks.

Coming from someone who got introduced to Shakewell prior to his performance at the 20th annual Gathering of Juggalos the summer before COVID hit, I’ve been waiting eagerly for this full-length debut of his & it just goes to show that he fits right in with G*59. He comes through with some raw pen-game & the production is really interesting from the poppy & trappier cuts to the more hardcore & vintage west coast shit.

Score: 4/5