Inspired by iconic figures like 50 Cent, Lil Wayne and Jay Z, Smith is an outlier; a throwback to an era in hip-hop when artists spit bars about the streets while also raising the collective consciousness. A modern day renaissance man, Smith crafts narratives ranging from urban struggles as a young, black man to politics, to art and fashion, showcasing his diversity as an artist.

On his latest single “Chain Gang” Shawn reveals himself as a master storyteller. He brilliantly paints his rhymes in cinematic detail pushing the boundaries of hip-hop while also paying homage to the OG’s that paved the way. Describing the raw and gritty record with intricate punch lines as a “State Property flip,” Philly inflections pepper everything from the bars to the beat.