Shawn Sop | “Memories”, A Record With Viral Potential
Wait until the world gets their hands on this one. Shawn Sop out of Springfield, IL has an insanely special record on his hands with “Memories”. In our opinion, it’s his lead single off his debut EP “Last Day Around”, and might be the track that propels him to new heights when this reaches the masses. It’s raw, eccentric, and most importantly unique. In today’s day & age, melodic rappers all get lumped into carbon copies of each other, so to hear an artist come with a melodic rap record that stands out with flows we’ve never heard before is revitalizing.
“I ain’t scared to die. I done lost so many people that it’s hard to cry. – Shawn Sop
This chorus is insanely well written and performed. Shawn Sop bleeds emotion into this hook with regard to the lives lost of those close to him. Although the lyrics are powerful & captivating, trying to decipher the flow of this chorus is puzzling. He plays along with the production by utilizing adept pauses that heighten his melodic presence and emphasize his passion. Simply put, the proper visual paired with this chorus alone will open doors for Shawn. His melodies shine high here, but his versatility comes through on his verses.
Displaying a similar set of harmonies to the previous, he executes parts of his verses with high-reaching notes & a soft vocal. He’s well aware of how to build suspense in each passing part of the record, and that’s a skill you don’t obtain until you’re seasoned. Considering this his first release, it’s safe to see Shawn Sop has a gift. It’s a record you’re going to heavily replay & one that will stick to you. No doubt, part of the appeal on this record is the display of harsh reality. Shawn has lost people in his circle, but subtly reminds you that mortality is real. At one point he mentions, we all will die & he’s now numb to the pain.
It’s a hard pill to swallow, but the truth in it is potent. With a song as deep as this, you’d think you’d be restrained to listening to it while you’re deep in your feelings. That’s not the case. Its versatility allows you to bump joint at any function, or blast it on a long drive down the highway with the windows down. There’s plenty of ways to enjoy this record & that’s where the ability for it to pop derives from. If we had to bet money on a record going viral within the year, this is a safe bet.
With a career as young as Shawn Sop’s, it’s exciting to see an artist who’s so close to getting his sound down this early. He’s got a signature sound pat with only 4 songs out, so imagine what he’ll achieve in due time. All in all, this song is an absolute banger & we’re excited to see more from the Illinois artist in the coming years. Be sure to follow Shawn Sop on Instagram for the latest on his next drops.
Be sure to stream “Memories” below:
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