Las Vegas producer, rapper & fashion designer Shaggytheairhead dropping his 5th EP without warning. Peaking my interesting after producing one of my all-time favorite Ouija Macc songs “Nardwuar Glocc” back in 2018, he would back that up with 4 EPs before becoming an in-house producer for Chapter 17 Records & Psychopathic Records alongside his Mythic Mindz cohort Devereaux. Shaggy dropped his debut Wakin’ Up during the 21st annual Gathering of the Juggalos, which was the only Gathering I’ve ever been to & a weekend that I’ll never forget. As far as the actual music on Wakin’ Up, it’s my favorite of his thus far because of how much he improved his lyricism & that he dabbled with a wide range of sounds to show his influences. Grin to the Grave, Coffee, Blood Sweat Tears and Lazy & Crazy have all followed since to equally warm reception & looks to embark on a trip to a Secret World.
“Cursed” begins our exploration with a g-funk instrumental feeling like he wouldn’t make it as far as he has whereas the depressive “Never That Deep” talks about shit getting annoying to him. “Ghosts Ride” pulls a little inspiration from the Memphis scene sonically getting high in his zone leading into another g-funk cut “Relax” talks about needing to chill out. “Animosity” embraces a boom bap vibe to discuss antipathy & “I Ain’t Happy” angrily finishes the EP by dissing the crowd trying to stop his shine.
A little over 15 months since he & Darby O’Trill got with Devereaux to deliver their celebrated 10 Bandz collaborative effort, Shaggytheairhead first solo offering in over 2 years comes off The 2 Day War between Juggalo Championship Wrestling (JCW) & Game Changer Wrestling (GCW) coping with the personal issues he’s gone through since we last heard him on Lazy & Crazy by solely killing a deft batch of beats that range from g-funk to boom bap & Memphis rap.
Score: 8/10