Fans receive a new track from Little Shawn, now operating under the moniker Shawn Pen, titled “Bout That Life.” As a fixture in Hip-Hop culture during the 90s and an affiliate of The Notorious B.I.G., the New York rapper hit his Rolodex phone contacts, tapping former Bad Boy artist Styles P for a guest spot.
The track itself, written and produced by Shawn Pen, sounds like that vintage NYC rap partially due to how its sample is chopped. Prolific poet Malik Yusef opens the floodgates with some captivating words, leading into a soulful piano loop laced with organs and an ill kick drum. The soundscape proves to be the perfect palette for Shawn Pen to show his harmonic range. Yes, the often absent MC opts to sing instead of rap on the track. SP The Ghost compensates for the lack of bars with a quality verse, though.
“Bout That Life” is a treat for older heads, who remember the days when Pen’s “I Made Love (4 Da Very 1st Time),” “Hickeys on Your Chest” and “Dom Perignon” featuring the aforementioned Biggie Smalls had consistent spins on the radio.
If that’s taking it back too far, you also may recall that is was Shawn who Tupac Shakur intended to record a verse for that fateful night at Quad Studios.
Hear “Bout That Life” below.
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Photo: Crillmatic
