North Carolina is close to Atlanta geographically, but not musically as its hip-hop shares far more in common with New York rap. Charlotte’s Rapper Shane is heavily influenced by ’90s hip-hop, including Wu-Tang Clan, Jay Z and Nas. “Started” may as well be Rapper Shane’s manifesto as it feels like a statement of purpose, as he announces that “it ain’t over now / I’m just getting started”. In a way he is just getting started as Rapper Shane. given that he previously worked under the moniker Stranger Day. Shane‘s got a super confident flow bristling with energy and passion, rather like Nas. Meanwhile, the song’s groovy slow jam beats just kill with incredible production from Ducko McFli.
Rapper Shane’s new EP, Too Busy to Be This Broke, will release June 10th. Shane says, “At the time I started this record, I was really overwhelmed with different projects, whether it was other releases or booking shows, where I felt like the people I was trying to put on were walking away with more to show from what I was doing than I did. I was spending a lot of time trying to make cool shit happen in Charlotte, but it stretched me so thin that at one point, I had Ducko McFli beats sitting in my inbox and I couldn’t even afford to go record on them. I’m a fortunate dude, I know other people have way more struggles than I do, but at the time it was frustrating. But it eventually came together, and I came up with that title, and thought it said what I was feeling and that it had a nice ring to it.”