As I have stated so many times on this blog, Milwaukee is oozing with talented Hip Hop artists who are waiting for and deserve to break through. The Milwaukee Hip Hop scene has been severely overlooked until recently; it has always been pigeon-holed as having a very particular Hard Drill sound that every artist in the city makes, and all of the artists venturing into different kinds of Hip Hop have been pushed to the wayside and not gotten the attention they deserve. Over the last year or so, this sentiment has changed; with artists like DC The Don and Lakeyah gaining national notoriety, there are more eyes on the Milwaukee music scene than ever; all of these artists who are set on pushing the sound of Milwaukee Hip Hop forward who do not make the kind of music the city had been previously known for are finally starting to get some of the shine they deserve. One Milwaukee rapper with a sound that may draw influence from the aforementioned Milwaukee Drill scene but totally expands upon it and makes it more exciting and diverse is $hiiiro. I actually originally heard $hiiiro when he was featured on a single called ‘IDKB’ from Milwaukee’s 2hi earlier this year(after reading this, go read my review of 2hi’s new album if you have not yet). His vocal tone and flow on that track massively contrast with the other vocals on the track and make it pop; his performance on that track is what made me want to look into his solo music. $hiiiro just released a new mixtape called Shut Up, Shiro. I wanted to talk about and review this project today. Please let me know in the comments how you feel about $hiiiro his new project Shut Up, Shiro, and also comment the names of some other up-and-coming artists that you think I should check out.
$hiiiro gets Shut Up, Shiro started with a little introduction track called ‘STFU.’ This is a one-minute and eighteen-second compilation of a bunch of people telling $hiiiro to shut up. As the track progresses, the vocals on the track get more aggressive and mean, with the people telling $hiiiro to shut up and yelling at him by the end of the track. This is an engaging way to begin the project, as it is certainly captivating and makes me interested to hear what comes next. ‘Shut Up, Shiro’ is an atmospheric Trap track that feels welcoming and offputting at the same time. The melody has an otherworldly and hazy feeling that makes me feel like I am floating when I hear it. This melody is provided by synths that sound like chimes coming from another dimension. This melody is put on a punchy Trap beat that kind of contrasts the calmness of the melody. The beat gives the song a bit of a harsh quality that keeps the listener on their toes. $hiiiro’s vocals on this song are gruff and grating, which also contrasts the tranquil feeling of the melody. His constantly changing flow and the rough tone give the song so much life. ‘Why U Mad,’ which features Tae23 and 2hi, has a decidedly more negative and harsh tone than the track that precedes it. This instrumental is not super complex, but that is okay because it sure packs a punch. This song has a creepy distorted synth-driven melody that sounds like something that has an anxious feeling to it. This melody is put over a powerful and brash beat with tons of bass that will shake the room when it comes on. All of the vocals on this track are just as brazen and jarring as the instrumental. I especially enjoy 2hi’s vocals on this track, as his tone is a bit more understated, which provides a cool contrast from the more intense sound that $hiiiro and Tae23 have. The first thing I thought of when I initially listened to ‘What???’ is Playboi Carti’s Whole Lotta Red album. The instrumental for this track definitely feels inspired by the music on that project. This is okay with me because I love Playboi Carti and I love that album. The melody for ‘What???,’ which is provided by heavily distorted and saturated synths that have a bit of an organ sound, sounds like something that would play in a vampire movie. There is an ethereal and gothic quality to this melody that is reminiscent of the Dracula music. The beat for this song is not as hard-hitting as the beats on the first two tracks; this more laid-back beat goes well with the melody, matching its soothing yet harrowing sound. $hiiiro’s vocals on this track are pretty fierce, contrasting the energy of the instrumental. Towards the end of ‘What???,’ $hiiiro is shouting the lyrics, taking the song over the top and giving it an acute nature that makes it hit.
‘Open Up,’ which features Ed Wingard, is another song that specifically makes me think of a certain type of experimental Trap music. ‘Open Up’ has a sound that is reminiscent of some of the underground Trap artists that became popular in the mid to late 2010s like Father or Young Nudy. This song is driven by a floaty melody that is somehow tranquil and anxious at the same time. This melody is put on top of an enormous and striking beat that is extremely intricate and full of energy. This is the kind of instrumental that will pump anyone up, and it would be perfect for a workout or turn-up playlist. The vocals on this track are just as strong and vigorous as the instrumental. I love how $hiiiro gets increasingly angrier and vehement as the song progresses, as it makes the track feel huge and foreboding. ‘Piece-O-Shit’ is a brief interlude that contains a clip from $hiiiro’s favorite Mike Tyson interview. This is a cheeky little cut that serves as a nice break from the magnitude of the record. ‘Mike Tyson’ is the second track from the project that feels inspired by Playboi Carti’s Whole Lotta Red album. This is another song with a melody that has a vampiric feeling to it. This melody is a lot more saturated and complex than the melody on ‘What,’ though. The synth-driven melody from this song is extremely distorted and is complemented by various sound effects(including what sounds like church bells); the complexity of this melody makes it super chilling and it give it an uneasy feeling that is super cool. The beat for this track is just as convoluted and distorted as the melody, which adds to the larger-than-life feeling of the track. Even $hiiiro’s vocals on this track are heavily distorted; they contain a static quality that goes so well with the jarring feeling of the instrumental. The under-emphasized nature that $hiiiro’s vocals have on this track takes the alarming feeling that it has over the top in the best way.
Kizzy Talk,’ which features Ed Wingard, 2hi, and Tae23, is the biggest and most looming song on the album(which is saying a lot). Everything about this song feels larger than life. The instrumental is so monumental; it has an uneasy feeling that makes it so cool and lively. This instrumental is driven by a hair-raising melody that sounds like it is being produced by an organ; this melody reminds me of the kind of music that plays in a horror movie right before a chase scene. This melody is put on a severe beat that has tons of bass and the right kind of energy to match the instrumental. All of the vocal performances on this song are great, and they all add to the larger-than-life feeling of the instrumental. The vocal performance that stands out the most is the one from 2hi, as his softer and more calm vocals contrast the huge feeling that the vocals from the other artists on the track have. ‘Pop Outside’ is the lightest and most pleasant-sounding song on this project. This song has an instrumental that goes against the angrier sound that the rest of the project has. The fact that this song feels so light compared to the rest of the project is cool, as it provides a nice buffer from the ferocity of the rest of the project. ‘Pop Outside’ has a twinkling Pop-Trap sound with a melody that sounds like it is provided by chimes that are put on top of a pretty typical Trap beat. This instrumental is probably the most low-key and least riveting one on the project, but the great vocal performance from $hiiiro makes up for the lack of energy in the instrumental. $hiiiro truly shines on this track, as the brazen quality that his vocals have contrast the softer feeling of the beat. $hiiiro closes out the project on a smooth and rhythmic note with the song ‘Numbers.’ This is the second song in a row with a sound that is nothing like anything that precedes it. I appreciate this, as $hiiiro is showing that there are many sides to his artistry. ‘Numbers’ has an R&B Trap sound that has a bit of a G-Funk feeling to it. It is driven by a sultry and funky melody that makes me think of some of the music that Snoop Dogg and Warren G were making in the late 1990s. This melody is paired with a fast-paced Pop-Trap beat that goes so well with the groovy feeling of the melody. ‘Numbers’ has my favorite vocal performance from $hiiiro on the project. He shows constant diversity in his vocals throughout this song, changing his tone and intensity throughout the song; the way he is constantly changing his vocals gives the song so much texture. ‘Numbers’ is a very cool way to end this project, as it closes out Shut Up, Shiro with a bang and shows how wide-ranging of a Hip Hop artist that $hiiiro can be.
As I stated in the introduction, Milwaukee is full of promising Hip Hop artists that deserve more recognition. As more and more eyes start to look into the awesome music scene that this city has, there are so many artists looking to capitalize. If I had to suggest artists for people to check out who want to learn more about Milwaukee’s Hip Hop, $hiiiro is someone I would point them to. Shut Up, Shiro is a high-quality project that shows the massive potential that $hiiiro has. This is a diverse Hip Hop project with many kinds of Trap music that proves how eclectic $hiiiro can be. Every vocal performance from $hiiiro on Shut Up, Shiro is great; throughout the project, his vocals enhance the songs and make them so enjoyable to listen to. Shut Up, Shiro is a project I will be returning to frequently in the future, and it makes me excited to see what $hiiiro can do next.
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