Something happens in the streets of a large city. It’s its own ecosystem of sounds and assembly lines of people, day-in, day-out. It’s one thing to capture that sound, it’s another thing to infuse the listener into its world. Rapper extraordinaire Shemie Rozay’s “City Drop” takes the listener deep into an atmosphere of persistence and what it takes to stand out.
Rozay hails from the Bronx. He joins a very long list of hip hop’s finest that have called the same borough home, including KRS-One, Fat Joe, Grandmaster Flash, French Montana and a slew of others. Rozay cites Meek Mill (Philadelphia born), Jadakiss (Yonkers, New York-born) and Dave East (East Harlem, New York-born) as his influences. Knowing the power of the medium and the craft it takes, Rozay also takes the time to volunteer for the youth community, giving back when he can. His roots are felt in “City Drop” and in his words are pep rallies all listeners will want to stop and listen to.
“You gotta slide up on it, better climb up on it, don’t get tired on it” is a taste of the lyrics in “City Drop”. Mixed within Rozay’s fast, but not too fast rapping style, are the sound of police or first responder sirens and faint clicks and clacks. It’s the murmur and hustle and bustle of a city coating just under his emphatic words. Sometimes it seems like he’s encouraging others through his own experience. He’s telling the tale of his own hustle. His own struggles to be the man and the artist that he is. One might also get the sense that he’s reminding himself “take your time on it” and “you say you want it”.
The beats and vibe to this song is solid AF. Really. It makes you want to burst out the head phones and walk outside like you own the sidewalk. I could definitely see listeners adding this song to their Spotify playlists for a workout or even the first track to get them up and at’em in the morning. Ready to take on the day and secure your place in the world, that’s the message I received from listening to “City Drop”. The only person that is going to stop you is yourself.
I think I wanted a bit more about the music bed. At the start of this song is a really cool rhythm, a sauntering beat that seemed to leave earlier than expected. I still think it’s a killer song and I dug the focus being on the lyrics and Rozay’s personality, but after a few listens, I stayed pretty hungry from that first bite.
Overall, if you like Meek Mill and some of the old school hip hop pioneers, you will really appreciate Shemie Rozay and “City Drop”. As an artist, he’s exciting and he’s produced a pretty impressive track. It’s also one of those songs that really appreciated just sitting down and listening to it. Let it marinate. It’s insightful and rather catchy.
Jodi Marxbury
The music of SHEMIE ROZAY has been heard all over the world in partnership with the radio plugging services offered by Musik and Film Radio Promotions Division. Learn more https://musikandfilm.com