Having weathered life’s storms, grappled with personal losses, and confronted personal demons, highly rated Los Angeles-based hip-hop and rap emcee and artist Brandon Strife’s return to the music scene feels like the rising sun after a long, dark night that was full of terrors, reminiscent of ‘Game of Thrones’ style, if you recall! The bright morning sun is now painting the sky with a tapestry of colors marking his reemergence that exudes a sense of purpose and determination that is bound to resonate with his loyal audience, who were always bidding their time in the whom maybe we could have shared more time with or know.
Over the last three years, Brandon has had to contend with the loss of both his brother and father, and even though they weren’t that close with the latter, the loss gave him something to reflect on: life’s meaning and what really becomes of all those we leave behind, whom maybe we could have shared more time with or know.
All of these experiences—the good, the bad, and the extremely ugly—now form the cornerstone of his artistry. He is tapping into these raw experiences to create music that will resonate with listeners on a personal level and allow them to find their own stories within his rhymes. “Shiftin” is his comeback masterpiece after a year-long hiatus, and what a way to come back!
Thought-provoking observations set to masterful flows, hard bars, and smart wordplay is “Shiftin” in a nutshell, as Brandon wears his heart on his sleeves and transports a listener into his world, baring his soul out with his honest, vulnerable, and introspective rhymes.
With the production, he takes it back to the core of the West Coast sound, honoring the very foundation hip-hop and rap were built on with that nostalgic beat that really works well with his first-class lyrical performance.
Unorthodox flows and erudite rhymes, backed by infectious hooks, make this track a bona fide standout, as Brandon proves that he is much more than just a rapper; he is an artist.
No shade to up-and-coming artists on the scene right now, but I feel they have lost their originality and are just trying to jump on anything hot or trendy within that certain time. Brandon is not all that; he is him, a rapper, an artist…he is music personified, and he creates his art from the deepest part of his soul and heart to give you something that you will think about for a long time.
“Shiftin” is a huge testament to the boundless creativity and versatility of Brandon, not only as a musician but also as a songwriter. The way he lays himself out is more than guaranteed to leave a lasting impression on any listener, no matter their genre affiliations.
Accompanying this track is that epic visual that is the best supplement to this tour de force, both in apologue and mood.
Brandon is back, and this is his way of reminding everyone, just in case they forgot what he is made up of…he’s already sending wannabe ‘rappers’ back to their hiding holes, and the opps are scampering for safety!
To run “Shiftin” up for him, follow the link below, subscribe to his YouTube channel, like the video, add the track to your playlist, and share it with your homies!
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