Shame Gang has dropped off a fresh visual for his song "Million and One", featuring Erick Lottary and Devn. Known for his infectious flows, rugged rhymes, nimble vocal cadence, and natural knack for storytelling, Shame Gang imbues the ethos of hip-hop's throwback era as well as its promising future. Born in the tough streets of Capitol Heights, Maryland and raised in Landover, Maryland, he drew inspiration from artists such as Q-Tip, Biggie Smalls, A Tribe Called Quest, and more. Living in Raleigh, North Carolina since 2013, he dropped his first project, The Sequence, in February 2016, featuring the lead single “Still Ballin", while his 2018 breakout album and first officially distributed project Genesis 98’ earned him an opening performance spot for Wu-Tang Clan's reunion tour stop in North Carolina. Shame Gang has now released a cinematic, engaging new visual for "Million and One", a song from his deeply personal, introspective, and largely anecdotal album Better Late Than Never, which follows the story of Shame's life as a car mechanic striving for greener pastures as a professional rap star.
"Million and One" contains energizing, expansive instrumentation built around sweeping, arpeggiated synths, rich 808s, and invigorating percussion. The track cultivates an aura of hunger and urgency with powerful vocals laced atop the raw production, while providing focused lyrical content that is both vulnerable and inspirational. With a versatile blend of gritty flows and potent melodies, "Million and One" makes for an emotive, diverse listen.
Shot by Summit Films and directed by Giancarlo Bauzulli, the film takes place in the old west, where Shame and his cowboy gang of Erick Lottary and DEVN work together to permeate the town with their music. Grammy-nominated Dreamville rapper Lute plays the film's antagonist who will stop at nothing to disrupt their plans. With an underlying theme of collaboration, the film reflects the song's message to artists that there are countless ways to make an impact with your music, in spite of opposing forces.
Regarding "Million and One", Shame Gang says, "the creative process for 'Million and One' came from a variety of collaborative sessions in Charlotte, where multiple artists exchanged ideas and concepts. It was challenging because I had never been in the same room writing with so many different artists at the same time. It was rewarding to be able to assert my songwriting, and the constructive criticism was enriching. We all interpret ideas differently, and brainstorming with so many different artists allowed us to incorporate varied perspectives. The song reminds artists that we have a million ways to be successful in the industry. It’s a reminder that we aren’t going to let people stop us, we’re going to stake a claim, and we’re here to stay."
Shame Gang's new video for "Million and One" gives this impactful track a cinematic visual accompaniment that celebrates the spirit of collaboration, making for a memorable offering.
Connect with Shame Gang: Website | Spotify | Instagram | Twitter
