American-based rapper Shillz Tex dropped a personal and heavy new single, “Papi Chulo,” combining the rawness of confession with a rich instrumental tapestry in one track. The song, written by him alongside producer Vynchie, is a window into a familiar chapter in the life of the artist filled with touchable truths, gone but unforgettable memories, and heart-on-sleeve vulnerability.
Written in Lagos, Nigeria, where he lived before moving to the United States with his family, “Papi Chulo” exudes a palpable place and identity. The production has a humanity to it, firmly established in African beats and layered harmonies, that is both reassuring and introspective.
Shillz Tex puts on a more humble front than the boastful one often seen in contemporary rap and Afro-fusion, instead supplying truths from personal experiences. With a performance that is at once both confident and vulnerable, Shillz Tex dives into levels of complexity that far surpass any kind of superficial storytelling. Yet it is not only the setting that lends this release its weight but also the emotion inherently carried within it.
Highlighted with “Papi Chulo,” it is another aspect of Shillz Tex that builds on his new heights of sound, which further proves why he remains an artist in just blending the lines between culture and self. As he carves his way into the music industry, this single is a declaration of where he comes from as well as a gateway to where we may find him.