Rapper Shawn Cook Talks About the Visuals for His Hit Single ‘Stay’
Music has the incredible ability to help channel emotions in profound ways. For Shawn Cook, it served as a reflection of his life, both the detrimental lows and euphoric highs. Rap helped capture those raw experiences and transform them into lyrical masterpieces, allowing him to take the artform to new heights and work with legendary artists such as Mac Dre and Snoop Dogg. Whether amassing millions of streams across platforms or helping his peers co-write Grammy-nominated albums, Shawn Cook’s artistry stretches far and wide in the industry. Taking the influential Bay Area sounds Shawn Cook grew up on with the intensity of the East Coast, the artist pens his EP Claudette, a cautionary love tale of unhealthy relationships, trauma bonding, and codependency. Through exploring mature themes of love and life, Shawn Cook offers a shared sense of connection through his discography.
Shawn Cook raps about love from a jaded perspective in “Stay.” Tired of all the games and ultimatums but somehow still drawn back to the toxicity, the artist utilizes his smooth flows to outline a romance gone bad. He describes it as a “reverse carousel” where magnetic attraction creates an infinite loop of pleasure and misery, never finding a moment of peace. The visuals for “Stay” provides viewers a look into the artist’s unique perception of the battle between lust and loss. Just as he attempts to break free from the cycle, he is pulled back and doomed to repeat his mistakes repeatedly as the video reverses. “Stay” is a thoughtful and addictive track highlighting Shawn Cooks’s impeccable ability to keep listeners hooked.
What initially drew you into music and lyric writing? When did you realize your talent was worth pursuing professionally?
My mother, Theresa Mccall. May she rest in peace. She had me singing and doing routines of all of her favorites. I loved doing it and entertaining my family. I wrote my first lyrics when I was 12 to a Minnie Ripperton song. My first studio session I was 14 years old and by 16, I had a few songs that everyone loved and I knew I would be doing this the rest of my life. I am currently a grammy nominated writer for my contributions to J-Boog’s album titled “Rose Petals in 2017 and I also have a Gold plaque for my writing on Marc E Bassy’s pop hit “Morning”
How and why do you feel you have become such a genre-fusing, versatile musical artist? Who are some of your inspirations that influence your unique sound?
Great question. I grew up in environment that normally influences a certain behavior and I was always different and felt different. While my neighborhood is mostly influenced by hip hop and I can say in a monumental space with guys like Mac Dre and E-40 who carved out iconic positions, I played my small part but my influences/inspirations came from guys like Sting, and David Bowie and ironically a lot of East Coast Rap. My mother had me growing up singing Motown classics so my exposure in addition to my environment gave me insight to several different genres. I was blessed to be exposed to so much.
How did you end up at “Stay”? What did the creative process look like from start to finish, and what inspired this song?
Ok. First off “Stay” is a concept album titled Claudette which is a culmination of previous relationships. All that I have learned from but “Stay” is unique because the process started with my latest break up (Phone conversations etc) and I realized how co-dependent we were in a sort of “comfortable misery”.. We definitely love each other but to a fault. We have disagreements, I get half way out the door, and something is said to make me come back… So I ultimately end up staying. So my managers all have invaluable resources in this music game. I was presented with some beats from a super grammy nominated producer by the name of Tyler ROHN. He collaborated with platinum producer Bizness Boi and also Boylord to create the unique sound for “Stay”.. I heard it and my EMO side came out fresh off my breakup and “Stay” was born.
What is the message and story being told in the “Stay” lyrics? How do you hope this resonates with your audience?
The message in “Stay” is sometimes we be so caught up in a relationship that we think we are moving forward by daily actions but emotionally we could be moving in reverse but the moment keeps us in a suspended airspace. I hope it resonates positively in the vein of “assess your life and the people in it”.. Sometimes we have to make tough decisions in the name of progress. Its gonna hurt but more times than not its for the best.
How does the music video bring your descriptions and emotions to life on our screens? What details particularly shape the delivery of “Stay” visually?
Another great question! You are good at this. Lol. Ok so in the video everything is shot in black and white and that’s to create the suspended space and grey area I feel I’m in trying to navigate this relationship. You will see everything moving in reverse because intentionally my goal was to leave but magnetic forces are pulling me directly back to the source (female in the video). The video ending is actually the beginning where we both end up on a morrocan rug laying next to “spirits”..(alcohol)
How does “Stay” fit into your upcoming EP, Claudette? How does it set the tone for what is to come for your fans?
“Stay” is definitely a tone setter in the Claudette universe. It’s the beginning to a overall theme to my relationship with Claudette. Everything else will unfold from there. It’s the first single and if I was in the right headspace in a perfect world, I have all the signs of the co-dependency, the hurtful comments and the tearing down of each other to leave but I do the opposite. (STAY)
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About the Author
Dr. Jerry Doby Editor-in-Chief of The Hype Magazine, Media and SEO Consultant, Journalist, Ph.D. and retired combat vet. 2023 recipient of The President's Lifetime Achievement Award. Partner at THM Media Group. Member of the U.S. Department of Arts and Culture, the United States Press Agency and ForbesBLK.
