From sharing the stage with Macklemore to performing on Late Night With Jimmy Fallon, Seattle-based rapper Travis Thompson has seen his career explode within the past few years. Building on his recent streak of success, he’s back with a new single titled “Ain’t Shit” – an honest, reflective track that shares his thoughts on growing up in Seattle, his old friends, his strained relationship with his family, and how his career has affected his outlook in life.
“Ain’t Shit” can be described simply as a lyrical masterpiece, with complex meaning strung throughout even the first few lines. Thompson is refreshingly honest with himself, and openly addresses his past in his poignant, at times troubling lines. In the later half of the track, his core message swings from his memories growing up back to his present self, and how his recent success affects the other aspects of his life – his family, friends, his home town of Seattle, and his own personal development.
A perfect example of his reflective sentiment shows up in “Ain’t Shit” when Thompson raps in his second verse: “I don’t trip as much no more / This check is good, my bong is packed”, and again he reflects on his upbringing with the last line in the verse: “I seen that vision / Of a young-ass kid from the west side ditch / With a mug like mine, blowing tree / I said, ‘If I ain’t shit, what that make you?'”
“Ain’t Shit” is produced by Tyler Dopps, who has recently worked on Macklemore’s latest project Gemini, including the hit tracks “Glorious” and “Marmalade”. He and Thompson are no strangers, as Dopps has produced previous tracks by Thompson, such as “Joyride” and “Born In ’96”.
For “Ain’t Shit”, Dopps creates the right atmosphere with a light high synth and a soft high-pitched snare, coupling them with a subtle, laid-back vocal treatment and additional atmospheric synths heard in the background. The instrumental is relaxed overall, yet given a solid treatment in its masterful production. This expertly produced instrumental gives Thompson the opportunity to be creative with his rhyme schemes, and change up the tempo throughout the track.
Check out “Ain’t Shit” below on your preferred streaming platform below.
