âI remember having one of my 'performances' in my backyard one afternoon, and glancing over and seeing my mom watch me. She kind of had this 'what the hell is this boy doing?' look on her face.....but I still finished my show.â
-Shawn Chrystopher
In 1997, during his first day at Foshay Learning Center, Shawn was introduced to music in a different light as he enrolled into his very first music class. In this class, he was not only taught the fundamentals of music--such as melodies and music theory--he also acquired the knowledge of music history as well as the skills to not only play, but master many different instruments.
It was that same year that Shawn met industry exec and life-long mentor/friend Tom Sturges. At the time Tom, who was head of Shaquille O'neal's record label "TWisM," came to Shawn's school to meet with another student who he was sponsoring in a mentorship program. Coincidentally, during his visit Tom was able to see Shawn perform at one of the many assemblies he took part in, and instantly saw the talent and star-power Shawn possessed.
As high school came to a culmination, Shawn, then known in his area as one of the premier entertainers, not only continued to perfect his skills as an MC, but also honing the craft of producing.
"I would literally sit and make 5 beats a day, then at the end of the week delete them all; I kept this going for months. The reason why I would delete them is because they weren't any good. I knew they weren't good, but just like every other skill, you have to practice to get it perfected. Im sure Jordan didn't make the first shot he ever took."
-Shawn Chrystopher
In 2003, at the age of 16, Shawn was awarded a 4 1/2 year scholarship to the University of Southern California, where he would study Political Science. While in school, Shawn learned the necessary skills of business and networking that would help him conduct himself in a professional manner whenever he was not in 'entertainer' mode. These skills were nothing more but mere additions to Shawn Chrystoper's already 'micro-manager' demeanor. More than just a rapper, Chrystopher is known to do everything himself--and if he cant do it, he asks to have the final decision on anything made regarding him or else he wants no part of it. Shawn writes, performs, produces, mixes, and masters all of his own music; something he sees being a necessity in the music industry if longevity is to be achieved.
"The era of the 'regular rapper' is almost done. Soon people are going to be asking 'well we know you can rap, but what else do you do?' There are many musicians who write and produce their own music, however in hip-hop, being one-dimensional was accepted. That won't last for too much longer."
-Shawn Chrystopher
Five years later, after careful planning and patiently learning the ins-and-outs of the music industry, Shawn Chrystopher, formally released his critically-acclaimed debut mixtape "I.W.G.: I Wear Glasses"; garnering him a major co-sign by fashion powerhouse LRG Clothing as well as its owner Jonas
In the fall of 2009, Shawn released his debut LP "A City With No Seasons" via his website, HonourRoleStudent.com. "A City With No Seasons" was Shawn's true introduction to the world as it was his first project with the music entirely produced by him (his prior mixtape was comprised mostly of industry instrumentals). With his debut album, Shawn Chrystopher set out to push the envelope with today's rap music; choosing song concepts and instrumentation that would normally be reserved for an alternative act.
"Some people really feel that it's virtually impossible to create something different in this day and age when it comes to music; I strongly disagree. I look at music as fingerprints; being independently exclusive to every musician. The reason why music, especially hip-hop, stays stagnant during certain periods of time is because artists tend to try and duplicate another artists' "fingerprints" because he or she has created a winning formula in the form of a hit song. Just because something worked for one artist doesn't necessarily mean that it will work for me, so I have chosen to basically be my own artist, and create a sound that can only be linked to me as a musician."
-Shawn Chrystopher
With intellect, superior musical talent, and passion for all that he does, the future is truly bright for Mr. Chrystopher.
Catch Me If You Can
Shawn Chrystopher Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Tell me who fucking with me
I am the only one like a missing kidney
Make green, burn brown, smoke like a chimney
I pour the Louis 13 while you sippin Remy
See, I been famous before you knew my name
Now its all the same thing just a bigger chain
I got a light skin broad she aint with the game
See I'm an Inglewood survivor
Born here, so she got a real dude by her
And this little nigga rich, if she want it I'm a buy her
I aint even got no L's got a white girl driver
Break it down for a second
I be killin with no weapon, steady Honour ROLE reppin
Shawn Chrys bitch, what the fuck you expectin
Hold on, let me get a second
(Chorus)
So I can say hi to the haters, hi to the haters
I hop up in the six, vroom vroom see you later
Try and catch me if you can, catch me if you can
I be in that vroom vroom, try and catch me if you can
Sayin hi to the haters, hi to the haters
I hop up in the six, vroom vroom see you later
Try and catch me if you can, catch me if you can
I be in that vroom vroom, try and catch me if you can
(Verse 2)
I hand out dick like Christmas gifts
One Shawn dick a day, thats a fitness tip
Burn calories,
I hit Rodeo on a Saturday night and burn salaries
Fuck with my crew, earn casualties
Art all on my wall, no galleries
She said she love my mind, I said I love her brain
But some how I dont think we said the same thing
So light it up like an Usher movie
All black midnight, sorry if you lose me
Zoom. See I'm fresher than a new tomb
Cuz Im the tick tick tick boom
Break it down for a second
I be killin with no weapon, steady Honour ROLE reppin
Shawn Chrys bitch, what the fuck you expectin
Hold on, let me get a second
(Chorus)
So I can say hi to the haters, hi to the haters
I hop up in the six, vroom vroom see you later
Try and catch me if you can, catch me if you can
I be in that vroom vroom, try and catch me if you can
Sayin hi to the haters, hi to the haters
I hop up in the six, vroom vroom see you later
Try and catch me if you can, catch me if you can
I be in that vroom vroom, try and catch me if you can
(Verse 3)
I'm on the block like a red curb
You aint never in motion, like a dead verb
You dont ever be coastin, you gon stay a herb
And why you worried about the race while you in 3rd
I win every time I lace 'em up
Lookin for a new sport to be taken up
I got rings, trophies, and a few banners
Bout to have a morning show like Danny Tanner
See life's so fuckin great
I be eatin so much you can see the plate
A nigga went to prom, and I aint need a date
I told my mom why one when you can bag eight
Break it down for a second
I be killin with no weapon, steady Honour ROLE reppin
Shawn Chrys bitch, what the fuck you expectin
Hold on, let me get a second
(Chorus)
So I can say hi to the haters, hi to the haters
I hop up in the six, vroom vroom see you later
Try and catch me if you can, catch me if you can
I be in that vroom vroom, try and catch me if you can
Sayin hi to the haters, hi to the haters
I hop up in the six, vroom vroom see you later
Try and catch me if you can, catch me if you can
I be in that vroom vroom, try and catch me if you can
In "Catch Me if You Can," Shawn Chrystopher is proclaiming his confidence as a successful artist who has been famous long before his name became known. He compares himself to a missing kidney, stating that he is the only one, unique and irreplaceable. This is followed by lines about his wealth, with him pouring Louis 13 while others sip Remy, further establishing his distinction from regular people. Shawn further solidifies his uniqueness by mentioning his light-skinned girlfriend, who doesn't leave the house to avoid the "lame" people and drives him around. The second verse portrays his sexual prowess, with him comparing his daily 'gift' to a workout routine, burning calories. He mentions Rodeo Drive, where he spends money as if burning salaries, and his friends are casualties in case anyone messes with them. Shawn also ups his wordplay game with lines like, "I'm fresher than a new tomb," and "I be in that vroom vroom, try and catch me if you can."
In the chorus, Shawn adds insult to injury towards people who doubt his success. He greets the 'haters' while vrooming off in his car, and dares them to catch him. The song somewhat breaks away from typical rap song format by not having any bridges, so the song bounces from verse to chorus several times.
Line by Line Meaning
Tell me who fucking with me
Ask me who can compete with me
I am the only one like a missing kidney
I am unique, one of a kind
Make green, burn brown, smoke like a chimney
I make money, smoke weed and cigarettes
I pour the Louis 13 while you sippin Remy
I drink high-end liquor while you drink less expensive ones
See, I been famous before you knew my name
I was successful before you even heard of me
Now its all the same thing just a bigger chain
My lifestyle hasn't changed, just my accessories
I got a light skin broad she aint with the game
I have a girlfriend who doesn't care about fame or money
And she dont even leave the house 'cause you niggas lame
She avoids going out because people are boring or unappealing
See I'm an Inglewood survivor
I come from Inglewood and have overcome challenges
Born here, so she got a real dude by her
I was born in Inglewood, so my girlfriend knows I'm genuine
And this little nigga rich, if she want it I'm a buy her
I have money, so I can buy her anything she wants
I aint even got no L's got a white girl driver
I don't even have a driver's license, but my white girlfriend can drive me around
I hand out dick like Christmas gifts
I have sex with many women
One Shawn dick a day, thats a fitness tip
Having sex with me is a healthy exercise
Burn calories,
Sex is a physical activity that can burn calories
I hit Rodeo on a Saturday night and burn salaries
I spend a lot of money shopping on Rodeo Drive on weekends
Fuck with my crew, earn casualties
Mess with my friends, and you'll get hurt
Art all on my wall, no galleries
I have artwork hanging in my home, but not from galleries
She said she love my mind, I said I love her brain
She likes my personality, and I like her intelligence
But some how I dont think we said the same thing
We probably have different interpretations of what we just said
So light it up like an Usher movie
Smoke weed like in an Usher music video
All black midnight, sorry if you lose me
I wear all black at night, so it's hard to see me
Zoom. See I'm fresher than a new tomb
I'm more fashionable than a brand new burial chamber
Cuz Im the tick tick tick boom
I'm explosive like a ticking bomb
You aint never in motion, like a dead verb
You're always stagnant like a non-action verb
You dont ever be coastin, you gon stay a herb
You don't go with the flow, and you'll always be uncool
And why you worried about the race while you in 3rd
Why do you care about winning when you're not even close to first place?
I win every time I lace 'em up
I always win when I put on my shoes
Lookin for a new sport to be taken up
I'm searching for a new activity to try
I got rings, trophies, and a few banners
I have achieved success in sports and have memorabilia to show for it
Bout to have a morning show like Danny Tanner
I'm about to have a successful TV show like the TV character Danny Tanner
See life's so fuckin great
My life is amazing
I be eatin so much you can see the plate
I eat a lot and my plate is always full
A nigga went to prom, and I aint need a date
I went to prom without a date
I told my mom why one when you can bag eight
I asked my mom why have just one girlfriend, when I can have eight
Contributed by Christian C. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@elansings
One of my favorites in college. Why did SC never made it? I often wonder. Alligator sky was amazing too
@LilSpade95
"She said she love my mind, I said I love her brain But some how I dont think we said the same thing" Shawn is a Beast
@adidasboi33
This dude is just tooo dope. On tour with Big Sean? You know he is definitely on his way...
@yodadysmom
Shawn should definitely be bigger than half the people in the game today
@Datgtgurl
i love this song and the beat is fiyahhhhh ..............lookin forward to hearing more from him
@SNTrice19
caught Shawn on the Finally Famous tour in NOLA. heard this song for the first time there and it kills! love it.
@jrhprs
Shawn Chrystopher seems like a famous person because of his name and he collaborated with Owl City too but I was shocked he wasn't big in the industry yet
@Lindsay-Makes-Videos
I absolutely love this! Great song, great performer, great video! You've got a new fan!!
@turtlepower4195
Anyone else love shawn's dance at 2:23
@TheLoLgesicht
still listening to it still kickin feeling soo nostalgic whenever I hear this