“I 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.”
-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.
Pull Up
Shawn Chrystopher Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
My little homie, Levi chirped me
Asked me how I do this
Got a check for like 5 large
I just spent that on some new kicks
Yup, my ex see me on TV
Ho, I swear I thought you knew this
Now, I made this for bad hoes
Wait outside for concerts
Slip backstage and fuck me
So fuck you to fake friends
Yes, magazines snubbed me
But I still get White hoes dancing like I'm Puffy
Bitch, I'm riddin round in my city
All of my niggas is with me
Yep, all of my niggas is real
DJs be bumping my shit independent
Don't need me no deal
I made me a beat, wrote me a rap
I'm mixing it down, simple as that
Now the nigga you thought was the man in your city
Be booking my shows, for couple of racks
I come in your town, I'm knocking em down
The yellow the red the whites and the browns
Not calling em back, simple as that
They calling my phone, they hearing this tone
(You gone call me?
I'm'a call you. but if you come by
I won't call you. ok?
Nigga, welcome to my new shit
My little homie, Levi chirped me asked me how I do this
If you niggas got a problem I'm on Raymond with the Bros
Yeah from morning til we close, if you really feeling bold
Pull up
Got a problem, line it up my nigga
Yeah, these niggas steady looking and they mad that they can't see me
And these bitches on my head, I swear they Culver City PD
Nigga, I be smokin strong like wheaties
Never pass to bros no freebies
This that real shit no tv
Rocking j's, nigga no yeezeys
This that inglewood shit
Some of my niggas is robbers and killers and crooks
But they still do good shit
And some of my niggas still living at home with they moms
But they pockets hood rich, but nigga fuck hood rich
See we trying to make it, you got it we'll take it
These records we breaking for your situation
My nigga, like uh!
Nigga, welcome to my new shit
My little homie, Levi chirped me
Asked me how I do this
If you niggas got a problem I'm on Raymond with the Bros
Yeah from morning til we close
If you really feeling bold
Pull up
Got a problem, line it up my nigga
In Shawn Chrystopher's song Pull Up, he starts off by welcoming listeners to his new music. He then talks about how his friend Levi asked him how he creates such amazing music. He's just gotten a check of around five thousand dollars and he's spent it all on new kicks. Chrystopher then raps about his ex-girlfriend seeing him on TV but he's not paying attention to her anymore. He's now making his music for bad girls who say they love him, wait outside his concerts, and try to sneak backstage to be with him. Chrystopher says he doesn't care about fake friends or magazines that don't acknowledge him because he's still making music that makes white girls dance. When he's driving around his city, his real friends are with him and DJ's are playing his music even though he hasn't signed any deals.
In the second verse, Chrystopher talks about hanging out on Raymond Boulevard with his friends all day and night, willing to take on any challengers. He's aware that people are always looking for him but are unable to find him, and girls are going crazy over him. He smokes weed but doesn't give any to anyone for free. He also talks about wearing Jordans instead of Yeezys, as part of his Inglewood image. He further raps about how some of his friends are robbers and killers, but they still do some good things, and some of them live with their moms but still have pockets full of money. Chrystopher concludes by saying they're trying to make it, breaking music records, and telling people to pull up if they have a problem.
Line by Line Meaning
Nigga, welcome to my new shit
Welcome to my new music and style.
My little homie, Levi chirped me
My friend Levi asked me how I create my new music.
Asked me how I do this
Asked me how I create and produce my music.
Got a check for like 5 large
Received a payment of five-thousand dollars.
I just spent that on some new kicks
Spent the money on buying new sneakers.
Yup, my ex see me on TV
My ex-girlfriend watches me on television.
Ho, I swear I thought you knew this
I thought you already knew that I'm successful.
Now, I made this for bad hoes
This song is intended for promiscuous women.
Who act like they love me
Women who pretend to like me because of my success.
Wait outside for concerts
Women who wait outside concerts for a chance to meet me.
Slip backstage and fuck me
Women who sneak backstage to have sex with me.
So fuck you to fake friends
I don't need fake friends in my life.
Yes, magazines snubbed me
Magazines ignored me and didn't feature me in their publications.
But I still get White hoes dancing like I'm Puffy
Even though magazines snub me, I still have white women dancing to my music like Puffy.
Bitch, I'm riddin round in my city
I'm driving around my city in my car.
All of my niggas is with me
All of my friends are with me in the car.
Yep, all of my niggas is real
All of my friends are genuine and honest.
DJs be bumping my shit independent
DJs play my music even though I don't have a record deal.
Don't need me no deal
I don't need a record label to make and promote my music.
I made me a beat, wrote me a rap
I produced and wrote my own music.
I'm mixing it down, simple as that
I'm using equipment to mix my music and make it sound good.
Now the nigga you thought was the man in your city
Now people in your city view me as the successful, popular artist instead of someone else.
Be booking my shows, for couple of racks
I'm getting paid several thousand dollars to perform at different venues.
I come in your town, I'm knocking em down
When I arrive in a new town, my fans are excited and enthusiastic.
The yellow the red the whites and the browns
Fans of all ethnicities enjoy my music.
Not calling em back, simple as that
I'm not calling fans back because I'm too busy with my career.
They calling my phone, they hearing this tone
My fans hear my phone's ringtone when they call me.
If you niggas got a problem I'm on Raymond with the Bros
If you have a problem with me, I'm on Raymond Street with my friends.
Yeah from morning til we close, if you really feeling bold
I'm available to handle any issue from morning until night if you're brave enough to confront me.
Got a problem, line it up my nigga
If you have a problem with me, let's discuss it face-to-face.
Yeah, these niggas steady looking and they mad that they can't see me
Some people are envious of my success and are trying to locate me.
And these bitches on my head, I swear they Culver City PD
Women are constantly trying to get my attention and it's as if they're Culver City Police Department.
Nigga, I be smokin strong like wheaties
I smoke high-grade marijuana regularly.
Never pass to bros no freebies
I don't give away free marijuana to my friends.
This that real shit no tv
My music is authentic and not just made for television.
Rocking j's, nigga no yeezeys
I'm wearing Jordan sneakers, not Kanye West's Yeezy brand.
This that inglewood shit
My music reflects the culture and lifestyle of Inglewood, California.
Some of my niggas is robbers and killers and crooks
Some of my friends have committed crimes like robbery and murder.
But they still do good shit
Despite their criminal history, my friends still do good things for their community.
And some of my niggas still living at home with they moms
Some of my friends still live with their mothers.
But they pockets hood rich, but nigga fuck hood rich
Even though my friends don't have a lot of money, they still have a positive attitude and mentality.
See we trying to make it, you got it we'll take it
We're working hard to achieve success and won't let anyone hold us back.
These records we breaking for your situation
Our music is successful and breaking records to inspire and empower our listeners.
My nigga, like uh!
We're determined and confident in our abilities.
Contributed by Max I. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
TheBluecold1
A classic fashooo