Shehyee's ‘Kuntento’ sees rapper at crossroads
WHEN you’re a rap music artist at the top of your game, what comes next?
This seems to be the question that hit rap artist Shehyee addresses on his latest single titled “Kuntento.”
Rhythmic as it is melodic, “Kuntento” is all about Shehyee picturing what it would be like to be content to the point of not chasing his passions and just giving it up. It’s part confessional and cautionary tale as Shehyee emphasizes that what keeps his world turning is by finding passion in what he does. Of course, he says it better with his rhymes in that inimitable rap style of his.
Here he raps, “Yo, pa’no ba sipagin / Bruh, pwede ba ituro n’yo sa akin / Ang hirap hanapin / Gan’to ba talaga ‘pag natupad na ang iyong dalangin?’
This from the guy who almost broke YouTube overnight when he released his first breakout hit “Trip Lang.” It could be argued that said track ushered in the era of social media personality collaborations by featuring several popular celebs on the song’s music video. That track was released almost a decade ago but can still be found trending on platforms like TikTok.
Shehyee has tasted success. Been there, done that, as they say.
Which brings him to “Kuntento.”
If you listen to his song, it’s all there, revealing where his head is currently at.
‘Di ko na bibilangin / Not a fan baka sabihin n’yo mahangin / Gan’to na lang, alam n’yo sa’n ako nanggaling / Kung babalikan ‘yon ay hindi na pwedeng lakarin, ey’ / Parang lyrics lang ni Thyro / Kilome-kilome-kilometro ang layo / Masaya na sana kaso / ‘Di ko gets, ‘di ko get kung saan na’ko dadako.”
Sounds like a man currently at a crossroads. Like a man, who doesn’t know what to do next.
“Appreciate what you currently have but never settle,” said the rapper when asked what the main message is for his latest song. A terse answer, but one that makes sense.
In the course of it, Shehyee gets to wrap his thoughts with cool ‘80s inspired music. “The music on ‘Kuntento’ is city pop vibe, I want to feel (and sound) like I’m driving around the streets of Tokyo at night when I listen to it.”
For a top-rated rapper, Shehyee doesn’t really sound like the sound of Pinoy Rap and Hiphop today. To this he answers, “Yes, I really don’t like to sound like everybody else as much as possible.”
Asked if there ever was a moment in his career that made him content, the rapper — also a longtime gamer — answered, “When I became two division Rap Battle Champion, won an Awit Award and became a champion on all the stuff I competed on.”
So, it sounds like Shehyee just needs to find that spark to keep him going. Because it’s obvious what’s that one thing that won’t keep him from sitting on his ass, so to speak.
“Yes, the thrill of competition,” Shehyee said.
Probably in a related matter, Shehyee’s release of “Kuntento” coincides with his engagement to his long-time girlfriend Ann Mateo, a popular influencer and gamer in her own right.
The new music video for “Kuntento” was recently released, directed by Eric Ejercito and Jeff Centauri based on a concept by the rapper. “Kuntento” by Shehyee is now out on all music streaming platforms released by Viva Records.