18. Single Review of Shake Some by Da Twin Prince
Originally published July 24th, 2024
Da Twin Prince, or Claudio Kelly, is a Hip Hop artist born, raised, and currently residing in Brooklyn, New York. He got his start musically in the church, singing and playing the drums. Kelly is known for writing “infectious music with (sic) aptitude for word play.” (Spotify Bio) He is cited for writing and performing all of his own music as well as writing for other artists.
Da TWin Prince has been a featured artist on noteworthy blogs like Billboard and This is 50, he has appeared on the live television show “Open” airing on Bronxnet, and he has performed at esteemed music festivals like South by Southwest, One Music Fest, Brooklyn Unity Fest, and more!
Da Twin Prince states he draws inspiration from his relationships and real life. It is these elements that inspire his writing mostly. It is this inspiration that, not only fuels his creative process in music, but also in hosting and directing short skits.
To read more about Da Twin Prince, check out his social media profiles:
Shake Some
“Shake Some” is a hip hop record written and produced by Da Twin Prince (C. Kelly). It was released on June 27th, 2024 and has a runtime just under 2:30.
This record is so good. It had me referencing music from 1995, all the way to 2024. All of the elements I kept hearing; from his cadence, to his rhythm, rhyme scheme and the subject matter of his music. “Shake Some,” and Da Twin Prince had me bouncing all over the place digging up songs that I was reminded of.
Production
First, the production quality was spot on. The track mixed perfectly with Kelly’s vocal performance, it had a subtlety that emphasized the subject matter and was rhythmically complex. I’ll give a nod to Kelly and his background with playing the drums. He is another proven example of the commonality between good producers and drummers.
Kelly’s vocal performance is both complex and impressive. It is in this element that had me going all over the place. The chorus is loosely sung; with Prince providing lead and harmonizing vocals. The way he toys with the pitch and barely hitting the key. It is musically right and leaving an anticipation to the listener; a sort of “is he going to or not” element that keeps us invested. Though they certainly aren’t the only ones to do it, Bone Thugs-N-Harmony wrote the book on it. Like in their song, Me Killa, from their 1995 Album E. 1999 Eternal. Kelly shows a musical capacity to execute this element just as skillfully.
His cadence is also complex; at moments changing the pitch of his voice delivering lines from a higher, more intense energy to dropping pitch and energy causing the listener to almost stop in their tracks to lean in and listen. In this lower element, he dances playfully around the track which delivers a complexity that proves not just anybody can do what he does. This reminds me of Kendrick Lamar’s recent single Euphoria. K Dot actually uses this element throughout the entire track changing his cadence and pitch so much that he could almost pass as two different people, if his voice wasn’t so recognizable. Kelly has the same capability here, though he doesn’t utilize the element as often.
Finally, the way he articulately delivers his lyrics but has a quick rhythmic delivery, is achieved through his clear enunciation; which is extraordinarily impressive considering the speed he is delivering the lyrics. It reminds me of Busta Rhymes’ verse in Chris Brown’s song “Look at Me Now.” This is an element neither Chris Brown or Lil’ Wayne were able to pull off, not to disparage them. In my opinion, Busts Rhymes is a pioneer; a rare heard prodigy of his art. With the ability to do this, it gives Kelly an incredible advantage as a lyricist. Considering that he uses analogy and wordplay in a unique way, to not have this capability could leave listeners missing some of these impressive elements of his lyrics.
Lyrics
Speaking of lyrics, I’ll attempt my own smooth transition into the topic of lyrics (my transition admittedly not being as smooth as Kelly’s). The song tells the story of casual romance and where the protagonist’s priorities lie when seeking romantic companionship. “I want the money/ I don’t want the love,” and “Ring finger down/ Middle finger up.” Is a humorously assertive way of placing his agenda on a pedestal.
“A pretty face with a cute body with a loose tongue/ She be talking’ back / I know how to shut that up (clap clap) Crank dat back.” This bar was so good. First, the cadence was perfect. Lyrically, it was dirty, but subtle, and the rhythm breaks with the claps was a great call with the production.
I love how Kelly references culture and sex in a way that the listener can understand it, but it’s not derivative of what everybody else is saying at the time. He’s unique in his ability to write about the world, while still being able to relate to it. I think this is important as a lyricist. When I write, I try to stray away from terms that have an expiration date. For instance, nobody wants to listen to how somebody got a page from somebody about a party that just started going off. It’s dated. Kelly mostly avoids this as well, with the exception of the first bar where “sliding in my DMs” is referenced. This isn’t really all that bad either. For all we know, that phrase might stick around for a while. It’s been around for a while, as it is.
Lyrically, Kelly shows an advantage with his word play that boasts intellectuality. Lines like “Made the bed rock/ Felt like a Flinstone,” are so smart and is something you don’t hear a lot of rappers do. Where everyone else is saying the same thing and turning the same phrases, Kelly has found a way to stay in the conversation but saying it differently. This is reminiscent of my favorite hip hop artist, Childish Gambino, and his first album Camp. He does this throughout the album, but the song most relative to “Shake Some” would have to be “Heartbeat.” Both songs almost boast a dismissiveness in their interest for lust, rather than love.
Final Thoughts
Though there are some songs in Da Twin Prince’s catalog that compare, this is my absolute favorite. The production quality is top notch and Kelly has given a performance that is just as impressive as anything you would hear in mainstream hip hop today. One recurring issue I have with many independent rap artists is many of them are talented but they are stuck in a certain point in time and they stay there. This makes it hard for artists to stay relevant as Hip Hop is as adaptive of an art form as anything else in the world. You have to be tuned in to what is happening and when it’s happening. Even in it’s nostalgia, it evolves and adapts with the cultural, social, and environmental systems in which it is being produced.
Kelly understands this in a way that makes me think he has a real chance of one day becoming a breakthrough artist.
Make sure to follow along with Da Twin Prince and his continued journey to excellence. “Shake Some” is available to stream on all major streaming platforms.
Also, check out the “Shake Some” Jersey Mix that is scheduled to drop on Friday, 7/26. More info can be found on Da Twin Prince’s Instagram Bio.
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