Pink Jagg went deeper into the archives of old-school sample culture for their hypnotically stylised hip-hop single, Shotgun. Built around the brotherly creative partnership of Austin and Jagger Spacy, the project lets Jagg take vocal lead while Austin shapes production that challenges rap’s usual contours with a shadow-glazed, cinematic appetite.
From the intro, Shotgun unravels like a scene from a seduction-swathed espionage film from the golden age of Hollywood, all smoky brass crying out into the atmosphere only a deliciously arranged production can deliver. There is a darkness to Shotgun, one that comes without novelty macabre theatrics; it feels closer to a mind more comfortable in shadow than light.
As the single progresses, it moves further away from old-school hip-hop completely, slipping into a contemporary frame as the cadence of the rap bars sharpens and desire reaches fever pitch. Pink Jagg’s charisma carries a shadowy sense of sex appeal, exhibiting Jagger as a hip-hop heartthrob with poet-at-heart bars that reward repeat listens.
The way the duo wrap soul, RnB, jazzy old-school hip-hop and contemporary rap around one silk-lined threat is enough to spark an unhealthy level of obsession. After DONTFEELBADFORME, Pt. 1 surpassed one million streams with its trip-hoppy leftfield attack on rap monotony, Shotgun is set to fire Pink Jagg onto an even more mainstream map.
Shotgun is now available on all major streaming platforms, including Spotify.
Review by Amelia Vandergast