The Filipino rapper-producer
maintains his appetite for culture-defining sounds, Caribbean-infused beats,
and hypnotic lyrics on this new bop under Sony Music Entertainment
Filipino rapper-producer Zelijah hits a
sweet spot between peak-club trendiness and experimentation on his new single “Show U”—out today via Sony Music
Entertainment.
The release of the song comes with a music video helmed by Leo Malli.
According to the director, the MV explores the perspective of different people
in a party, capturing both the messiness, the fun, and the quirks that go
behind it.
“I made sure we took real pieces of what Zelijah has seen throughout his life,” Malli says. “Just that it’s all happening in one night. The night we shot the MV, we were also holding his birthday and listening party, so this was a real party happening. It’s more organic that way.”
Punctuated by tropical house beats,
Jamaican rhythms and exotic flavors, Zelijah’s latest bop pivots to the sound
of summer while maintaining an extensive appetite for the next big thing. While
the track maintains a slick, modern production and hypnotic sonic motif that
puts multiculturalism on display, the songwriting complements the material with
a youthful appeal. This was in contrast to his previous releases, which were inspired
by extreme emotions such as anger and hatred.
"Show U is an attempt of
combining hip hop with nostalgic genres from the 2000s like Y2K Pop, Dancehall,
Reggaton, and a bit of rumba,” shares the young multi-hyphenate. “It's also
spiced with a bit of Tiktok-ish elements by pitching up the formants of vocals
and topping it with a classic drum n’ bass rhythm. And yes, I did produce the
whole thing.”
According to Zelijah, the song was
particularly written about a mysterious, strong woman that he met in the club.
He points out, “Here I expressed how tired she must be with everything she's
been through life especially with her past relationships yet she still appears
to be strong and confident. Despite the odds, I still tried to shoot my shot.”
Zelijah also emphasized that “Show U”
marks his transition as an artist comfortable with getting in touch to his
emotional and soft side, yet balancing it with mystery and spice. His recent
breakup enabled him to rebuild himself and try a different path, lyrically and sonically
speaking.
“I've been going outside more often too
so most of the songs I'll be putting out starting from Show U would most
likely be experiences from the outside world,” says the eclectic multi-genre
act. “And I also thought hey maybe I could turn those moments into songs and
that made me come up with my upcoming album.”
Zelijah’s “Show U” is out now on all digital music platforms worldwide via Sony Music Entertainment. Watch the music video here.
About Sony Music Entertainment
At Sony Music Entertainment, we honor the creative journey. Our creators
shape movements, culture, communities, even history. And we’ve played a
pioneering role in music history, from establishing the first-ever music label
to inventing the flat disc record. We’ve nurtured some of music’s most iconic
artists and produced some of the most influential recordings of all time.
Today, we work in more than 100 countries, supporting a diverse and distinctive
roster of talented creators at every level and on every stage. Situated at the
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