Popular YouTuber Trap Geek is back with a look at who he calls the artist his viewers request most, Pooh Shiesty. The budding Tennessee rapper released his debut commercial mixtape, Shiesty Season, on February 5, 2021, with the Lil Durk-assisted single, “Back In Blood,” leading the charge. Shiesty Season peaked at number three on the US Billboard 200.
An Intense and Inimitable Presence
Emerging from the competitive Memphis scene, Shiesty pops off with an intense and inimitable presence. The Memphis rapper snakes through airy beats with a venomous bite and slick melodies. Racking up millions of streams and views independently, he strikes at the most unexpected moments on a series of 2020 singles and his debut for Gucci Mane’s 1017 and Atlantic Records.
“You never know what I’m going to say next,” he exclaims.
“Everybody has their own path. I just made the best of what I had. I’m unpredictable and unexpected.”
Hip-hop instantly spoke to him as a kid. His father founded the Memphis-based Mob Ties Records and rapped under the name Mob Boss. In addition to listening to the likes of Lil Wayne, Meek Mill, Gucci Mane, and Kodak Black, he spent countless hours watching his dad in the studio. In school, Pooh exuded a magnetic charisma, drawing a crowd to him at all times. Simultaneously, trouble consistently found him.
Nevertheless, music served as a refuge. Launching the Choppa Gang crew, he perfected his wordplay by taking any opportunity to freestyle either in the lunchroom, in his neighborhood, or online.
Leaving Memphis for two years, he resided in Pflugerville, TX with his mom and learned how to adapt to new circumstances and surroundings. Upon returning to Memphis, he put his head down, attended summer school and online classes in order to graduate high school, and focused on music at 18-years-old.
“My dad didn’t expect me to rap, but when I did, he helped me,” he says.
“He taught me how to put my pain into what I’m doing.”
Choppa Talk
That’s exactly what Pooh did. After showing out on tracks like “Breakin News,” the Big30-assisted “Hell Night,” and the Big30-assisted “Choppa Talk,” he incited buzz with “Shiesty Summer” during 2019.
Right out of the gate, it posted up 321K Spotify streams and 1.5 million views–currently sitting at over 434K Spotify streams. Meanwhile, Shiesty’s latest single “Neighbors” recently passed 10 million Spotify streams, while “7.62 God” is closing in on the same milestone.
As his audience grew, hip-hop legend Gucci Mane sent him a direct message on Instagram on April, 10, 2020. Shortly after, the icon offered him a deal.
“I was cooling at the house, and I got a text,” he recalls.
“Gucci was like, ‘I’m listening to your stuff. You’re hard. Are you signed?’ I told him I was by myself and sent him my number. We locked in from there. It’s the perfect situation. Gucci understood it. It worked all around the board.”
Shiesty’s latest release is a guest appearance on the new Big Scarr project, Big Grim Reaper. “SoIcyBoyz 3” also features Gucci Mane, Foogiano, and Tay Keith. You can find it on Spotify and other outlets, or you can check it out below.
You can follow @PoohShiesty on Instagram.
