It’s safe to say that Sham1016 is ready to arrive onto the big scene. It’s not just a feeling or emotion for the South Central artist, it’s something he already has mapped out. He’s been making music for some years, enough time for him to understand the direction he wants to take. If you ask Sham106, if was all just trial and error to understand he wanted this as a professional career. “I was doing everything I could to survive on the day to day, trying to figure it out. I was doing graphic design… selling clothes and shoes, being a fucking mailman, training people in boxing, moving a little work (I learned quick I wasn’t a good drug dealer, mane.)”
His long-term goals stretch everywhere from writing with Jermaine Dupri to establishing a music program for kids in a juvenile system, to beating Chris Brown in a dance battle. But it’s his short-term goals where you really understand his tunnel vision towards breaking out.
“Get a distribution deal and an investor, [along with] song placements and syncs… Get the right eyes on the music and the movement by getting on these different media platforms. [Also], get on a national tour with a bigger artist.”
Out of all his short-team goals, the last one may explain all of his planning: breaking out the West. “I want to be able to sell out shows nationally and internationally. I love the city but I want to be bigger than the city and the West Coast region.”
Sounds like a lot to achieve, but not for Sham106. For anyone that listens to him, what immediately sticks out is his sound. His songs have this balance between his hometown sound coming together with his versatile voice and songwriting. The music bleeds West Coast bounce a lot of times, but it hints at being ready for something more mainstream. A prime example is his latest single “Hurt Yourself”, a moody jam that ‘s perfect for the late-night drive. You can hear his ability to switch lanes and making it sound good coming with ease.
A lot of his versatility comes from his experience going to school in different neighborhoods growing up. “Being from South Central, you grow up quick and see a lot of shit [that] your peers from other backgrounds don’t. I was getting bussed from Vernon and Vermont to Brentwood and Palisades to school. Seeing those changes in dynamics was crazy and it really helped a lot… It allowed me to be able to talk to anybody from any background.”
No matter how far his eyes or his ears go, his attachment to where he’s from is what keeps him grounded. Even when being exposed to different surroundings coming up, he always knew he couldn’t let go of home. That’s really how balance all works out within his music. “My world became more open going to these schools. But still coming home to the section and seeing the shit I seen or have to deal with comes with being from where I’m from. That bleeds into the music because I’m versatile and no matter what, it comes from an authentic place.”
Fast forward and the sky is now the limit for Sham1016. He’s getting ready to open his first juicery this year with his own merchandise. Even sooner, he’s about to deliver another taste of his artistry to the world with his forthcoming project, Foul Play. If the single “Hurt Yourself” is a hint, it’s definitely one for the more introspective turn he says he plans his project to have. “It’s dark, moody but still full of shit talking, player shit… a lot of bitter n***a, Jagged Edge vibes.”
As the project is slated to drop next week, definitely keep Sham1016 on your list of artists to check out — and keep streaming “Hurt Yourself,” out now.
