Shane Eli - The Push

looking forward to this mix tape. ill rate after a few play through's

And the crazy part about this? It's only the beginning for Shane. Dope.

Wow! I think this will be on my ipod for a LONG time. I was already hyped for this album to drop considering the singles that were release on DJ Booth, but after having listened to the album in its entirety, the tracks I hadnt heard before are just as dope.

Shane has to be one of the most versatile and talented new artists thats come out in the last few years. The fact that he wrote/produced/recorded the entire album in his bedroom makes this even more insane.
Can we get this man signed already or what?!

this entire album is phenomenal from the beginning to the end! i really respect his work. this is my first time ever hearing this man & i can tell he has TRUE talent. I am now a fan =)

dropping a day after drake's, this album has great potential.. i'm loving the versatility of it. great work Shane. looks like you're here to stay. (:

Respect the hustle, cuz the dude is going places!

Outstanding debut album by an artist with a unique voice - and something original to say. The range of tracks shows Shane's versatility both as an artist and producer. Looking forward to great things to come for Shane Eli.

It's about time Shane! Well done.

Absolute fire! I love this album. Production is dope as well. Doin it big, big guy. Can't wait for more!

You know, after all the single releases, I was praying for the best that the singles weren't the best of the best on the album, thus the reason for making them the singles. I now see that the whole album is so consistent, if thats even possible for Shane, it's great music all around, glad to say I'll be having a signed copy of this future hip hop heavyweight.

Sick!..Ill beats on "Push" and the lyrics compliment it nicely

I wanted to wait until I could sit down and listen to the whole album before I made any comments.

Wow, this thing album is FIRE, the production throughout the whole thing is absolutely incredible it's nuts to think Shane did all this out of his apartment the production on this album is some of the best I've ever heard on ANYTHING, and Shane is no slouch as an emcee.

This is a great album I'll be listening and telling others to listen for a long time to come.

My favourite tracks are

Grey Area
Push
Happiest Regret

Shane is a great up and coming versatile artist and his production capablities are top notch.

Good job Shane, you should be proud of yourself, great album.

"The Push" is one of those multi-emotion albums, which are perfect for listening in a range of situations, suiting whatever your needs. The flow refuses to stay steady, and Shane Eli adjusts his flow impeccably to match the hills and valleys. He can can do the slowed-down mellow beats, but also has a penchant for rocking out with up-tempo, slightly erratic instrumentals that a lot of rappers would stumble over. This type of flow is seen through­out the record wonderfully, but most tracks don’t jump large tempos or keys away from each other to cause the listening to become jagged from one song to the next. Instead, the entire album progresses in style and maintains a sense of direction and an identity. He did it all by himself! Both the production and content are worthy of high recognition; a job well done.

Right off the bat, Eli come extra phat with the "I'm a Winner". The beat kicks in so hard, you need to hold the loudspeakers down as the drums are a healthy dose of attitude in the presence of organ. More of this braggadocios rhetoric can be heard on "Knuckle Up", where Shane jabs left and right and drops dope lines over a dirty bassline accompanying banging beat that stamps the song with the seal of hotness to emerge as one of the most take-notice cut on the record.

"Dear Music" is a soulful and uplifting number about Shane's message and music. He gets preachy for a line or two, but overall presents himself well.

"Grey Area" offers a heady backdrop of a sharp, bouncy piano keys and Shane dropping in some suitably emotive lyrics into the mix. It's a simple arrangement, with good use of repeating piano and drums backing the vocals, but its executed nicely. The lyrical delivery is steady, and each phrase seems tuned and well-thought, focus is on the vocals, with a background to get you moving, or, in this reflective case, moved. This is definitely one of the best tracks on the album.

"We Mean Business" is one of the most hard-hitting tracks on the project, a blast of energy driven by vintage guitar slashes and layered clicky snares. The lyrics are self-indulgent and arrogant which suit the backing to a tee. He unveils his personality pretty strongly here, as he is responsible for programming beats, lyrics, and the hooks. His music depicts a talented man, determined to rise above everyone through fearless self-promotion and tireless craftsmanship. The flow is tight and sharp as a butcher's knife. It's pretty intense, but not overwhelming. Hands down, my favorite song on the album.

At the same time, Shane Eli shows he has as much precision behind the boards as he does behind the mic. The music transcends genre, building an edifice with elements of rock, soul, electronic synths and RnB without really leaning towards any of them, sometimes laid-back, sometimes husky, but often proclamatory. Shane Eli brings a diverse set of skills to his beat-making craft, dabbled in a wide array of sounds to back his raps, with a pretty solid rate of success. The other thing that catches your attention with album are the drums, as it contains live-sounding patterns, that sound more man than machine. An element that you don't hear very often. For an independent album, "The Push" has a very rich, full sound; these beats were definitely not hastily made on a crappy keyboard. Every note, range is clear, clean cut, and it does not lose any emotion off Shane Eli's lyrics with those musical notes.

The calm production on the "Poor Me" gives weight to Shane's narrative abilities. And as the track progress Eli's narrative ability begins to grip, it's gritty, intellectual, honest, and just brilliant. Its music devoid of delusions of grandeur - just stripped to its raw essence, it couldn’t have been executed any better. The production is simply perfect for the affecting soliloquy that is "Poor Me".

On "I'm Different", Shane Eli chooses the route of the synthesizers and more club-ready computerized sound. It's not particularly 'different' but album as a whole benefits because of that change in style. In "Baby You're The One", (where a lady, actually ladies are the center of attention) a rhythmic, radio friendly effort, joining the "I'm Different" that will raise the artist's profile. These song topics and execution are not original, but it is by no means cringe-inducing and are quite enjoyable especially when played out loud. Accessible and rather smart style choices.

"Haters", where Shane at it destroying/brushing-off competition/haters one chunky riff at a time. This may not push the envelope in completely new ways or step into extremely technical territory, but it IS a "it succeeds in its purpose" record.

When the going gets rough, one is often told to “roll with the punches” in order to surmount this adversity. When relaying a similar message in “Push”, Shane Eli opt for a direct approach that calls for one to fight through hard times as — you guessed it — keep pushing.

Technical lyrical writing is on point. Shane Eli's words are spare, well chosen and effective. Shane Eli doesn't overdo it with punchlines, but doesn't underwhelm by being too simplistic either. And it fits in well with the the themes that run through the album, the struggle and the determination to persevere through trying times to make it in the music industry. He is a charismatic, struggling MC: at times brutal but uplifting, cocky yet broken. His lyrics burn with a desire to be the best, and he cares so much and pushes so hard that he sometimes spins out of control - teetering on the edge of egocentrism that's as noticeable as blobs of ink on blotting paper. Though in my opinion that is one of the very building blocks of hip hop itself. Though Shane’s rhymes are a bit direct on few tracks, they remain proficient in projecting genuine emotion and he does execute his rhymes over production that is consistently dope.

Though the above mentioned missteps are minor, the particular one which inhibit the record from being perfect; are the hooks which fail to charm or stick with the audience as much as the verses or backdrops. The largest complaint to be leveled at them are the way that most of the hooks are far too wordy and not particularly interesting word selections. On occasion, one can't help but feel that a hook could be a little bit sharper or the wording he puts out just come across awkward (See: "Push"). But those too are wrinkles that I'm confident the artist will iron out as time goes on.

With "Happiest Regret", as Shane illustrates how he is helpless when seeking out love, even knowing fully well the grim consequences. The topic in itself is interesting, but the composition of the song is what makes it one of the highlights of the record as Kamilah Gibson (the sole feature on album) gives quite the hearty vocal performance.

Right from the off, "Swing Low", inner searching and trundling riffs sets out a recipe for a broth of rhythm and honesty. His manner switches swiftly from one of determination, to confusion, then he gives in to worrisome, making a striking impact. A dose of brooding self-delving is espoused, but it is done in such a deft mood-building way (and the chorus proves to be one of the album’s better sing-alongs) that it doesn't come across as too self-indulgent. One of my clear favorites on the album.

"I Wonder" is just one great example of the openness of Shane's lyrics. Possessing a yearning backdrop to aid the reflective nature of the material and the low-key, yet confident vocal display from Eli. Uncertainity and a hint of desperation is well-threaded in the lyrics with drive to succeed, the guy come across as endearing and believable.

Here's to hoping he eventually finds what he's looking for, as proclaimed by the album's closer "Departure", there is still progress to be made but suggests he'd be on board for better or worse. The ending gives a message of hope and promise, and with the quality demonstrated on this accomplished debut it's safe to say that the hip-hop can add the name Shane Eli to a growing list of genuinely talented artists.

Shane’s skills on the mic never pose a question, but his ability to pen memorable hooks does. Both “Taste of What's To Come” and “Haters” show Shane Eli’s deficiency for writing hooks as potent as his verses. And the delivery on "I'm Different" does not lend itself to a very enticing hook. Not every track is hurt by this, it just depends on the song. All of the remaining joints make a positive impression with semi-catchy hooks. Anyway, a weak chorus here and a less-than-great beat there won’t stop him from eventually becoming the new big men on campus. And then Shane Eli is still growing as an artist so missteps are to be expected, but with better hook-writing, improved musicianship and an amplified focus on melodic sensibilities in future, he would actually give his craftsmanship a big boost.

Overall, save for a few soft spots, he is pushing all the right buttons and "The Push" feels like an honest project where the artist gets to say what he wants to say and gets to play what he wants to play. This northern native has a level of talent and heart that exceeds most, and while this current collection of 15 joints have turned their final page, we can only expect further excellence to follow in their wake. If he get more comfortable in this medium and continue to sharpen already apparent skills, it would be hard for everyone not to bump his music, with or without a major label push. 4.25/5

My Top Picks:

1. We Mean Business
2. Swing Low
3. Happiest Regret
4. Poor Me
5. I'm A Winner
6. Grey Area
7. I Wonder

Lovin' the album

Just got the physical copy sent to my house yesterday. He deserves every 5-star rating on here, hopefully we see the same result as K.R.I.T's mixtape and Eli gets a deal very soon.

My fav tracks:

1.Grey Area

-Daylight-

2.Happiest Regret
3.Knuckle Up
4.Haters
5.Push
6.I'm a Winner

Well done Shane!

Nice analysis there Mr.Top Hat! I must say I've been playing this album alot lately, although besides 'Dear Music' not working :( This album is an absolute, winner. All the songs are fairly different in there own way and Shane knows how to mix up his flows as well. Very enjoyable listen. Musically and lyrically. Top 5;

1. Grey Area
2. Poor Me
3. Push
4. Im A Winner
5. I Wonder

Not trying to be bias because i got mad respect for Shane but mixtape is genius. Anyone that can produce n spit lyrical flames gets the certified approval. My fav is Knuckle Up but thats only because I can't pick between the rest but its concrete work and he kills that sht. Please dont get caught in the boardroom web when you get signed Shane but its been about time for you to combust...recognize supernova people

I’ve been listening to “The Push” pretty non-stop. In my house, headphones, car… I worked at this little Manhattan spot years back. Five nights a week for four years I caught three bands or solo musicians each night. The stage was often graced by Jeff Buckley, Ben Harper, and way too many other folks of note to mention. I also ran weekly underground trip hop parties and worked with some of the biggest names in entertainment law and management. In LA I’m surrounded by musicians, DJ’s and hip hop artists. I've seen innumerable artists over the years from every genre. It doesn’t happen often, but every once in a while, someone comes along who truly shines. Shane Eli is one of those rare finds.

He single handedly created “The Push”. And as Rapper/Producer/Singer/Lyricist he delivers as each. I’m pretty much blown away by the production. He moves from dope beats to piano ballads seamlessly. His lyrics are heartfelt and thought provoking.
And as rapper/singer he is honest and passionate and inspiring.

This is only the beginning for the versatile Shane Eli. He’s a true artist who delivers in every way.

Hot! Tight lyrics, beats, production, mix!

Shane Eli, hands down one of the greatest I've heard in a while. The album was really well done. The fact that he produced and wrote the entire album himself only helps the fact. He's got a sound that's all his own and the swag of a great lyricist. "Taste Of What's To Come" , "Happiest Regret", and "Dear Music" are MUST listen to's. Loved the album.

This is a phenomenal album. Very heartfelt lyrics, nice original production. This kid is going places.

feeling this!