Avg Rating: 
4.3 ( 25 total votes )
Shane Eli - When We Were Kings
Producer: Shane Eli
Album: I Can Do Better
Label: Unsigned
If the dictionary were to inexplicably start using pictures of rappers to illustrate abstract nouns, then you’d see Shane Eli‘s face sitting right next to the definition of “vision.” While we’ve received hints of the scale of the L.A. native’s ambitions in the sheer variety of his previous features, nowhere has it been so clear as on his latest effort. Making its world premiere in the Booth, When We Were Kings finds the freestyle series alum speaking in the tradition of African-American luminaries from Pac and Hova to Muhammad Ali and Geoffrey Canada (who appear in sampled interviews, adorned with authentic cuts by DJ Critical Hype). Delivered over a self-produced, chopped-sample instrumental reminiscent of a soulful RZA beat, Eli comes with some of his most thought-provoking rhymes yet, launching a bitter (but constructive) attack against the status quo: “Free market business got the most packed prisons, torn down systems two teachers to a district, and the kids can’t read ‘cause their textbooks are missing.” If you’re digging this bracing, insightful cut, you can find Kings and much more on Shane Eli’s Booth-sponsored I Can Do Better LP, coming in March.
Listen to More: Shane Eli Music Videos, Street, Premiere, Westcoast
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Member Reviews and Ratings
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DJ Booth Crew  Total Ratings: 8792 |
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 Nathan, I am sure, will love this analogy. Shane is like Rajon Rondo of the C's. He just keeps getting better and better as time goes on. Its easy to forget he also produced most of his own work, but one listen to his consistency and its easy to remember.
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| Posted on Feb 24, 2011 |
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| Posted on Feb 24, 2011 |
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DJ Booth Member  Total Ratings: 70 |
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I can't even front. This is one of the best songs I've heard in years. This is what hip hop is supposed to sound like. I feel like Eli always has amazing production, but the lyrics and delivery here are superb, and you can hear the emotion behind every line. "Dad never seen him, but his semen gave birth to a king now meet him" WOW.
I'm gonna be hitting repeat over and over. ThanksDj Booth. |
| Posted on Feb 24, 2011 |
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DJ Booth Member  Total Ratings: 508 |
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Arrangement is on point. This track may be too big for Eli though- he should have hit up NAS !
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| Posted on Feb 24, 2011 |
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DJ Booth Crew  Total Ratings: 2480 |
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I've heard Shane make good hip-hop, I've heard him make dope hip-hop, but this is the first time I've heard him make classic hip-hop.
Straight up, there aren't many who could both produce and rap this well on a track, f**king dopeness. (And y'all know I only swear when I really mean it.) Oh, and Z, totally agree with the Rondo analogy. A few years ago you could tell Rondo wasn't quite comfortable in the spotlight, but now he owns his place as one of hip-hop's elite.
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| Posted on Feb 24, 2011 |
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Never heard of this man before but now he's on my radar. Very dope track.
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| Posted on Feb 25, 2011 |
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| Posted on Feb 25, 2011 |
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Resident DJ  Total Ratings: 2303 |
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I'm going to have this on repeat for a long time, Shane Eli, man I can not wait for the new LP!!
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| Posted on Feb 25, 2011 |
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A profound track. The last line gave me chills.
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| Posted on Feb 25, 2011 |
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| Posted on Feb 25, 2011 |
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DJ Booth Member  Total Ratings: 20 |
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110% CLASSIC
Shane's growth has been astronomical. As a fan since the Push, the versatility in his music is unmatched out there right now. *Applause* |
| Posted on Feb 25, 2011 |
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DJ Booth Member  Total Ratings: 38 |
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Very solid. Raw vocals perfectly accompanied by the slimmed down beat
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| Posted on Feb 25, 2011 |
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| Posted on Feb 25, 2011 |
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Resident DJ  Total Ratings: 676 |
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Have to agree with Sunbear, Nas would of killed it from word go....but Shane kept his own, this is what u'll call classic hip hop.....i like
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| Posted on Feb 26, 2011 |
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| Posted on Feb 26, 2011 |
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#realhiphop wow.
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| Posted on Feb 27, 2011 |
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NIce Track
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| Posted on Feb 27, 2011 |
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He's so good!
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| Posted on Feb 27, 2011 |
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| Posted on Feb 27, 2011 |
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This man keeps getting better and better. When most of the music out today is about poppin bottle in the club, it's really refreshing that Eli is not afraid to discuss something meaningful and do it over such a hard hitting beat.
Applause. |
| Posted on Feb 28, 2011 |
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DJ Booth Member  Total Ratings: 4 |
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Dope!
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| Posted on Feb 28, 2011 |
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DJ Booth Member  Total Ratings: 50 |
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Wat!! Hottest song I've heard from him
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| Posted on Mar 01, 2011 |
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dope track, the beat and vocals are raw. lyrics are on point and the flows sick. love the samples to. keep the real stuff comin, the game needs it.
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| Posted on Mar 03, 2011 |
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can't wait for the mixtape to drop
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| Posted on Mar 04, 2011 |
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Shane Eli is killing it and he produced a fire beat. He is like the unsigned J. Cole. But with a different angle from their flow. He is a little bit more conscious.
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| Posted on Mar 30, 2011 |
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so what's the RZA beat he used?? can't put a finger on it
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| Posted on May 16, 2011 |
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DJ Booth Crew  Total Ratings: 4028 |
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Damn, how did I miss this one yesterday?!? Shane Eli is in one word.... Talented... Good work on the production and on the mic. BANGER Music...
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| Posted on Feb 22, 2012 |
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DJ Booth Member Total Ratings: 47 |
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Oh damn i don't know who came out with the tune, or it's my it's my ignorance to this underground world but it sound just like honors english - the name is, dispite the similarities this one's not bad at all. I'd say the samethings to "the name is" if i had heard it before "when we were kings "
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| Posted on Feb 22, 2012 |
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