Wednesday September 22, 2021
IamSnap, born Shannon Obrien in Brisbane, Australia, is quite the all-rounder: a songwriter, rapper, actor, and producer who’s been in the industry for twenty years but only recently started surfacing—when he became the only Australian Independent Rap artist to chart to Billboard multiple times in 2021 and top 10 iTunes in numerous countries.
Freezin is a rap pop blend with a decent chorus hook and lyric; IamSnap does not mince words: ‘I’m losin track of the times that we fight / Back n a forthin who’s wrong n who’s right / How bout we just split up and just call it a night?’ I guess that’s a question often explored by warring partners.
Dissolve the partnership or endure it? It seems IamSnap is leaning towards the former, as the lyric goes on to reveal: ‘We have been at it for so long / We have just got it like so wrong / We have got nothin to hold on / I think it’s better to move on.’ The central melody is as effective as it is slightly mournful—we are, after all, talking about the trials and tribulations of a troubled relationship that may or may not survive, the choice of notes and chords aptly reflecting this. IamSnap’s writing and assured performance imbue the track with a rippling potency, the conflict on display in the narrative directly and efficiently communicated.
The track also sounds up to the minute contemporary—the 808’s here, the machine beat programming, the barebones instrumentation—and was mixed and mastered by world-renowned producer Zak Baney (Afrika Bambaataa, Ladytron). With several Billboard and Top 10 U.S iTunes Chart impacts to his credit, IamSnap has also written songs for countless artists, including Honey Shazad (Britain’s Got Talent), Noah Fonoti (X-Factor) and Chris Sheehy (The Voice Australia).
He’s also toured extensively and shared the stage with such rap luminaries as Grammy Award winners Bone Thugs-N-Harmony and worked with Krayzie Bone, Layzie Bone, Swifty McVay (D12), B.G. Knoccout and Dr Dre’s son Curtis Young. Freezin will undoubtedly repeat the success of some of IamSnap’s previous releases.
