Chase Shakur

Chase Shakur's vision is both light and endlessly ambitious. To put it plainly: The Atlanta-born artist wants to change the sound of R&B. In his new project, "It's not you, it's me," the talented singer-songwriter transcends genre meanings and creates a unique world. Equipped with a deep understanding of Southern music history - hip-hop, funk, soul, pop and R&B - Shakur synthesizes these disparate elements into a forward-thinking sound deeply rooted in black culture. The new project is an extension of his of critically acclaimed 2022 release "It'll Be Fine" and a fascinating meditation on life after a toxic relationship. On "It's Not You, It's Me," vulnerability mixes with hardened scars to create a work that portrays Shakur as steely and ready to learn from his own mistakes. After deciding to devote himself entirely to music and dropping out of school, Shakur was forbidden to live in his childhood home. He engaged in couchsurfing and spent days in different studios, resting between them. This era helped him collaborate with other producers and songwriters, of some of whom later appeared in his collective Forever N September, a group of of musicians who helped create the sound of "It's not you, it's me." The resulting project feels diary-like and transcendent. "It's not you, it's me" is a reflection of Chase Shakur's career to date, particularly his mental strength and ability to keep pushing forward in pursuit of this one goal: changing the shape of music.