Features : $haggy from da Dale Elevates Hip-hop through Storytelling

Introspective artist Shaquiel Platts is reimagining hip-hop with authentic storytelling in his latest album, “Family Tides II.” The artist is driven to create music that tells a true story—his story—and helps listeners write their own stories.

$haggy from da Dale’s musical journey began three years ago as an outlet for overcoming a traumatic situation. The artist, in active military duty, has devoted his life to his country and is now—alongside public service—developing his passion for music. Music is “literally what saved my life in general,” says the artist. “Normally, if you plug into my music you’ll hear the stages of growth—what I’m going through in the present moment,” confesses $haggy from da Dale.

For $haggy from da Dale, music is about following his purpose. “I’m a soul-type rapper,” says the artist, “Down to earth and still lit at the same time. My inspiration is the pain I went through. The whole Army experience—friends lost and things of that nature. I want to share my personal experience in life with people who will relate to it.”

When citing his inspiration, $haggy from da Dale doesn’t turn to his favorite artists because he doesn’t find inspiration from them. That’s not to say he doesn’t love a good performer and lyricist like Naz, but “I don’t know anyone who raps like I rap and still portrays what I need to portray.”

He is a self-taught artist—a rare breed in the days of easily accessible online beats. Instead of downloading whatever is available in the digital realm, $haggy from da Dale chooses to create his own sound. Learning Garage Band began as a distraction and transformed into the greatest form of release—creating music true to his soul. While learning the craft, the artist wasn’t concerned about adopting a textbook approach to digital music—“It can’t be wrong if it sounds good” after all.

His next album, which drops in May, continues the saga of $haggy from da Dale’s life experiences. The artist’s ultimate goal is to connect all of his albums through a storyline. The “art of wordplay” fuels the artist’s lyrical storytelling.

Many of $haggy from da Dale’s tracks—from his 2021 album, Ror$chach—begin with a spoken intro woven into a lyrical storyline. From softer tones to strong lyrics, $haggy from Da Dale hits home with lines like “People change like seasons” off the track “Roar$haQ,” and “I don’t complain about my life, I just adapt to it,” from “Who I Became.” The artist blends a robust variety of beats with an overall theme and captivating female voice.

The featured female vocalist is his best friend who helps him focus on the music and craftsmanship of it all. Working out of a home studio, the artist creates his unique sound within the comfort of home—an often necessary process for the artist, who suffers from PTSD. “Coming from deployment, I’d get depressed, and music helped me. It was an outlet."

In his upcoming album, get ready for a fusion of sound resembling his previous work yet fresh and thoughtful. With lines like “My weapon is my own pen. God of my own war. Pensiding flow so deeper than the ocean,” we are in for a musical journey unlike any we’ve seen before.

$haggy from da Dale wants the world to know that music is life. “I make my music on no sleep at all—I’m that passionate about it. It can be 2am and I have to be up at 4am but I’m in the studio making music.” With a passion that strong, it is undoubtable that the artist will achieve great feats in his career.

To listen to the artist’s latest work, be sure to follow the links below:

“Family Tides II” out May 18^th

Previous music:

https://linktr.ee/Shaggy4rmdD

Social Media link:

Instgram - @shaggyfdd_803

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