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“11 Songs About Various Kinds of Shots” features music courtesy of Ella Mai, George Ezra, Hunter Hayes, and Post Malone among others.

“I’m not throwing away my shot! I’m not throwing away my shot! / Hey yo, I’m just like my country / I’m young, scrappy, and hungry.” Ah, those memorable lyrics appear on “My Shot,” one of many highlights from the Hamilton Original Broadway Cast Recording.  “My Shot” is just an example of a number of songs that reference ‘shots’ in various contexts. Since The Musical Hype seems to have the ability to make a playlist out of just about anything, “11 Songs About Various Kinds of Shots” features music courtesy of Ella Mai, George Ezra, Hunter Hayes, and Post Malone among others.

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1. Ella Mai, “Shot Clock”

Ella Mai • 10 Summers / Interscope • 2018

Context: basketball, love

When a young, promising artist like British singer Ella Mai comes around, there’s definitely hope for R&B, a genre that has cooled off tremendously over the years. On her self-titled debut album, Mai shines like a beacon, including the record at hand, “Shot Clock.” On “Shot Clock,” Mai does wonders with a basketball reference, not to mention awesome production by DJ Mustard.  Notably, “Shot Clock” samples the Drake song, “Legend” (from If You’re Reading This, It’s Too Late). The pre-chorus is superb:

“When that n***a pull up on me, tell that n***a back, back

Don’t you know all of these n***as wish that they could bag that?

I’m just saying, boy, you’re playing, you’re gon’ let it wind down

You got 24 seconds and it’s starting right now.”

It’s also worth noting, prior to “Shot Clock,” that Mai sings another ‘shot’ song, “Cheap Shot.”  What goes down on “Cheap Shot?” Mai’s man makes her do things she usually doesn’t do.  Naturally, the wordplay with “shot” is intriguing (alcohol, and how he influences her).

2. Nas, “Cops Shot the Kids”

Ft. Kanye West

Nasir • Mass Appeal / Def Jam • 2018

Context: Policing issues, racial injustice

Keeping it 100, many felt the new, 2018 Nas album, Nasir, to be weak… Even so, the Grammy-nominated rapper managed to muster up a respect joint with “Cops Shot the Kids,” even if the record sounds more in the lane of his collaborating producer and featured guest, Kanye West.  “Cops Shot the Kid” samples Richard Pryor and Slick Rick.  Pryor sets the tone with an intro discussing the cops, while the Slick Rick loop fuels the fire throughout the rest of the song.  Naturally, Nas plays off of this, focusing on black injustice.  West is featured on the second verse, continuing to illustrate racially sensitive issues.

3. Post Malone, “Takin’ Shots”

Beerbongs & Bentleys • Republic • 2018

Context: alcohol, partying 

“Drinkin’ all night, but we ain’t done yet / Waitin’ on the plug, but he ain’t come yet / Still need somethin’? Put your bank on it / Got a big bag with a Bape on it.” Okay… Anyways, in the context of his ultra-successful sophomore album Beerbongs & Bentleys, “Zack and Codeine” precedes our record at hand, “Takin’ Shots.” On “Zack and Codeine,” Post Malone flexes hard, bragging about a carefree, luxurious life that includes the excess of alcohol, lean, and heavy partying. What better way to follow up shallowness with even more shallowness? That’s where “Takin’ Shots,” yet another record about excess, comes into play. Like “Zack and Codeine,” Post Malone keeps things melodic, though notably, “Takin’ Shots” lightens up on the autotune, while the lines are carrying a quicker rhythm.  The aforementioned chorus continues on:

“…Party ain’t over if they say somethin’

No sleep ‘til I’ve seen three suns

Party gon’ end with a threesome

Raw dog, prolly have three sons

Chasin’ the perc with some Buddy, that shit never lets me down

They go to work for some money, we make it from actin’ out

Grrrrrah, we takin’ shots right now

Grrrrrah, yeah, we takin’ shots right now.”

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4. George Ezra, “Shotgun”

Staying at Tamara’s • Columbia • 2018

Context: riding shotgun

“Home grown alligator, see you later / Gotta hit the road, gotta hit the road.” If you’re looking for a big, heavy message from British singer/songwriter George Ezra on the record “Shotgun,” you just might be a bit disappointed.  “Shotgun” is a terrific record that keeps the momentum of his sophomore album, Staying at Tamara’s, going strong. As it is throughout much of the album, jubilance is key for Ezra, as he literally sings about “riding shotgun.” The tropical influences are among the song’s biggest selling points. The chorus is ‘right up there’ as well.

“I’ll be ridin’ shotgun underneath the hot sun / Feelin’ like a someone.”

5. Hunter Hayes, “One Shot”

One Shot – Single • Atlantic • 2018

Context: drinking; living life to the fullest

On “One Shot”, it’s clear that Hunter Hayes is having a blast.  Musically, he blends new and old superbly, incorporating elements of pop, country, and even a hint of jazz.  The results are song that is fundamentally country that’s also extremely entertaining to listen to. “One Shot” feels like the ‘total package.’ Hayes references religion and admits to his many sins in tongue-in-cheek fashion on the first verse.  He segues into a second verse, self-censoring as he asserts, “Oh s***, there’s proof / Insta’s out there telling all my truth / I can’t lie so I own it / Been a rough week, so what? I deserve it.”  He sums things up with the chorus, which plays on the words “shot” – alcohol, as well as a chance to get things right and in order.

“I started with one shot

To have a good time

Everybody knows how easy one can turn into five

Don’t judge me, ‘cause it ain’t nobody’s life but mine

And I only get one shot

So, I take it one shot at a time.”

6. A$AP Rocky, “Buck Shots”

TESTING • RCA • 2018

Context: guns; sexy pics

“Got a clip and it’s full (buck shot) / Leave a motherf**ker in the (ends where they buck shot) / Man I was grown up since a young blood (buck shot) / Now I’m bussin’ off shots (end where they buck shot.” On “Buckshots,” A$AP Rocky raps about guns.  Additionally, he manages to reference Fort Knox, Fortnite (“From the fort, Fort Knox, this ain’t Fortnite”), and brags, “And all my bitches got butt shots.” Like many instances on TESTING, A$AP Rocky continues to use uncredited guest spots, this time courtesy of Playboi Carti and Smooky MarGielaa.

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7. Khalid, “Shot Down”

American Teen • RCA • 2017

Context: romance; rejection; over-infatuation

“But you got me shot down by love / You got my heart now / Why won’t you stop now? / Oh, I’ve been knocked down by you / You got my heart now / Why won’t you stop now?” “Shot Down” is clearly the crème de la crème of American Teen, the debut album by Grammy-nominated R&B artist Khalid.  Honestly, “Shot Down” resides in the same league as his breakthrough single, the ubiquitous “Location.” Throwback, yet fresh, Khalid blesses the listener with his soulful, distinctive instrument, singing about over-infatuation.

“I been through it whole

I’ve been through the worst

But I never knew how much our love could hurt

Over my family I put you first…”

8. YG, “Who Shot Me?”

Still Brazy • Def Jam • 2016

Context: Compton, CA; Gun violence

“Who shot me? / Motherf**ker who shot me? / I don’t know, who shot me? / Motherf**ker who shot me?” On “Who Shot Me?”, YG continues Compton’s harsh narrative, even if the hook frames the dangerousness as mere child’s play or any other day in the city. Throughout the course of the standout from Still Brazy, YG questions what happened, discusses the feelings of his family, and tries to figure out why it happened.  Despite being shot, YG shows relentlessness on the outro – he’s good.

9. Macklemore & Ryan Lewis, “Buckshot”

Ft. KRS-ONE & DJ Premier

This Unruly Mess I’ve Made • Macklemore • 2016

“And all my city’s known for grunge, flannel, punk rock / And a bunch of Sub Pop, I was on that Buckshot. The most renowned album in the Macklemore & Ryan Lewis catalogue is undoubtedly The Heist (2012) – it remarkably beat Kendrick Lamar’s good Kid m.A.A.d City for a variety of Grammys. That said, the follow-up LP, This Unruly Mess I’ve Made (2016), had its fair share of moments, despite being quite underrated.  On highlight “Buckshot,” Macklemore raps about two key tops. (1) his come-up (“I used to work at Subway”), and (2) his love of rap (“But I be rapping and kicking it on my lunch break / Like ‘I’mma make it out this motherf**ker one day’”). Notably, “Buckshot” features legendary hip-hop musicians KRS-ONE and DJ Premier.

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10. Imagine Dragons, “Shots”

Smoke + Mirrors • Interscope • 2015

Context: apologizing for mistakes, metaphorically using a gun

“I’m sorry for everything, oh everything I’ve done / From the second that I was born, it seems I had a loaded gun…” At least frontman Dan Reynolds is honest on the excerpt from the golden chorus of “Shots.” “Shots” represents one of the highlights from Smoke + Mirrors, the 2015 sophomore album by alternative rock collective Imagine Dragons. An exciting, truly formidable opener, “Shots” is sleekly produced, benefiting from its driving, rhythmic lines, exuberant synths, and compelling lead vocals from Reynolds, including his sweet falsetto. He continues the chorus, singing, “And then I shot, shot, shot a hole through everything I loved.”

11. The Cranberries, “I Just Shot John Lennon”

To the Faithful Departed (The Complete Sessions 1996-1997) • Island Def Jam • 2002

Context: the assassination of John Lennon

“It was the fearful night of December 8^th / He was returning home from the studio late / He had perceptively known that it wouldn’t be nice / Because in 1980, he paid the price / John Lennon died, John Lennon died, John Lennon died…” Ah, for our final record, we take it back to 1996. That’s when The Cranberries (R.I.P. Dolores O’Riordan), released “I Just Shot John Lennon,” which appeared on To the Faithful Departed.  Examing the aforementioned lyrical excerpt, there’s fame and then there’s infamy.  With “I Just Shot John Lennon” taken from the perspective of Mark David Chapman, the assassin to musical icon, clearly he exemplifies infamy.  The Cranberries impart the tale of the tragedy, committed at the hand, rather the Smith and Wesson .38 gun of Chapman.

“With a Smith and Wesson .38
John Lennon’s life was no longer a debate
He should have stayed at home
He should have never cared
And the man who took his life declared, he said:
‘I Just Shot John Lennon!’

… Oh, a sad and sorry and sickening sight
It was a sad and sorry and sickening night.”

Photo Credits: 10 Summers, Atlantic, Columbia, Def Jam, Interscope, Island Def Jam, Macklemore, Mass Appeal, Pixabay, RCA

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