Loe Shimmy.
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When I call Loe Shimmy on Thursday afternoon, the Pompano Beach MC is somehow, someway already back in the studio in Miami. Less than a week after popping up on Drake’s new album HABIBTI, Shimmy isn’t taking a break at all: “I’m gonna keep this momentum that I got and take full advantage of it,” he tells me as he rifles through a stack of hundred-dollar bills. He’s got a new single “Body Dangerous” out tonight at midnight, the first offering from his upcoming album Pretty Girls Run The World.
When we talked last summer, Shimmy told me he’d been recording Rockstar Junkie in Black trucks and private jets, half-finished buildings and greenrooms on tour with Lil Baby and Sexyy Red. Clearly, not much has changed. Just last week, Shimmy was in the studio with YTB Fatt and Fox BD; the trio cut a remix of “Type Shit,” called up Rob49 for one last verse, and shot a music video – all in less than 24 hours, per Shimmy.
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Drake and Shimmy’s collab “I’m Spent” came together more slowly: Shimmy sent Drake the original song idea more than a year ago. “I’m Spent” is a clear standout from Drizzy’s triple album blitz; if it isn’t the best song of them all, it’s certainly Top 3. The song’s shimmering chords and tinkling piano instantly recall the nocturnal ambience of Shimmy’s excellent late 2024 album Nardyworld, bringing to mind a music box, or perhaps the ocean at night. Drake affects a deeper register than usual, bringing a lovely tonal contrast to Shimmy’s gliding falsetto, and Shimmy’s earnest emotion pushes his host to a more tender lyrical performance than he’s been inclined to in recent years.
The FADER caught up with Loe Shimmy on Thursday, May 21, to chat about Drake supporting his music before he blew up, how the two artists grew closer, and how they recorded “I’m Spent.”
The FADER: I wanted to take it back a second, because I know Drake has been a fan of your music for a pretty long time. Can you tell us about the first time he posted your music?
Loe Shimmy: Probably like four years ago, he posted that “Tina.” Goddamn… it was just crazy because you never like – it was unexpected. A n***a woke up, “Drake posted you,” you feel what I’m saying?
That’s one of the big reasons why a n***a kept going. At that time right there, I wasn’t really sure if this shit was gonna work. That’s how I was feeling at that time, and that one single repost, it gotdamn put a battery in my back, it made me believe in myself more. That one repost meant a lot more than he think.
And that was a while ago too, like an early era of your music.
That was the gotdamn, Zombieland 1 era. That was the trenches, you feel me? [smiles] Right now I’m on a Pretty Girls Run The World wave.
Drake and Loe Shimmy.
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How did you and Drake get closer?
The first time we linked up was when Zombieland 2 dropped. But we always used to hit each other up, interact through messages and shit. When we linked in person, it was just genuine energy bro. We fuck with each other so heavy, you know what I'm saying? I love his music, he fuck with my music, and I just fuck with bro hard. Even through all this little shit, I always check up on him, make sure you good, feel what I’m saying? That’s my n***a for sure. Just before we called, I just sent him a message – I said, “I love you, I appreciate you for everything.”
What’s your favorite era of Drake? Besides the new shit with you of course.
Take Care. “Marvin’s Room” classic.
How did “I’m Spent” come together for HABIBTI?
He told me to send him a couple of songs; I sent him four songs. That was probably a year ago. And he just now started working on that project a couple months ago.
When I was in Africa, he had FaceTimed me: “I need you to dadadada,” you feel me? He helped orchestrate the whole song, that n***a a real genius, you feel me? Switched the beat up – he a real wizard.
It was a song I already had been sent to him. And I thought he forgot about it, but hell no. He gotdamn remembered, he kept his word for sure.
