In the rabbit holes of internet rap history, a handful of names carry a cult weight: whispered about, traded on Reddit, rediscovered through lo-fi uploads and vaporwave aesthetics. Shawty Pimp is one of those names. Born in Memphis in the early ’90s out of cassette tapes sold hand-to-hand at Whitehaven High, his music existed in a small orbit until the internet cracked it open. Suddenly, tracks made in an auto parts store studio were streaming all over the world, inspiring new generations of producers and being folded into entire subcultures decades later.
What makes Shawty Pimp special isn’t just the lo-fi grit of those early tapes, but the way they anticipated a sound we’d only come to recognize years later. A blueprint for underground rap, vaporwave sampling, and the grainy, slowed-down aesthetics that dominate corners of the internet today.
Now, after years of living mostly as a legend online, Shawty Pimp is stepping into the Dutch spotlight for the very first time. On September 26, he’ll land at Skatecafé for VOID: Music Against the Grain, a lineup deliberately built on friction, dissonance, and discovery. For many, it’s not just another club night, but the chance to see a figure whose legacy was never built in the club circuit in the first place.
Ahead of his appearance, we caught up with Shawty Pimp over email to talk about missed basketball tryouts, defining moments, and what he expects from a crowd finally meeting him IRL.
Where are you answering these questions from right now?
Currently answering these questions from my home-based studio.
First track you listened to today?
True Tales by Shawty Pimp.
Where did your journey as Shawty Pimp begin?
My journey as Shawty Pimp started at Whitehaven High School after I didn’t make the basketball team.
Looking back, what moment defined your career?
When the internet blew up and fans started uploading my mixtapes. I was only selling them at school, but suddenly the music was reaching people all over the world.
What makes a good club night for you?
Good energy, good music, and no violence make a club night great for me.
What are you getting better at these days?
“These days, I’m getting better at executing my vision and goals. I used to be very indecisive, but I’m a lot better now.”
One piece of advice for those entering VOID?
My advice would be to get ready for the unexpected.
What do you expect from the Dutch crowd?
I expect the Dutch crowd to be full of energy and excitement. This will be a legendary moment in history.
And what’s next?
I’m looking forward to producing new artists and working myself more into the background of the music business. Right now I’m on the front line.
Catch him behind the decks on September 26 at Skatecafé: tickets here.
