Shady Nate f. VT – “Getting Paid”

2011 was quite the prolific year for West Oakland rapper Shady Nate. In July, Nate teamed up with DJ Fresh to release Still Based On A True Story, and just three months later, on October 11th, Nate released his latest solo album, Son Of The Hood. He continues to release a string of visuals from both projects, and this latest video, for the single “Getting Paid” from Son Of The Hood, continues Nate’s streak of gritty, street visuals.

As hinted with the single’s title, “Getting Paid” is a tried-and-true street anthem, but one that succeeds by not sacrificing reality for fantasy.”I’m out on that grind all day/ And I’m trying to get paid,” sings VT on the song’s chorus, before adding, “Cause, homie, I’m trying to eat.” For his part, Nate does much the same as he balances the boisterous instrumental with a combination of slick talk and darker realizations, as he follows lines like, “I let my money talk for me, it’s nothing I gotta say” by rapping, “Look out for them boys, they’re trying to lock us/ In them decoys, they sit and watch us.”