Album Review: Where I’ve Been, Isn’t Where I’m Going by Shaboozey

Shaboozey’s latest effort captures a night out’s raucous energy and uninhibited lifestyle, driven by heavy drinking and the pursuit of fun.

Courtesy of American Dogwood / EMPIRE.

Shaboozey was born to Nigerian parents in northern Virginia. His parents sent him to boarding school in Nigeria when he was in junior high. While there, he got into the rhythm and learned about his cultural background. When he came back to the States, he started making music. He was inspired by Led Zeppelin, Fela Kuti, the Clipse, Roger Waters, and even the Backstreet Boys. One of the songs he made was called “Jeff Gordon.” It mixed scary trap music with spooky piano. This showed how he wanted to make his particular sound different from other music.

He’s a musician, filmmaker, author, and producer mixing many genres. His sound takes inspiration from country, classic rock, ‘80s pop culture, Afrobeat, jazz, and hip-hop. His first single, “Jeff Gordon,” came out in 2014. But his first real album didn’t come out until 2018. That album was called Lady Wrangler. In 2022, he released another album called Cowboys Live Forever, Outlaws Never Die. It had country and trap music mixed together.

Earlier this year, Shaboozey put out a moody song called “Anabelle.” It was the first single from his third album, Where I’ve Been, Isn’t Where I’m Going. Around that same time, he also worked with Beyoncé on two songs for her COWBOY CARTER album. In April, he released a second single from his album, “A Bar Song (Tipsy).” It quickly followed Beyoncé’s song “Texas Hold ‘Em” to the top of Billboard’s Hot Country Charts. This was a big deal because it was the first time two Black artists had number-one songs on that chart, one after the other.

You can already say 2024 was an excellent year for the artist. “Spaghettii” with Linda Martell and “Sweet ★ Honey ★ Buckiin’” got to No. 31 and No. 61 on the Billboard Hot 100. But Shaboozey’s biggest Hot 100 hit was when he was alone. Shaboozey put out “A Bar Song (Tipsy)” in the middle of April, and since then, the super catchy single got as high as No. 3 on the Hot 100. It was No. 1 on Country Streaming Songs for three weeks. It also almost reached the top of some other Billboard charts.

With Where I’ve Been, Isn’t Where I’m Going, Shaboozey is going straight Country with Nevin Sastry and Sean Cook assisting with most of the production. The album’s trap-heavy opener, “Horses & Hellcats,” paint a vivid picture of a modern-day outlaw lifestyle, blending images of the old West with contemporary hustle culture. In the verses, he expresses a sense of urgency and detachment, emphasizing his relentless pursuit of success (“Foot on the gas, out on the road”) and the transient nature of his existence (“life as an outlaw, with nowhere to go”). “Highway” offers a deeply personal exploration of inner conflict and emotional turmoil, using the metaphor of a relentless journey down a literal highway to illustrate his struggles.

The album boasts some features. In “Drink Don’t Need No Mix,” Shaboozey and BigXthaPlug (whose verse is forgettable) delve into the hedonistic escapades of a typical night out. The duet-assisted “My Fault” with Noah Cyrus presents an honest look at a troubled relationship through its lyrics by exploring themes of blame, substance abuse, and the struggle to cope with emotional pain, and “Last of My Kind” is an assertion of being one-of-a-kind, set against a backdrop of survival and perseverance with Paul Cauthen enriches the narrative by adding another layer of determination and grit.

Where I’ve Been is a solid and enjoyable album that contributes positively to the country music landscape. It combines tradition and modernity effectively, offering a fresh perspective on familiar themes. Shaboozey’s vocal delivery is confident and delicate, effectively conveying the emotions embedded within the songs. His voice adds depth and authenticity to the album’s lyrical content. Some listeners may find the sound familiar, drawing comparisons to other artists who have blended country with hip-hop in some songs. While it may not be groundbreaking in terms of innovation, the album’s strengths in storytelling, vocal delivery, and production quality make it a commendable effort worthy of recognition within the genre.

Solid (★★★½☆)

Favorite Track(s): “Horses & Hellcats,” “A Bar Song (Tipsy),” “My Fault”