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HARRY SHOTTA HONOURS HIS HIP-HOP ROOTS ON EPIC 21-TRACK ALBUM, ‘ODYSSEY’
RnB/Hip Hop | Tuesday 6th May 2025 | The Hub
Having risen through the ranks to the very top of the drum and bass scene, shutting down raves worldwide and breaking Guinness World Records in the process, acclaimed lyricist Harry Shotta returns to his roots on Odyssey; a 21-track opus, out April 25th, that shines a powerful light on his adventures in music and the significance that hip hop has played in every chapter of his extraordinary journey.
Harry Shotta’s Odyssey explores deeply personal and universal themes, weaving introspection with raw storytelling. ‘Put My Feet Up’ finds comfort in hip-hop, portraying it as home, a place to relax and belong. ‘It Wasn’t Easy’ reflects on the lasting scars of a tough upbringing, while ‘Bad Boy Sound’, featuring Eksman and Shabba D, delivers a high-energy jungle anthem. ‘Chase A Buzz’ and ‘Breathing Under Water’ tackle addiction, the former addressing the pursuit of temporary highs and the latter depicting the silent struggle of alcoholism and emotional suppression. ‘New Breed’ sees Shotta embracing artistic evolution, while ‘Overthinking’ dives into anxiety and self-doubt. ‘Lazy Days’ is a laid-back celebration of doing nothing, contrasting with ‘You Deserve It’, where he expresses devotion to providing for his son.
“This is the album I have always wanted to make,” says Shotta. “It’s an album that I spoke about for many years but never fully committed to. Back in 2022, my mentor and long-time partner in rhyme, Skibadee, sadly passed away, and I was left to reflect—not only on music but on life in general.
“After much reflection and time away from it all, I decided that I needed to make my legacy project because none of us know how much time we have. I wanted to leave behind a body of work that would cement my legacy—not just as an artist, but as a human being.
“Hip-hop has been the backbone of everything I do—lyrically, musically, and spiritually—for as long as I can remember. If I was going to make this album, I had to reconnect with my roots and build a project with hip-hop as its bedrock while showcasing my ability to blur the many styles, moods, and BPMs that have shaped me as a vocalist known for taking on any genre in the UK underground.
“I knew that for this project to reach its full potential, I had to partner with the right label, and in my mind, there is no better fit than High Focus Records. As a connoisseur of hip-hop, I’ve admired the label for many years and knew that if we combined forces, we could create something special together.
“Odyssey is without question my most innovative, creative, and personal piece of work to date. It’s a 21-track voyage into my mind, featuring artists from across the UK and US underground over incredible productions from an array of amazing producers. From the deeply autobiographical debut single ‘It Wasn’t Easy’ to the ultimate link-up with Rag’n’Bone Man, P Money, and Spyda on ‘Imposter’, this album is my legacy piece.”
With its release date of April 25th on the horizon, Odyssey sees Harry Shotta at his most unfiltered and authentic – a multi-faceted emcee able to lend his hand to virtually any genre.
‘Odyssey’ LP Tracklist:
1. Intro Feat. Killa Kela
2. Put My Feet Up
3. It Wasn’t Easy
4. Final Results Feat. Grafh
5. Different Fabric
6. Imposter Feat. Spyda, P Money & Rag'n'Bone Man
7. Bad Boy Sound Feat. Eksman & Shabba D
8. Labour Of Love Feat. Scrufizzer
9. Motion Picture
10. Stay Defiant
11. Legendary Feat. Fliptrix, Jazz T & Verb T
12. Wild Bunch Feat. Leaf Dog
13. Chasing A Buzz
14. New Breed
15. Overthinking
16. Lazy Days
17. You Deserve It
18. Breathing Under Water
19. Salute Feat. Prime Cuts
20. Odyssey Feat. Terri Walker
21. No Competition Feat. Westman
Harry Shotta - ‘Odyssey’ LP
(Out Now | High Focus Records)
Focus track/music video ‘Overthinking’ *out today
Follow Harry Shotta: TikTok | Instagram | Spotify | YouTube | SoundCloud
