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Sha EK
Sha EK
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Key Information

Chalim Perry (born April 8, 2003), professionally known as Sha EK (Sha Everything Killed/Killer), is an American rapper from the Bronx, New York. He is signed to Warner Music and Defiant Records.[2] He released his major label debut mixtape, Face of the What, on September 2, 2022.

Early life

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Chalim Perry was born and raised in The Bronx, New York. He grew up in the Melrose neighborhood of the South Bronx with Honduran parents.[3] At age 15, he suffered a gunshot wound, which prompted him to start drill rapping.[4] He is half-brothers with rapper Pj Glizzy.[citation needed] Perry and rapper Lil Tjay were childhood friends. According to Perry, Lil Tjay supported his rap career early on by reposting his music.[5]

Career

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Perry started releasing music at 15, beginning in 2018.[4] In 2020, he released the single "D&D".[6] The song would go on to accumulate 8 million streams on Spotify by September 2022.[1] In July 2022, Sha EK signed with Warner Records, and the following month he released the single "We Droppin'" featuring PGF Nuk.[7] That song appeared on his major label debut mixtape, Face of the What, in September 2022. The collection also featured guest appearances from SleazyWorld Go and Bandmanrill.[8][9] In September 2022, Sha EK and other drill rappers were prevented by local police from performing at Rolling Loud, due to fears of violence.[10][11]

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In February 2025, Perry was arrested and charged with attempted murder and other crimes stemming from his alleged role in a shooting incident in the previous year. Police allege that he shot and injured three people. He is facing 23 charges related to the incident.[12]

He was released on a $5,000 bail on March 4, 2025[citation needed] and then two days later on March 6, 2025, him and 6 other alleged members of the OGz/COE (Courtlandt Over Everything) gang were indicted on conspiracy and attempted murder charges. Listed in the indictment were acts of violence that includes four shootings that terrorized the residents of Bronx neighborhoods Mott Haven and Melrose. His bail was set for $300,000 and as of now, it has remained unpaid and Perry remains incarcerated on Riker’s Island.[13][14]

Discography

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Mixtapes

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Mixtapes with selected details
Title Details Peak chart

positions

US

[15]

Face of the What
  • Release date: September 3, 2022 (US)
  • Label: Warner/Defiant[1]
  • Format: Digital download
189
Return of the Jiggy
  • Release date: December 9, 2022
  • Label: Warner/Defiant
  • Format: Digital download

Singles

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List of singles as a lead artist with selected details
Title Year Album
"D&D" 2021 Face of the What
"We Droppin'" (feat. PGF Nuk) 2022
"It's About Time" 2022
"Crank Dat Too Oppy" 2023
"Shot in the Party" 2023
"Luv 4 My Block" 2023

References

[edit]
[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia
from Grokipedia
Chalim Perry (born April 8, 2003), known professionally as Sha EK, is an American rapper and songwriter from the Melrose section of the , , specializing in the New York drill subgenre of hip-hop. Born to Honduran parents, he began his music career around age 15 following a shooting incident that prompted him to channel experiences from his environment into lyrics depicting street life and rivalries. Sha EK gained prominence through viral tracks such as "Face of the What," "D&D," and "Get Back," amassing significant viewership on platforms like YouTube, where he built a dedicated following in the drill scene. In 2022, he signed with Warner Records as one of the label's youngest artists, marking a shift from independent releases to major-label support amid the genre's growing commercial traction. His music often reflects the harsh realities of Bronx neighborhoods, contributing to drill's reputation for raw authenticity, though the genre faces scrutiny for glorifying violence. Despite early acclaim, Sha EK has encountered controversies tied to drill rap's associations with gang activity and real-world violence, including removal from events like New York in 2022 due to perceived risks by authorities. In February 2025, he was arrested and charged with three counts of , , , and related offenses stemming from an alleged shooting in the Mott Haven area of the previous year—charges his representatives have contested, noting his prior clean record. These legal issues highlight ongoing debates about causality between lyrics and street conflicts, with critics in linking the music to escalations in local , while artists like Sha EK argue it serves as expressive outlet rather than .

Personal Background

Early Life and Upbringing

Chalim Perry, professionally known as Sha EK, was born on April 8, 2003, to Honduran parents in the Melrose section of the , New York. He grew up in the Melrose neighborhood, a area marked by and limited economic opportunities during his formative years. Perry's early life was shaped by the socioeconomic hardships prevalent in the , including exposure to and community that characterized the region in the early 2000s. According to his official biography, he spent much of his upbringing observing these harsh realities firsthand, which informed his perceptions of local street dynamics and interpersonal conflicts without direct involvement in them at the time. The Melrose Houses, where he resided, exemplified the broader challenges of the area, such as strained family structures and limited access to resources amid high crime rates. Around 2018, at age 15, Perry developed an initial interest in music influenced by the surrounding hip-hop culture in the Bronx, though this remained a personal pursuit without formal output or public engagement. This period coincided with his immersion in local sounds, setting the stage for later creative exploration amid the neighborhood's raw environment.

Family Heritage and Influences

Sha EK, born Chalim Perry on April 8, 2003, was raised by in the , reflecting the immigrant experiences common among who bring Central American cultural traditions to urban U.S. environments. His heritage draws from Honduras's ethnic diversity, incorporating elements alongside African-descendant roots evident in communities like the , though specific ancestral details about his parents remain undisclosed publicly. Public knowledge of his is sparse, with Sha EK sharing limited personal accounts in interviews. His died from complications two days before Sha EK's 18th birthday in April 2021, an event that marked a profound loss during his formative years. This tragedy coincided with the onset of his music pursuits, underscoring familial vulnerabilities amid broader impacts on immigrant households. In the same year, at age 18, Sha EK bought for his mother, citing it as a direct fulfillment of his drive to provide stability and repay her sacrifices after years of hardship in . This decision highlighted obligations as a counterbalance to the high-risk dynamics of his surroundings, positioning maternal support as a core anchor that motivated his early ambitions independent of street involvements.

Musical Career

Entry into Rap and Initial Releases

Sha EK, born Chalim Perry on April 8, 2003, in , New York, began pursuing rap in 2018 at age 15, shortly after surviving a sustained while walking in his neighborhood, an event that prompted him to channel experiences into music as a means of expression and survival. This initiation aligned with his self-identification as a pioneer in , a subgenre he claims to have helped originate by adapting the raw, confrontational style of Chicago-influenced to local traditions emphasizing street authenticity and territorial narratives. Adopting the stage name "Sha EK"—interpreted as "Sha Everything Killed" or "Sha Everything Killer"—he crafted a symbolizing unrelenting dominance and resilience forged in urban adversity, drawing from cultural motifs of aggression and loyalty. From 2018 to 2020, Sha EK produced informal recordings, including freestyles and basic tracks, which he independently uploaded to platforms such as , targeting underground New York enthusiasts and fostering initial buzz through shares in local online communities. These early efforts remained grassroots, relying on word-of-mouth propagation within and broader New York rap circles, where they resonated for their unpolished depiction of neighborhood tensions without broader commercial infrastructure or formal distribution. This phase laid the groundwork for his aggressive delivery and thematic focus on real-time street dynamics, distinguishing his output from contemporaneous while predating the subgenre's wider recognition in .

Rise in Bronx Drill and Label Signing

Sha EK's entry into the Bronx drill scene accelerated in 2021 with the release of "D&D" alongside Blockwork on May 28, 2021, which amassed over 7 million views on YouTube and marked an early breakthrough for the rapper. This track, emphasizing gritty street narratives rooted in Bronx experiences, helped establish his presence within New York City's competitive drill subculture. Building on this momentum, Sha EK released his debut mixtape Face of the What on September 2, 2022, comprising 17 tracks that showcased high-energy production and raw delivery, further solidifying his role as an emerging voice in the genre. The project's distribution under provided Sha EK with enhanced resources and visibility, following his signing to the label prior to the release, as noted in official biographies. This affiliation extended to Defiant Records, a formalized in August 2023 but operational earlier for select artists, enabling professional production and wider streaming availability that propelled tracks from the mixtape into viral circulation on platforms like and . By late 2022, the mixtape's success positioned Sha EK as a key figure in Bronx , with subsequent singles reinforcing his local appeal through narratives tied to neighborhood dynamics. Into the mid-2020s, Sha EK's ascent continued with viral hits that highlighted Bronx-specific , garnering millions of streams and establishing him as a hometown representative amid the subgenre's growing prominence in New York rap. His Warner-backed output facilitated collaborations and performances that expanded his fanbase beyond the borough, cementing his status as a innovator by 2023-2024.

Key Collaborations and Performances

Sha EK has engaged in notable collaborations with fellow drill artists, such as Blockwork on the track "D&D" released on May 21, 2021, which exemplified the raw, confrontational energy of local street narratives. He later partnered with Mel Glizzy on "Off The Hip," issued on August 24, 2024, reinforcing ties within the scene through verses centered on neighborhood loyalty and vigilance. These joint efforts with regional peers like Bouba Savage, Wowdy HBTL, and Coe Wiki on "" in August 2023 further propagated the drill aesthetic, blending rapid flows with themes of territorial defense. Beyond , Sha EK extended partnerships to broader New York and affiliated drill circles, including PGF Nuk from on "We Droppin'" in August 2022, merging East Coast aggression with out-of-town intensity to broaden drill's interpersonal dynamics. In June 2023, he announced a collaborative project with Jersey Club producer Mcvertt and rapper , releasing tracks like "Pistons" that fused drill's urgency with upbeat rhythms, highlighting adaptive alliances across rap subgenres. Such ventures amplified the regional sound by showcasing Sha EK's versatility in live-feel recordings that echoed street-level camaraderie and rivalries. A pivotal performance attempt occurred at Rolling Loud New York on September 22, 2022, when Sha EK was removed from the lineup alongside 22Gz and Ron Suno at the NYPD's request, citing risks of violence due to ongoing beefs with opposing factions. This intervention prevented the set, illustrating how interpersonal conflicts in drill culture directly impacted stage access and public appearances. In subsequent live engagements and interviews, Sha EK conveyed a stage presence, as seen in his September 2022 XXL discussion where he emphasized executing unfiltered, high-energy deliveries rooted in realities. These platforms allowed him to underscore an urgent, confrontational style, prioritizing raw authenticity over polished production in both collaborative freestyles and solo showcases.

Artistic Style and Themes

Musical Influences and Genre Innovation

Sha EK's musical style draws from the foundational hip-hop traditions of , widely recognized as the birthplace of the , where rhythmic innovation and street-rooted have long prevailed. His aggressive, high-energy flows reflect the raw environmental influences of upbringing, emphasizing a deep, masculine vocal delivery that transitioned from earlier experiments in pop, melodic, and lyrical rap to suit drill's demands. While motivated by contemporaries like to pursue rap professionally, Sha EK has described his approach as self-derived, avoiding direct emulation of established artists to forge a distinctive sound. In pioneering Bronx drill, a subgenre adapting and drill's gritty foundations into a localized variant, Sha EK claims forefather status, asserting that his early conviction in Bronx-originated music catalyzed its emergence and subsequent wave of artists. This manifests in urgent, militant beats characterized by sample-based production, hoarse vocals, and blistering flows that infuse New York specificity, such as heightened aggression and energy evoking the borough's intensity. His contributions extend to hybrid elements, like blending rhythms with straight structures for more versatile, danceable tracks, while maintaining heavy, serrated instrumentation tailored to authenticity. This prioritizes intricate wordplay and fervent delivery over conventional drill tempos, distinguishing Bronx drill's faster, combative edge from predecessors.

Lyrical Content and Controversial Elements

Sha EK's lyrics predominantly center on the harsh realities of street life, including interpersonal conflicts, retaliatory , and amid rivalries known as "oppositions" or "opps." Tracks such as "Somebody Lyin'" explicitly reference cycles of shootings, with lines like "Everytime our niggas spin through they block, nigga, somebody dyin'," portraying drive-by attacks and their lethal consequences as routine responses to threats. This narrative style draws from observable patterns in urban environments, where disputes over territory and personal slights escalate into physical confrontations, emphasizing the inherent risks of involvement in such dynamics rather than romanticizing them as mere bravado. Diss tracks form a core element of his output, functioning as direct taunts toward specific rivals and crews, such as YGz and OYz in "No More Lotti," where Sha EK challenges adversaries' credibility and boasts of dominance in ongoing feuds. Songs like "New Opps" further illustrate betrayal and immediate retaliation, with lyrics underscoring a code of unyielding toughness: "The lyrics depict a sense of betrayal and retaliation, with references to street life and conflicts." These elements align with drill genre conventions, where verbal disses serve as extensions of real-world posturing, potentially blurring lines between artistic expression and provocation, as evidenced by recurring motifs of "flocking" (shooting) in response to perceived slights. The controversial aspects arise from lyrics' frequent allusions to actual deaths and unresolved conflicts, such as in "D&D Part 2," which rallies associates with declarations like "everything dead" toward enemies, mirroring documented escalations in Bronx drill circles. While Sha EK frames this as authentic self-expression of lived experiences—"We're trying to get our life out on the songs"—critics argue such content risks normalizing violence by detailing tactical specifics of confrontations, contributing to empirical trends where drill artists' lyrics correlate with heightened real-life dangers, including shootings and legal entanglements, beyond artistic detachment. This causal interplay, where boasts in tracks like "Turned They Back" claim pioneering Bronx drill's aggressive ethos, underscores how lyrical aggression can reinforce or amplify underlying street tensions rather than serving solely as cathartic outlet.

Discography

Mixtapes and Albums

Sha EK initiated his recording career with independent projects in the early , transitioning to label-supported mixtapes and albums following his signing to Warner Music and Defiant Records in 2022. This progression marked a shift from self-released compilations and packs to more structured full-length releases, with digital download formats predominant across platforms like and . By 2025, his catalog encompassed over 20 extended projects, underscoring a high volume of output typical of artists emphasizing rapid iteration. Key early mixtapes included informal packs and volumes released prior to major label involvement, such as OGE Presents: Sha Ek Vol. 1 on May 31, 2024, which compiled tracks under an independent banner. His breakthrough major label mixtape, Face of the What, arrived on September 2, 2022, comprising 17 tracks distributed digitally via Defiant Records and Warner. This was followed by Return of the Jiggy on December 9, 2022, another digital mixtape expanding on his jiggy drill sound. In 2023, Sha EK issued collaborative and solo efforts like Defiant Presents: Courtlandt Over Everything and Defiant Presents: Jiggy In , both under Defiant Records as digital reflecting neighborhood-themed content. Get Jiggy or Die Tryin', a full with multiple tracks featuring affiliates, dropped around March 2023. The pace continued into 2024 with Is Dead on August 21, an eight-track critiquing subgenre saturation, and on September 18, both digitally released. Extending into 2025, , a 12-track collaborative album with Defiant Presents, was released on February 26, featuring freestyles and hazard-themed cuts in digital format. Additional volumes like Smoochie and No Gzz Zone supplemented the core releases, maintaining digital exclusivity and frequent drops.
TitleTypeRelease DateLabel/Format
Face of the WhatSeptember 2, 2022Warner/Defiant; Digital
Return of the JiggyDecember 9, 2022Warner/Defiant; Digital
Get Jiggy or Die Tryin'March 10, 2023Independent; Digital
Courtlandt Over Everything2023Defiant; Digital
Jiggy In Jersey2023Defiant; Digital
OGE Presents: Sha Ek Vol. 1May 31, 2024Independent; Digital
Drill Is DeadAugust 21, 2024Warner/Defiant; Digital
No LoveSeptember 18, 2024Warner/Defiant; Digital
February 26, 2025Defiant; Digital
Sha EK released his breakthrough single "D & D" in collaboration with Blockwork in , which accumulated over 17 million streams on and marked his entry into Bronx drill's competitive landscape through aggressive lyrical content aimed at rivals. The track's video surpassed 7 million YouTube views by late 2022, contributing to his rising visibility amid local beefs. Earlier efforts like "FourSevK" in further established his solo presence with raw street narratives, though specific streaming data remains less documented compared to later releases. In 2022, following his signing, Sha EK dropped "We Droppin'" featuring PGF Nuk, expanding his reach with a high-energy collaboration that blended and broader influences. "New Opps," another standalone release that year, gained traction through its direct disses in ongoing feuds, amassing millions of plays on platforms like and driving viral discussions in New York rap circles. By 2023, "Luv 4 My Block" emerged as a commercial standout, exceeding 17 million streams with its anthem-like tribute to his Courtlandt Manor roots, released via Warner on March 24. Subsequent singles included "Touch The Ground" and "WHO YOU TOUCH," both surpassing 9 million and 12 million streams respectively, often tied to performance visuals that amplified their beef-adjacent themes. Into 2025, releases like "Got It On My Lap" on June 18, "Livin On the Rock," and "Back to the Block" maintained momentum, focusing on unyielding block loyalty without album attachments. Featured appearances remain sparse, with notable verses on tracks like WowdyHBTL's "Hit The Ground" alongside PJ Glizzy, though these did not achieve the same standalone virality as his leads.
TitleRelease YearKey CollaboratorNotable Metric
D & D2021Blockwork17M+ streams
FourSevK2021NoneEarly solo breakout
We Droppin'2022PGF NukPost-signing single
New Opps2022None3.5M+ plays
Luv 4 My Block2023None17M+ streams
Touch The Ground2023None9M+ streams
WHO YOU TOUCH2023None12M+ streams
Got It On My Lap2025NoneRecent standalone release

Street Beefs and Performance Bans

Sha EK has engaged in multiple public feuds with rival drill artists, notably those from opposing affiliations such as the OY and Sugarhill sets, which are characteristic of the genre's emphasis on street authenticity and promotional rivalries. These conflicts frequently involve diss tracks that name specific adversaries, fostering a cycle where lyrical challenges correlate with documented escalations in local street tensions, as observed in patterns across drill scenes where such exchanges have preceded real-world confrontations. In September 2022, New York Police Department officials intervened to bar Sha EK from performing at the New York festival, alongside rappers and , due to apprehensions that ongoing rivalries could incite violence at the event. Authorities cited public safety risks tied to the artists' documented beefs, reflecting broader concerns over music's tendency to blur artistic expression with tangible hazards, evidenced by prior incidents linking genre feuds to physical altercations in and beyond. Despite the removal, festival organizers compensated Sha EK in full for the canceled slot. This episode underscores empirical associations between drill rivalries and event disruptions, countering dismissals of such dynamics as purely performative by highlighting authorities' preemptive measures based on observed causal patterns in urban violence spikes.

2024 Shooting Incident and 2025 Charges

On July 2024, a shooting occurred in , injuring three individuals who were hospitalized. Chalim Perry, known professionally as Sha EK, was arrested on February 6, 2025, in connection with the incident. The District Attorney's Office charged Perry with 23 counts, including multiple counts of in the first and second degrees, , and criminal possession of a weapon. Prosecutors alleged Perry's direct involvement in the Mott Haven as part of activities linked to the Courtlandt Over Everything (COE) gang. In March 2025, was indicted alongside six other alleged COE members for a series of four shootings in Mott Haven and Melrose between July 22, 2024, and 8, 2024, with the group facing a total of 62 charges. for Perry was set at $300,000 cash or $300,000 bond, which he posted, resulting in his release pending trial. As of 2025, the case remains unresolved, with Perry accountable for the alleged actions based on the presented by authorities.

Criticisms of Violence Glorification

Critics of the drill rap genre, including Sha EK's contributions, argue that its lyrical content normalizes and potentially perpetuates gang violence by emphasizing themes of retaliation, territorial disputes, and lethal confrontations as markers of authenticity and status. In New York drill, where Sha EK emerged as a prominent figure, songs often detail real or simulated against rivals, framing them as inevitable responses to perceived threats in impoverished urban environments, which some contend reinforces a cycle where artistic expression blurs into behavioral endorsement. Empirical patterns in drill-heavy locales underscore these concerns: Chicago's South Side, the genre's origin point, saw homicide rates exceeding 600 annually in peak drill eras around 2011-2016, with many incidents tied to feuds amplified in music videos and that celebrate "drilling" as conquest. Similarly, UK drill scenes correlated with spikes in youth knife crime, where prosecutors have cited as evidence of intent in over 250 -related cases by 2024, suggesting that repeated normalization in art desensitizes participants to violence's consequences rather than merely documenting them. Sha EK's output exemplifies this, as his tracks invoke affiliations and diss rival sets, mirroring fatalities in New York rap circles—where at least one prominent artist has been killed annually since 2018 amid interpersonal beefs originating online or in music. While defenders, including some academics and artists, portray as a raw ethnographic outlet for trauma in marginalized communities—claiming no direct causal link to rates—these views often overlook first-hand failures of restraint among creators embedded in high-risk settings. For instance, despite opportunities for transcendence through , as Sha EK himself noted it redirected his impulses toward , the genre's persistent focus on unresolved vendettas coincides with elevated risks for rappers, estimated 5-32 times higher than other musicians, indicating that glorification may sustain rather than escape underlying causal dynamics of , exclusion, and retaliatory norms. Mainstream dismissals of these links as mere "" tend to emanate from biased institutional sources reluctant to indict subcultural elements, yet data on correlated violence in drill ecosystems prioritizes causal realism over sanitized .

Reception and Impact

Commercial Achievements and Awards

Sha EK signed with in 2022, marking a pivotal step in his commercial trajectory that provided major-label backing for distribution, promotion, and financial stability amid the drill genre's high volatility. This deal facilitated the release of his debut major-label project, Face of the What, in September 2022, which debuted at number one on Billboard's Heatseekers Albums chart, a ranking dedicated to emerging artists without prior mainstream chart history. The project's title track amassed over 2.3 million streams, contributing to Sha EK's growing digital footprint. Key singles post-signing underscored his streaming momentum, with "Touch the Ground" surpassing 9.8 million streams and "We Droppin'" (featuring PGF Nuk) garnering 1.9 million views. "New Opps" further amplified viral reach, exceeding 5 million views, while overall artist streams reached approximately 17.4 million across platforms by late 2025. These metrics reflect sustained listener growth, including a 258% spike in monthly listeners on October 13, 2025, totaling around 200,000 monthly active users. Prior to widespread label infrastructure, Sha EK demonstrated early commercial viability by purchasing a house for his mother at age 18 in early , funded through independent releases and from tracks like "One in the Head," which hit 2 million Spotify streams and YouTube views. No major awards or nominations, such as , have been documented for Sha EK as of 2025, with recognition limited to emerging artist placements and digital metrics rather than formal accolades.

Critical Views and Cultural Legacy

Critics within hip-hop media have lauded Sha EK for pioneering drill's distinct sound, blending rapid-fire flows with local vernacular to elevate the subgenre beyond Chicago's origins and reflect the borough's gritty environment. A review of his 2022 Face of the What commended his energetic delivery and authentic narratives as overcoming technical shortcomings, establishing him as a frontrunner in New York drill's evolution. Similarly, outlets highlighted his contributions to fusing drill with elements, expanding its regional appeal while maintaining raw intensity. Conversely, broader critiques of , applicable to Sha EK's output, center on its potential to exacerbate urban violence by normalizing graphic depictions of rivalries and retribution, raising concerns about influence on at-risk . has attributed spikes in Bronx shootings to drill videos that boast about real events, positing a feedback loop where incite or document escalating conflicts, though for direct causation remains contested amid pre-existing crime patterns. Panels of experts debate whether such music chronicles harsh realities or exploits them for profit, with some arguing it prioritizes over constructive outlets, potentially hindering community progress in high-poverty areas. Sha EK's legacy embodies 2020s drill's tension between artistic expression and societal toll, viewed by proponents as a vital chronicle of street life that empowers local voices and deters personal deviance, as the artist himself claimed music redirected his impulses from . Detractors, however, advocate skepticism toward its net benefits, citing correlations between drill's rise and youth involvement in gangs via amplification, and urging longitudinal studies to assess if cultural output fosters resilience or entrenches cycles of antagonism over time. This duality underscores ongoing discourse on whether drill's innovations justify its risks, favoring evidence-based evaluation over uncritical acclaim.

References

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