From Hattiesburg Mississippi, also known as the Hub City, comes an artist who has been steadily shaping his sound and building his presence in the music world. Known as Yo Shannon, he originally went by TrukamiKale and even considered the name Saiyan17 because of his love for Dragon Ball. Over time he circled back to his old handle “Yo it’s Shannon” which was later shortened to simply Yo Shannon. You can find him on Instagram at @Shan.tkk.
Music has been a part of his life since he was 13 when he joined band. Like many others, he had to take a break when the pandemic shut everything down, but by the age of 21 he found his way back to music. His inspiration came from artists who resonated deeply with him such as XXXTentacion and Juice Wrld. Their music gave him the kind of connection he had never found before, and even one of X’s beats played a big part in motivating him to create.
When it comes to his style, Yo Shannon describes it as a blend of alternative rap and rock, though he is not afraid to explore different genres from hyperpop to country. He admits that pop punk holds a special place in his heart and remains one of his favorite genres. On top of his vocal work, he plays trumpet and is currently learning guitar.
Some of his biggest influences include Juice Wrld, DC the Don, and the wave of 2000s pop punk that shaped an entire era of music. His journey in the music industry has been fun and full of connections, which he believes might be because of his roots in what he calls “the birthplace of America’s music.” He began recording in a homemade studio inside a closet with nothing more than a cheap Walmart microphone, a sock for a filter, and a cardboard box. What started as a hobby turned into something much bigger than he expected.
Yo Shannon has already released an EP called Rock Dreams, a collection of songs that showcase his unique sound and the direction he is heading. For him, the project represents only the beginning of what he hopes to achieve.
His most memorable career moment so far was performing live for the first time while opening on the Eclipse tour for Son of Mars. That experience solidified his drive and showed him the power of connecting with people through music.
Looking ahead, he is working on plenty of singles along with larger projects such as 6/17 and Starborn. Upcoming singles like Runway and Larrybird are set to drop soon, each one bringing something completely different to the table. While he does not have any performance dates locked in just yet, his fans can expect more music and more growth as he continues to refine his artistry.
Yo Shannon is an artist who embraces experimentation while staying true to his influences, blending emotion with energy to carve out a sound that is all his own.
