It’s been about a year since Lightshow released the well-received release If These Walls Could Talk 2, which is in itself a sequel to the 2015 classic If These Walls Could Talk. Now, the D.C. hip hop veteran is preparing to release his new project titled Heart Still In The Trenches, which will see 12 tracks and additional features from Fredo Bang, Big Shaad, and ML.
First, Lightshow gifts the masses with a new visual for “My Hood,” which is produced by Nell On The Beat and is centered around the rapper bringing the listener back to his stomping grounds:
“I’m from the dirty south, that’s how you heard about, I’m from where we see paperwork then let the word get out, got beef, we ain’t working out, just pull up kirkin’ out, some of my n***as trap, some of ‘em circle houses/”
The accompanying video comes courtesy of David Minh and matches the song’s subject matter, taking us through the parts of southeast D.C. where Lightshow was born and raised. We see him with his crew, his significant other, and other residents at different locations — including near the mural of Maurice Scott, a 15-year-old who was tragically killed in Congress Heights last year.
Early in his career, Lightshow quickly became a lyrical force to be reckoned with, collaborating with peers like Kap G, A$AP Ant, 21 Savage, and YFN Lucci, as well as fellow hometown heroes like Shy Glizzy and Wale. In a past interview with DJ Booth, Lightshow spoke on his hope that the city receives more exposure beneath the surface:
“I want [people] to know the difference between the areas. Right now, in DC, we don’t get as much of a look. It’s because we can’t show our city in the same way certain places can show theirs. … I want them to know it’s deeper, it’s [a] documentary-style view.”
Press play on “My Hood” below.