Cabra Presents Shotput: Real Talk from the Essex Underground

When a Debut Feels Like The Biggest Clue

I’ve always thought debut songs come with a strange kind of weight. They hold that quiet courage it takes to begin — a small green light that says, here’s who I am right now, take it or leave it. That first track says everything about where an artist’s head is at, and the tone always gives it away.

Shotput by Cabra feels exactly like that kind of debut. It’s unguarded, conversational, and sharp in the quietest way. The rhythm keeps its bounce under control, smooth all the way through. It sits in that pocket between soul and self-awareness, shaped by experience.

It looks like Cabra turns his contradictions into conversation. He works in mental health, yet writes about the weight he still carries inside. There’s a kind of poetic irony there — right on the table — and that honesty makes the track running smooth.

The Mind in Motion

When I first played Shotput, I didn’t expect to be pulled into a monologue. But Cabra’s bars move like thoughts — drifting, circling, cutting themselves short before landing clean again. I’ve noticed his unusual timing, unhurried but deliberate. You can hear someone thinking as they speak, and man… that’s rare in music now.

The production rides easy — bright, soulful, even playful at times. It contrasts with the tension in his voice, and that push-and-pull is what makes it work. I feel every beat like a counterweight to what it means to be you. There’s humor hidden between the lines too — that half-smile kind of humor that keeps everything human.

I caught myself relating to it — not just the lyrics, but the flow, the way it breathes. It’s that same rhythm your mind takes when it’s trying to talk itself out of overthinking.

The Essex Flow

Cabra’s from Essex — and somehow, that hits right. There’s grit in the accent, but the flow slides easy. The man blends UK hip-hop with R&B’s smooth looseness and a flash or two of American swagger, like he’s bending influences to fit his mood rather than the other way around.

I’ve got a soft spot for artists like Cabra — the ones who sound free because they follow feeling. The man moves easy one moment, restless the next. It’s that quiet confidence that makes Shotput feel alive.

The ES6 Pulse

Being part of the ES6 Collective clearly amplifies Cabra’s individuality. I remember when we featured him on that bar-to-bar clash with MZ — full of punchlines, bravery, and spark. Shotput feels like the natural follow-up to that chapter, but stripped of armor. It’s him, front and center, figuring himself out on record.

From what I’ve seen, ES6 Collective has always been about sincerity rooted in sound — music that feels local but speaks wide. Cabra slides into that culture with the ease of someone who’s part of it.

By the end, Shotput leaves you with that sense of recognition, the sound of someone who knows exactly where he stands, even when he’s unsure of what comes next. I’ve been there, and it’s tough. If debut songs are a handshake, this one met my palm rough and alive.

If you want more of this artist — spin Shotput on Spotify, catch his world on Instagram, and watch it move on YouTube. You’ll definitely find a genuine ground of its own.