SniperShot

There’s something about the sea that is relaxing and freeing for the human spirit, and for proof of this, look no further than Fresh Off The Yacht, the latest release from SniperShot. After a prolific 2019, SniperShot took some time to live on a sailboat in the South Pacific Ocean, and upon his return to the states, he linked up with Los Angeles-based producer AC The Program Director for a quick collection of four soul-soothing songs. The standard hip-hop braggadocio energy is still there, but the delivery is drenched with the grounded (no pun intended) nature of someone who put cares aside for a time. AC‘s beat selection is perfect for these words and the way that their stated, as each track has personality and size, but is laid back enough to match the overall project tone. Definitely a good one to wrap up the hot days with, as we transition into the fall and winter. Check it out, share it around, and cop it if you have a few extra bucks! - Chief and The Doomsday Device

SniperShot has never been one to be held down by the ‘supposed’ limitations of life. He’s always embraced his free spirit nature, and it’s taken him far and wide, allowing him to spread his positive, inspiring and uplifting message via his music and life journey. That being said, even the best of us are sometimes grounded by reality, and reality hit SniperShot hard in 2019 via the passing of is father. The loss of a parent is already a tough road to take, but in this case, his father was suffering from Alzheimer’s in a facility that was abusive and that made it tough to get him freed. We all work through grief in different ways, and in this ordeal, SniperShot leaned on his music to produce This Life We Live, an ode to his father and to the struggles we face on a daily basis. If this one hits you the way it hit me, leave a like and a comment, and spread it to someone who can use the comfort. - Chief and the Doomsday Device

There’s something special about SniperShot‘s ability to mix the rawness and immediacy of hip-hop with the knowledge, wisdom and understanding that comes with enlightenment. Be he broadcasting from nature, the streets or the stage, his ability to turn concepts into lyrical darts is one that must be admired, and it’s arguable that he’s never sounded better doing this than he does on his latest single and video, Fibonacci Microphone Pimpin. With the help of some visualized mental equations and trippy visual accents, SniperShot drops confident bars over a gold-school sounding beat that would’ve made many West Coast and Third Coast artists jealous that they missed out on it. Definitely dive into this video, share it around for others to do the same, and leave a like and/or comment to let SniperShot know what you think! - Chief and the Doomsday Device

My man SniperShot can always be counted on for positive vibes, enriching lyrics, dope video ideas, and doper execution. His latest magnum opus comes in the form of We Are One, an affirmation that, no matter what you’re going through or experiencing, you are not doing it alone in the greater scope of things. The idea is transmitted via a clever visual editing trick that works extremely well. Definitely check this one out, share it around, and like/comment it up! - Chief and The Doomsday Device

Today we’d like to introduce you to SniperShot.

Wes Brown, better known as SniperShot, was born on February 1983 in Dallas, Texas. Raised on the east side of town, SniperShot was a good athlete growing up, winning All State and All District accolades for football and soccer. This led to scholarship opportunities to play soccer in college, but due to lifestyle choices, none of those scholarships would come to fruition.

During college, SniperShot began freestyle rapping, writing, and recording songs. While attending St. Edwards University in Austin, Texas, SniperShot was involved in a near fatal car crash in 2005, on his way home for Christmas. This experience made him realize that he truly wanted to immerse himself in music and make it his career. Shortly after the accident, SniperShot graduated college with a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration. His father wanted him to work at the family business, but unable to come to an agreement, SniperShot left the business, in order to create music full time.

Seeking a different experience, SniperShot decided to sell all of his possessions and travel the world. From 2010 to 2012, SniperShot lived outside of United States in places such as Tonga, Australia and New Zealand. While gaining new experience and learning from other cultures, he began sharing his musical message globally. The knowledge and understanding developed through his journey helped SniperShot mature into the artist he is today.

SniperShot is changing the over saturated, materialistic-driven hip-hop industry by bringing out universal deep truths through his words and music that transcend all boundaries. SniperShot’s fans use his music as a therapy of sorts, bringing healing vibrations through the speaker. SniperShot is also on the board of the 501.c3 non-profit SacredHeart Water bringing free clean water to people in need all over the world. When not touring, SniperShot spends his time between Dallas, California, and Guatemala.

Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
Struggles along the way…. hmmm. As an independent artist, I am always looking to spread my message to a larger fan base. I guess it is all how you look at it. You can choose to focus on the struggles or you can look at it from another angle and focus on the positives. That is what my team and I choose to focus on. It’s a waste of energy to focus on the struggles. None the less, it is a reality of life. My music touches on all aspects of life.

Shot Records – what should we know? What do you guys do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
The SniperShot brand represents the independent free spirit. The music from Shot Records comes from the heart. We let our heart guide our decisions. I believe that message is what resonates with my fan base the most. It transcends all boundaries.

What is “success” or “successful” for you?
I certainly do not measure success in the traditional mainstream western view. Successfully navigating the journey of life with honesty and compassion, that is success. Being a good human being and interacting with others from a place of love, that is success to me. Material goods do not define success. It is nice to have nice things, but not if you have to give up on yourself to have it. I have my time. I have my freedom. I have everything I need. - Voyage Magazine

Hip-hop man of the earth SniperShot has been leaving his imprint all around the globe lately, literally. He’s recently been sharing a series of vlogs titled Guate about his adventures in Guatemala. He has been taking part in coffee-brewing, environmental exploration and restoration, general goodwill ambassadorship and playing shows. If you’ve got some time, dive in. Hip-hop affords us as many opportunities as we’re open to taking, and it’s up to us to make our dreams a reality. Sometimes, your dreams becoming a reality are lucky enough to impact others, continuing the cycle. - Chief and The Doomsday Device

Today we’d like to introduce you to Cass Maenius and Wes (SniperShot) Brown.

Thanks for sharing your story with us Cass and Wes (SniperShot). So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
The idea for SacredHeart Water was born after a two-year journey living/backpacking in South and Central America (what I sometimes refer to as my water-borne illness tour of Latin America). My experience led me to Lake Atitlan, Guatemala where I befriended Dallas native and Creative Visionary Sherrie Locke at the SacredWay Garden. We spent a significant amount of time dreaming up ideas, solutions, and projects.

We noticed that we repeatedly said “someone” should do something about these water situations, which turned into a realization that maybe we were the “someone”. Fast forward to Dallas where we met Hip-hop Rapper Wes (SniperShot) Brown, an activist who is also passionate about human rights. Together we launched SacredHeart Water and hit the ground running to create positive change through educating, raising awareness, and giving clean water.

Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
I cannot say that the road has been smooth exactly. I will say that it has been challenging, adventurous, exciting, fulfilling, and constantly pushing us all to grow and expand our skill sets and visions. As a visionary, it is easy to have creative ideas. The challenge is actually acting on the idea and believe that you will achieve it when the world around you tells you it’s impossible and that you shouldn’t try.

We believe it is a human right for everyone on the planet to have access to clean and free water. When that is a tall order, privilege, or revolutionary idea, that is the exact moment when we must come together to create change and give free water. I knew this project had a strong learning curve and that finding filters, raising donations, and finding materials in a foreign country may be difficult.

However, I never dreamed that the biggest challenge would be to peak people’s interest and involvement about a subject that our collective livelihood depends upon. Challenges aside, every bit of effort has been massively worth it, especially when you see someone receiving a filter with a huge smile and tears of joy in their eyes. The Maya have been so excited, proud, and thankful to have clean water for their families; it’s a blessing to witness.

Even though the path has had its ups downs, twists, and turns, we’re learning to strap in, focus on the goal, trust the road, and dare I say- dream bigger. I’m considering changing the word challenge to adventure in my vocabulary.

Please tell us about SacredHeart Water.
SacredHeart Water is a Dallas, Texas 501(c)c non-profit with a hub at Lake Atitlan, Guatemala. Our mission is to provide clean water where it is needed.

We are proud that in our first year we were able to provide clean water to almost 200 indigenous Maya at Lake Atitlan, Guatemala and create Dallas’ first Seeds and Sounds Fest, a free event where we invited everyone to a community garden build with a simultaneous concert and workshops. One of our 2018 goals is to install community water stations at Lake Atitlan, Guatemala. I’m really thankful that I can do these awesome projects with my best friends while meeting wonderful people and making a difference.

I’m proud of how much we have accomplished with very few resources. I think what sets us apart is that we aren’t hugely funded, that we don’t have an agenda, political, or religious affiliation. It’s hard to put us in a box and there will always be a creative touch. We are visionaries, artists, and humanitarian activists reminding people that water is a human right and inviting them to get involved. - Voyage Magazine

Even in the midst of enlightenment, one can take the time to detour for fun. SniperShot has shown amazing growth over the past couple of years, and his music video Gangsta comes off like a brief moment of honest celebration. SniperShot, his dog Hookah, and DJ Manny Pahlooza adventure through a handful of scenarios, eventually leading to an animated crowd getting rocked. SniperShot called it ‘his eclipse gift to the world’, so why not accept it, like it and share it? - Chief and The Doomsday Device

My main man SniperShot dropped an extremely wonderful video about love and being yourself, and just in time for Valentine’s Day to boot. 8-Bit not only tells, it shows, and both expressions will stay with you for a long time, guaranteed. This is 100% DO NOT SLEEP ON material.

-chief - Chief and The Doomsday Device

One of my favorite aspects of the hip-hop culture is watching an individual gain knowledge of self. Most every aspect of the hip-hop culture that one may dive in to hits a point in the journey where you have to push past what you originally considered your limits. Whether it be going from fan to MC, listener to DJ, sketchbook king to all city, or head-nodder to b-boy, a transformation will occur. SniperShot has been on my radar for a minute, and the seeds that I originally saw planted in him are starting to form into a full-fledged tree. I Don’t Have The Answers is the perfect embodiment of one of the first key steps towards knowledge of self : realizing how little you know, and learning to how become a storage place for information that will be applied at an unknown point in the future. Cheers to you, SniperShot, and here’s to hoping we can continue to be a part of your journey. - Chief and The Doomsday Device

SniperShot is one of the more interesting artists I’ve come across in my years of Texas hip hop. He isn’t one to shy away from normal conventions, yet his headspace is completely different when it comes to how he views these conventions. Of the many songs and videos he has made, this one in particular does a good job of visualizing the vibe I get when I listen to SniperShot‘s music. Walkin On Clouds is as mysterious and esoteric as it is a head nodder of a hip hop track. - Chief and The Doomsday Device

‘Released on 11-11 at 11:11 AM. This is the story of a young man in Dallas, TX trying to take himself out of a life of illegal activity towards a journey to become a more conscious human being. This is the beginning of him taking hold of his mission to make music that brings light to our planet. Ballin On A Budget was made with southern influenced sounds. Most production based around a Roland MV 8800. Please visit SniperShot.org for all things SniperShot.’

SniperShot has always been on some dopeness, so throw a few bucks or a share towards a good man with a good plan. - Chief and The Doomsday Device

Over the past couple of years, I’ve watched SniperShot take part in a number of jouneys… be it time spent out at sea, habitation in remote locations, or visits to exotic locales, one thing that is abundantly clear is that seeing the world has opened his already perceptive eyes even wider. This past week, SniperShot blessed all of us with his latest album, True Story, and even if you weren’t aware of his adventures, the experiences and growth shine through in this latest batch of songs. His trademark delivery is boosted by even more confidence, his with is backed with knowledge-filled gems, and his beat selection is diverse, as demonstrated by the numerous producer collaborations listed in the liner notes. Anyone who’s been around this blog for a while knows that SniperShot gets automatic props from me, so it should be second nature for you to go support by copping an album or sharing the link around, because this is one that will carry you through the weekend and beyond. -Chief - Chief and the Doomsday Device

On his newest album True Story, Dallas rapper SniperShot revisits trying times over the past few years.

Born Wes Brown and raised in East Dallas, SniperShot grew up listening to hip-hop and fell in love with the genre. His affinity for rap music began in the fifth grade, when he discovered Gang Starr’s album Hard to Earn. On “Guru,” the opening track for True Story, SniperShot recites Gang Starr’s “Intro (The First Step)” verbatim.

Over the course of the album, SniperShot reflects on his childhood growing up in the White Rock Lake area. He gives a shout-out to the neighborhood on the track “Feelin’ Nice,” with the lyrics “Today’s been great around White Rock Lake.” It’s a happy, breezy cut reminiscent to the old school sounds of “It Was a Good Day” by Ice Cube.

Other tracks are a little more personal. On the Symbolyc One-produced “Life Is Crazy,” SniperShot talks about coping with his father’s illness.

“My father had Alzheimer's and he passed away last year," the rapper says. “It definitely made for trying circumstances. He ended up being forcefully locked up in this facility that wasn’t taking very good care of him. It was just a nightmare.”

SniperShot attended St. Edwards University in Austin, which is where he began freestyle rapping and writing songs. In 2005, on his way home to visit his family for the holidays, he was involved in a car accident. At this moment he realized he wanted a career in music.

Over the years, SniperShot has lived in various parts of the world, including Australia, New Zealand and Tonga. Most recently, he lived in Guatemala, where he and his now ex-girlfriend were working for a nonprofit organization building houses.

He began working on True Story three years ago while traveling back and forth between Dallas. After COVID struck and travel restrictions were enforced, he was able to focus on finishing the album.

“For a while, I would leave, come back and get some work done, then I would leave again,” SniperShot says. “I guess one of the blessings that has come from this crazy year is that I’ve kind of been locked down here and I can focus on my music stuff.”

To promote the album, he created a ‘90s-style infomercial with local director Drew Sherman. While True Story is a more personal, reflective album, the infomercial allowed for comic relief.

In my music, I talk about serious stuff, but I also enjoy making people giggle a little bit.” –SniperShot
“Drew and I collaborate on a lot of stuff,” SniperShot says. “I was just daydreaming and chit-chatting, trying to come up with stuff, and he had an idea for an infomercial. And we just kind of sparked it up really quick. We were laughing our butts off about it. In my music, I talk about serious stuff, but I also enjoy making people giggle a little bit.”

SniperShot has also given up alcohol and set a personal goal to work out every day for 100 days and document the journey on YouTube.

“It’s hard to think straight when I’m hungover,” he says. “My workout videos are almost as popular as my music videos. I’ve been getting messages from people all over the world saying they appreciate the positive messages and the positive changes.”

True Story is the second project the artist has released this year, with the first being Tha Mixtape IV: Tha Rebirth. He says he is already “halfway through” his next project, and he is sitting on an album he recorded in a van in Chiapas, Mexico.

“It was a very basic setup where there was like half a drum kit, a guitar, a ukulele and a laptop,” SniperShot says. “We just were inspired by where we were at the time, or where we were camping, We just kind of let the energy flow and we made some really cool feel-good music.”

Since COVID, SniperShot has performed at a small house show in town and at a private party in Arkansas, but the Bishop Arts resident doesn’t have any performances on his docket for the time being.

Once things return to normal, he looks forward to performing again. But for now, he is working on music around the clock.

“There are a lot of extremely talented people in the Dallas music scene,” he says. “It’s definitely a big family. I just try to be cool with everybody and keep it peaceful. But I have fewer distractions right now because there are less things for me to do. I’m trying to release as much music as I can.” - Dallas Observer