Arriving on the A-List Playlist is the vibrant, melodic, and sleek new single London Bridges from genre-blending artist Shawn Cook. This captivating track is now playing day and night and will also feature as a special POWERPLAY at 3:30 PM Paris France time for the next month.
Shawn Cook—formerly known as Vital—is a rapper, singer, and songwriter raised between California’s Bay Area and Chicago. With a musical mission to create “timeless music that will still sound fresh 20 years from now,” Cook’s career reflects both passion and persistence. His earliest performances took place at church-sponsored stage plays, where he entertained his mother’s friends. By age 13, despite being California-born, he stood out for his East Coast-influenced rap style, prompting those around him to say, “Dawg, he different.”
His musical inspirations include icons such as James Brown, Michael Jackson, Slick Rick, and the Wu-Tang Clan, alongside Bay Area legends like Mac Dre, Too Short, and Dubee. Drawing from a challenging upbringing, Cook turned to hip-hop as an emotional outlet: “I didn’t want to sing it to you; I wanted to rap it to you.”
Mentored by Bay Area pioneer Dubee, Cook’s career took shape over nearly two decades. A key turning point came through his collaboration with WashHouse Music Group founder Jonas Teele, which led to work with New Orleans rapper Juvenile and Bay Area stars B-Legit and Keek the Sneak. Cook also developed a close friendship with Mac Dre and appeared on The Game Is Thick Part 2 before Dre’s untimely passing.
His profile grew significantly after linking with Berner of Wiz Khalifa’s Taylor Gang, contributing to the breakout track All in a Day (featuring YG and Young Thug), which has garnered over 21 million YouTube views. That success sparked further collaborations with major artists including Snoop Dogg and Cypress Hill’s B-Real on the song Faded. Between features and solo releases, Cook has amassed over 21 million Spotify streams and 36 million views on YouTube.
Cook’s songwriting credentials are equally impressive. He co-wrote for Grammy-nominated Samoan reggae artist J-Boog on Rose Petals, which debuted at #1 on the Billboard Reggae Chart, and helped pen Morning, one of Marc E. Bassy’s biggest pop hits with over 174 million Spotify streams. The latter earned him a Certified Gold Plaque.
In 2018, he released The Silky Slim LP, his first project under his birth name, setting the tone for a new artistic era. Now, he prepares for the release of his upcoming EP Claudette, led by the single Stay, which showcases a more introspective side, exploring love and emotional maturity.
His latest single London Bridges continues that trajectory. Described as a musical marriage proposal from a reserved man deeply in love, the track carries heartfelt lyrics like “Take my hand, come with me… Trust that love, never leaves… When it all falls down.” It’s a testament to loyalty, vulnerability, and emotional commitment.
Known for his positive energy and clear artistic vision, Shawn Cook aims to leave a lasting impact on pop and hip-hop by blending depth with modern appeal. London Bridges is a standout addition to his evolving catalog—and one that’s making waves on the A-List Playlist right now.
Stay tuned for more.