REVIEW: Kashus Culpepper Makes Big Loud Debut with “After Me?”

Big Loud’s latest signee, Alabama-born singer/songwriter Kashus Culpepper, is a name to keep on your radar.

For those who are unfamilar with Culpepper and his artistry, he began performing in 2020, frequently playing at “barrack bonfires in Rota, Spain during his deployment with the Navy” (PR team). Upon returning home, he began playing originals and covers to live audiences in southern bars.

After sharing originals on his socials, such as “Break Me Like,” “Moonlight” and “Talk To Me”– he quickly caught the attention of country fans and Nashville industry professionals alike. His consistent efforts helped him build a dedicated online fanbase and eventually led to inking a deal with Big Loud. Earlier this year, the emerging talent embarked on his debut headling tour, playing sold-out shows in the American South prior to releasing a single track. He’s also toured nationwide as a direct opener for fellow labelmate Charles Wesley Godwin and will be touring this summer alongside “$10 Cowboy” Charley Crockett and GRAMMY-nominated rock band NEEDTOBREATHE. More recently, Culpepper was invited onstage by none other than Zach Bryan.

After much anticipation from fans, Culpepper released his debut label & career single, “After Me?” on June 21st. He shares in a press release,

“The support of this song on socials and at my shows has blown my mind,” Culpepper says. “Can’t wait for everyone to hear the whole song, cause I’m over the moon about how it turned out. This is only the beginning, and I’m truly happy that ‘After Me?’ is my first single” (Culpepper, PR team).

Evidently, “After Me?” was a great choice, as the track is clearly resonating with fans– surpassing an impressive 246K digital streams on Spotify within the week of it’s release.

Featured: Official cover art for Kashus Culpepper's debut single, "After Me?". Courtesy of Big Loud Records.

Produced by The Lone Bellow‘s Brian Elmquist and penned by Mark Addison Chandler (Grindhouse Nashville) and Culpepper himself, the sultry track tells the story of a man who witnesses his ex move on and find her “happily ever after” with someone new. Emotionally weighted and raw, Culpepper sings a clever play on the age-old wedding tradition,

“Guess I’m the old love and he’s the new

Her Brooch is borrowed, guess I’m the blue” (0:45 – 0:53)

Two lyrical lines of many that remain ingrained in your mind long after the song ends. 

Drawing upon country, soul, blues & rock and pairing it with his signature gritty vocals, his sound is both reminiscent of a time past and remarkably refreshing. Something that I believe country fans will appreciate, as they seek artists drenched in authenticity and with a sound that’s uniquely their own.

THE VERDICT

Overall, the track is a solid debut for the emerging singer-songwriter, making it a recommended listen. With more music to be delivered later in the year, Culpepper is set to be a name on top of your playlists.

Listen to "After Me?" Now:

Stay up to Date with Kashus Culpepper:

Works Cited

Calfee, Cole. “Featured: Alabama-born singer/songwriter, Kashus Culpepper”. Courtesy of PR team. Accessed June 21 2024.

 

Culpepper, Kashus. “After Me?”. Spotify, Big Loud Records, under exclusive license to Mercury Records/Republic Records, A division of UMG Recordings, Inc.. June 21 2024. <https://open.spotify.com/track/7fTZ1peoDmIZtpdnVe8m5G?si=81bd645969494ce8>.

 

PR Team. “Kashus Culpepper Drops First-Ever Single “After Me?”″. June 21 2024. Press Release.

 

Unknown, “Featured: Official cover art for Kashus Culpepper’s debut single, “After Me?”. Courtesy of Big Loud Records.”. Graphic courtesy of Big Loud Records. Accessed June 21 2024.

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