Highbridge wasn't always the center of the rap universe. But in 2016, a skinny kid with a penchant for melodic desperation changed that overnight. When Artist Dubose, better known as A Boogie Wit Da Hoodie, dropped "My Shit," it didn't just bubble up in the Bronx; it reshaped how we thought about New York rap. People forget how weird that period was. We were transitioning out of the gritty, boom-bap revivalism and sliding headfirst into the "melodic rap" era.
"My Shit" was the spearhead.
It wasn’t just a song. It was a vibe. A mood. A literal blueprint for a career that has since seen multi-platinum plaques and arena tours. If you were around when the Artist mixtape first hit SoundCloud and Spinrilla, you remember the specific feeling of hearing that piano loop. It felt expensive yet homegrown. It was flashy, but there was a distinct New York chip on its shoulder.
The Sound That Defined a New Era
Let’s be honest about the production. The beat, crafted by D-Stackz, is deceptive. It’s built on these twinkling, melancholic piano chords that feel like a cold night in the city. Most rappers at the time would have tried to go "hard" over it. A Boogie went the other way. He floated.
He used his voice like an instrument, stretching vowels and hitting high notes that felt raw rather than polished. That’s the secret sauce. "My Shit" succeeded because it felt effortless. When he raps about his "pinky ring" or "the way he’s rockin' his hoodie," it doesn't sound like he's trying to convince you. He's just stating facts.
Back then, the Bronx was looking for a new hero. French Montana had the clubs on lock, and Cardi B was just starting her meteoric rise on reality TV, but there was a gap for a young, melodic storyteller. A Boogie filled it. He brought a certain vulnerability to the "fly guy" persona. You can hear it in the cadence. He’s bragging, sure, but there’s a hint of "I can’t believe I’m actually here" in the delivery.
Why the Industry Stopped and Listened
It wasn't just the fans. The industry pivot was instantaneous. Shortly after "My Shit" blew up, A Boogie was opening for Drake on the Summer Sixteen Tour. Think about that for a second. A kid with one major breakout hit was sharing a stage with the biggest artist in the world.
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Drake has a legendary "ear" for what’s next, and he clearly saw the shift. A Boogie wasn't just another rapper; he was the leader of the Highbridge the Label (HBTL) movement. Along with Don Q, he created a localized ecosystem that felt impenetrable.
What's wild is that the song didn't need a massive radio push at first. It was organic. It moved through the schools, the basketball courts, and the car stereos of the Tri-state area before the rest of the country even knew what hit them. By the time it was certified Platinum, it felt like a foregone conclusion.
The Lyrics: More Than Just Bragging
"In my bag now / Everyone's on my back now."
It’s a simple line, but it captures the paranoia of sudden success. When we talk about A Boogie Wit Da Hoodie My Shit, we’re talking about the quintessential "making it" anthem. He deals with the jealousy of his peers and the pressure of his neighborhood simultaneously.
- The "Louis V" references aren't just brand names; they are symbols of graduation.
- The mentions of his "Day Ones" emphasize a loyalty that resonated with listeners who felt stuck in their own circumstances.
- The flow remains "bouncy" despite the weight of the lyrics, creating a cognitive dissonance that makes the track infinitely replayable.
Honestly, the song is a masterclass in hook writing. If you can’t get the chorus out of your head after one listen, the songwriter has won. A Boogie won. He captured the zeitgeist of 2016 SoundCloud rap while maintaining a level of technical proficiency that many of his peers lacked. He wasn't mumbling. You could hear every word, every flex, and every slight.
Critical Reception and Long-Term Impact
Critics were initially skeptical. Some dismissed him as a "New York version of Dej Loaf" or a "sing-songy" distraction from "real" rap. They were wrong. Time has been incredibly kind to this track.
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Looking back from 2026, the influence is everywhere. You can hear bits of the "My Shit" DNA in almost every melodic rapper that came out of the Northeast in the late 2010s. From Lil Tjay to Fivio Foreign’s more melodic moments, the door was kicked open by Artist.
The song eventually landed on his debut studio album The Bigger Artist, cementing its status. It wasn't just a mixtape one-off. It was the foundation.
Breaking Down the Numbers
While numbers aren't everything, they provide context for the scale. "My Shit" has racked up hundreds of millions of streams across Spotify and YouTube. It wasn't a "viral" hit in the modern TikTok sense—where it disappears after two weeks. It was a sticky hit. It stayed in the rotation. It became a staple of NYC nightlife. If you go to a club in the city tonight, ten years later, there is still a 50/50 chance the DJ drops this during the peak of the set.
Misconceptions About the Highbridge Rise
People often think A Boogie was an industry plant because of how fast he ascended. That’s a fundamental misunderstanding of the New York street circuit. Before the Drake co-sign, before the Atlantic Records deal, there were the streets.
There was the "Drowning" era that followed, but "My Shit" was the spark. It was the proof of concept. It proved that a kid from the Bronx could be sensitive and "street" at the same time without losing credibility. He wasn't trying to be a tough guy 100% of the time. He was a human being who liked nice clothes and had a broken heart every now and then.
How to Appreciate the Track Today
If you’re revisiting the song now, listen to the layering. Listen to the way he stacks his vocals on the "yeah, yeah" ad-libs. It’s sophisticated for a debut. It shows a level of studio awareness that usually takes artists years to develop.
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The nuance is in the timing. He knows when to let the beat breathe and when to crowd it with syllables. It’s a rhythmic dance that feels deeply tied to his upbringing.
For those looking to understand the evolution of A Boogie, start here. Don't go straight to the newer albums. Go back to the raw energy of "My Shit." It’s where the hunger is most palpable. You can hear him fighting for his spot.
Actionable Takeaways for Listeners and Artists
If you're an aspiring creator or just a fan wanting to dive deeper, here is how you should approach this piece of rap history:
- Study the Melodic Structure: Notice how the hook uses a repetitive but ascending melody. It builds tension and releases it perfectly. This is why it stays in your head.
- Analyze the Branding: A Boogie didn't just release a song; he released an aesthetic. The hoodie, the Highbridge chain, the "Artist" moniker—it was all cohesive.
- Listen to the Mixtape Version First: There’s a slight difference in the raw energy of the original Artist mixtape upload compared to the polished album version. The mixtape version captures the hunger of 2016.
- Explore the Related Tracks: To get the full picture, listen to "My Shit" followed by "Bando" and "Still Think About You." It creates a narrative arc of his early life.
- Watch the Music Video: The visuals are a time capsule of 2016 NYC fashion and street culture. It’s essential viewing for understanding the context of the song's rise.
The song is more than a hit. It’s a landmark. It signaled the end of one era of New York hip-hop and the definitive start of another. Whether you love the melodic shift or miss the grittiness of the 90s, you have to respect the craft. Artist Dubose knew exactly what he was doing. He wasn't just making a song; he was making his shit. And the world is still listening.
To truly understand the impact, go back and play the track on a set of good speakers. Ignore the radio edits. Let the bass hit. You'll realize that the "Bronx sound" isn't just about drill or grit—it's about the soul that A Boogie injected into the game back in 2016. It’s a legacy that continues to define the charts today. Highbridge the Label didn't just happen; it was built on this specific foundation of melody and hustle.