Local rapper DeCo Slush wanders insomnia-ridden and shoeless through RVA alleys in ‘Nightcrawler’ music video

by | Apr 26, 2016 | MUSIC

Fans of hip hop and burning the midnight oil rejoice, local rapper DeCo Slush has dropped a new track and video hoping to offer some insight into those afflicted by insomnia.


Fans of hip hop and burning the midnight oil rejoice, local rapper DeCo Slush has dropped a new track and video hoping to offer some insight into those afflicted by insomnia.

Calling the condition a “real inspiration” for his song writing, or at least “Nightcrawler” in particular, DeCo, AKA Shawn Holt, said there were plenty of songs a lot of songs out there about all sorts of different disorders (depression, anxiety, addiction, etc)… But there wasn’t a song about insomnia that I thought really did it justice. Thus ‘Nightcrawler’ was born.”

Shot this past winter during one of our many snow storms, DeCo said he got plenty of funny looks “walking through Richmond alleyways in the snow, stepping around glass and needles barefoot with a camera following me… It’s not everyday you see some poofy haired barefoot stranger strolling by, dragging a pillow, with complete disregard for the weather or the well being of his feet.”

Another part of the video was shot in a parking garage connected to a local police station = as you can imagine, that didn’t go over well with local authorities.

“We got stopped and questioned for a second there,” he said. “But got in no real trouble surprisingly. [I] had a lot of passersby ask me because of my pajamas ‘Are you going to bed or something?’ and I always just replied with ‘I wish.'”

“Nightcrawler” is DeCo’s first music video, though he’s been making music since about 2012.

He ended up trolling tumblr for local filmmakers to add visuals to his audio work, and that’s where he met local photog Spenser Grandstaff. The two met up and hashed out the video idea and before long production began.

“We both had solid idea of the content and the tone we wanted to aim for,” he said. “And before I knew it, we were out recording barefoot on Belle Isle in the freezing cold.”

We were impressed with the final product. How about you all? Let us know in the comments below and keep up with DeCo Slush on Soundcloud here.

Brad Kutner

Brad Kutner

Brad Kutner is the former editor of GayRVA and RVAMag from 2013 - 2017. He’s now the Richmond Bureau Chief for Radio IQ, a state-wide NPR outlet based in Roanoke. You can reach him at BradKutnerNPR@gmail.com




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