LYNN — Shaquille Pinckney, better known as SMP, has some big things coming up over the next few months. The local rapper, whose social media accounts reach more than 10 million people a month, is working on creating a nonprofit called “LynnHeals” and has a new album on the way.
“My biggest focus this year when it comes to giving back to the community is cleaning up our parks. I’ve been eyeing the idea of creating a nonprofit organization called ‘LynnHeals,’ also a play on the word heel; as in we will be on our feet to help clean all parks around the Lynn area, and then eventually branching off into [the North Shore] as a whole someday,” SMP wrote in an email to The Daily Item.
He and his business partner Amanda Cardan have been drawing up the plans for this summer.
“We’ve been discussing this idea since last year, and feel like now that winter is over God is preparing us to give a hand to the city by making it cleaner for our children to play in it, and adults alike,” SMP wrote. “I know Mayor [Jared] Nicholson is doing incredible work with keeping our parks and community clean so we’re looking forward to launching our own nonprofit organization.”
SMP also has a new album coming out in the summer of fall. While in the past he has been quick to show the world his music, this time around he is taking his time to prepare and release it.
“I’m currently working on an album ‘Sage Mode 2’ … with the thoughts of reaching new milestones instead of just releasing with no well-thought goal to achieve,” SMP wrote.
This will have the highest quality of his musical projects, he said. He worked with renowned musical engineers Vlado Meller and Beau Vallis for “Sage Mode 2.”
Working with them encouraged him to “really focus on quality, the marketing side of things,” and the final impact of his work.
“I’m very excited. From the wordplay, to the beat selections, it’s all marvelous I would say,” SMP wrote. “My album ‘Sage Mode 1’ totaled 808,732 streams via all streaming sites in total, so I’m hoping to do just as well with ‘Sage Mode 2.’”
When he’s not in the studio, making plans for his future nonprofit, or organizing coat donation drives like he did this past winter, SMP is interacting with his followers through social media.
He said he uses his platform to spread peace, love, and positivity.
“It’s me feeding the world positive vibes instead of negative content to help people grow,” SMP wrote. “So, if I post a status and it makes you think, consider being more positive, or just anything positive as an influencer to the community — that’s what makes me happy.”
