Like Jay Z or Mos Def? Check out this free song.

This week's free download comes from local hip-hop artist Shawn Elliot. To download it, right-click and save the link below, or click here to download the entire playlist.

>> TRACK 11 <<
SHAWN ELLIOT with WILL DA REAL 1: "BITTERSWEET"
>> CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD <<

FOR FANS OF: Jay Z, Talib Kwali, Mos Def
ONLINE: www.myspace.com/shawnelliot 
MYSPACE PLAYS: 393
WRITTEN BY: Shawn Elliot
WRITTEN IN: December 2007
RECORDED: First laid down at his house in Florida in January 2008, mastered and mixed until April
PRODUCED BY: Shawn Elliot

This track combines smart, lyrics-driven hip hop with an excellent sample from a classic song.

Shawn Elliot, a South Florida native who recently moved to the Valley, released the track earlier this year on his free-to-download album Abstract M, available for download now at www.shawn-elliot.com.

The song opens with a spoken word peace from HBO Def Poetry Jam alum Will da Real 1. Elliot starts rapping over a beat based on the classic Verve song "Bittersweet Symphony."

He wrote the lyrics himself, while driving between the Valley and South Texas. A 13-year-old student helped him form the beat. Elliot has long worked to teach children in Boys and Girls Clubs about self-esteem and life through music. The student helped him during that volunteer effort.

"He sat next to me, we were going over the samples and I was showing him how to do stuff as I made the beat," Elliot said. "I guess you could say he co-produced it."

The song lyrics tackle life's challenges. Even though your days might challenge you, you should learn to take the good with the bad.

"The song is about how bittersweet life could be," he said. "Even though it's bitter, it's still sweet to me."

Read more about Shawn Elliot.

Download the other songs in Festiva's Infinite Playlist:

WANT THE WHOLE PLAYLIST? CLICK HERE.

Zack Quaintance covers features and entertainment for Festiva. You can reach him at (956) 683-4447.