Shawn Xavien & WRSE Kaleo Carve Out Creative Freedom on “Give Me Some Space”

When two heavy-hitting creators like Shawn Xavien and WRSE Kaleo hit the studio, you don’t just get another collab, you get a collision. Their new joint, “Give Me Some Space,” is a product of exactly that: two visionaries finding common ground through friendly rivalry, raw honesty, and a deep respect for the craft.

Built over four intense studio sessions, “Give Me Some Space” captures the duo at their most uninhibited. The production, handled solely by Shawn and Kaleo themselves, is both cinematic and hard-hitting, blending gritty hip-hop energy with a refined sense of musicianship that comes from years in the trenches. It’s not about ego: it’s about evolution.

The spark for the track came during the height of the Kendrick vs. Drake beef, when the two artists decided to channel that same competitive energy into something creative. What started as a series of playful lyrical exchanges turned into what they called their own “impossible beef,” a friendly sparring match that ultimately led to the truce track “40 for 40.” That collaboration, along with their earlier work like the crew cut “Hit and Run” featuring CB and E-Rich, set the stage for “Give Me Some Space,” a statement piece on coexistence, mutual respect, and the beauty of artistic freedom.

“There’s space for all creators at any level,” says Xavien, and that’s the heart of it. In a culture often defined by competition, this track flips the narrative. It’s not about who’s better, it’s about how far you can go when you leave your ego at the door.

For Shawn Xavien, founder of Senih Circle Music and long-celebrated as one of Virginia’s most cinematic producers, the single marks another chapter in a comeback that no one saw coming. After announcing his supposed “final” album XIX in 2020, he’s since unleashed an avalanche of music, from the Don’t Worry I’ll Wait instrumental series to The Third Floor EP.

Meanwhile, WRSE Kaleo, the Maryland native with roots in poetry, theater, and basement beat-making, brings the balance, sharp lyricism, rich storytelling, and the precision of a lifelong producer. His background in stagecraft bleeds into his sound, making every verse feel visual, alive, and deliberate.

“Give Me Some Space” isn’t just a track; it’s a manifesto for creatives who build, compete, and uplift all at once. It’s proof that iron sharpens iron, and when artists stop fighting for space, they start creating universes.

“Give Me Some Space” was born from friendly competition. What did that process teach you both about collaboration and ego in music?

Shawn Xavien: I believe the process brings out the best or should bring out the best in all parties involved. Being confident in your skill while also respecting the abilities and contributions of others.

Kaleo: Collaboration is cool. It taught me that collaborating with the right people can awaken another side of you, a side that normally wouldn’t be awakened if you did it on your own. 

Ego has to be in music; if you aren’t building yourself to be the best or believing it, then why do anything? I have to believe that nobody does it like me. There are enough naysayers out there telling you that you can’t do something or that you aren’t good enough, but what do you believe? 

The phrase “There’s space for all creators at any level” hits hard. How does that philosophy guide your careers beyond this track?

Shawn Xavien: It’s an understanding of where I am in the music space and setting goals to reach that next level if I so choose.

Kaleo: I'm going to attack my space without limitations. If this is my space, that means I’m meant to be here as I am. 

You both self-produced and wrote the song. How did you balance two strong creative visions without stepping on each other’s toes?

Shawn Xavien: Kaleo and I go back several years, and we understand each other's visions and sounds so clearly. Throughout the entirety of the project, our steps just aligned in a way that complemented each track, no matter who produced it. If anything, we both left each other in awe session after session. I definitely walked away with an even higher level of appreciation for his genius.

Kaleo: It all starts with trust and respect. I trust and respect Shawn as a producer and engineer. I knew the project was in good hands. We agreed on everything anyway, which made it a lot easier to do this project. Leave the egos in the lyrics and trust the person on the other side of you. All the music we presented to each other was graciously accepted by the other. We both gave each other space to breathe on this project, which is why it turned out so good.

The energy behind this track feels cinematic and raw. What specific moments or sessions stand out from the recording process?

Shawn Xavien: We wanted the project to sound big. We wanted to make sure it was a reflection of space. That session in particular was the one where we knew “Give Me Some Space” had to be the intro to the entire project. I remember telling Kaleo, “Go with what you feel,” and once we played it back, the room lit up. There were so many moments while recording this project that we knew we were building something memorable.

Kaleo: Honestly, all the sessions stand out because they weren’t like the others. We created 90% of these songs off of conversations the same night prior to any of us stepping to the mic that night. If I had to pick a moment, it was when we recorded Rush Hour. We were pretty much packing up for the night and decided to record an impromptu song and drop it the next day on our Bandcamp pages. Little did we know Rush Hour would kind of become the lead single for the project.

Given your shared respect for artistry and experimentation, what do you hope younger artists take from the way you approached “Give Me Some Space”?

Shawn Xavien: Be yourself, no matter how tempting it is to follow the crowd. Make something that truly resonates with you, and understand that you can only control your effort and attitude; the result will take care of itself.

Kaleo: Don’t let anyone tell you it’s too late to accomplish a dream. Time is of the essence, space is needed in time, give me some space, because it’s Rush Hour.