Optimizing My Vocal Chain for Hip-Hop/R&B

Hey Gearspace family,

I’m a mixing engineer and artist with a lot of experience mixing vocals and full songs. I’ve developed a good ear for what I want in terms of sound. but I’m currently facing a challenge that I’d love your advice on.

Here’s the issue : My current setup is a Shure SM7B into a FETHEAD, running through an SSL 2+ interface. While I’m getting decent results, I feel like something’s missing in my vocal chain, and I’m not sure where to go from here.

I’m wondering if upgrading my preamp would help I’ve heard great things about the Avedis MA5 and how well it pairs with the SM7B. But then I start thinking, maybe the microphone itself is the issue, and that I should explore other options that might suit my voice and style better.

Important : my vocal sound a little sharp on high frequencies but I’ve strong midrange it’s like between tory lanez & jack Harlow vocals. So I’m looking for something that can deliver smooth, upfront, and detailed vocals while controlling sibilance.

I’d love to hear your thoughts on whether I should focus on upgrading the preamp, switch microphones, or add anything else to my chain. What would you recommend to get that polished, professional vocal sound.

Budget : max $1000 for microphone & $1000 for preamp

Thanks in advance for your help !