He hails from the Big Smoke, his name is Mr Shaodow and he is one busy MC. If you ever wondered whether martial arts and hiphop can share the stage, the answer is yes!

For those who are still yet to find out about Mr. Shaodow, can you tell us how you first got involved in hiphop -

Boy now that’s a question, one day I woke up after a mad night before, rolled over and there it was in my bed, haha. Truth be told I never even liked music that much when I was young, I went to a school in London all middle-class kids, too rich to be poor gangsters, too poor to be rich toffs, but oh did they try. I really didn’t feel like I fitted in so I mostly hung with my crew, me myself and I.

At the time I was singing opera and was in the school choir so I mostly listened to classical, got onto rock when I was trying to impress some girl, yeah hip hop was there but it wasn’t anything special to me.

So I stayed at that school for 7 years enduring isolation and people not understanding me, they say a good rapper needs to have had pain in their life and that’s mine, being challenged everyday because I was me and refused to compromise was too much sometimes.

Anyway this guy Spectral came to work at my school as a sound technician, he was from Brixton and most people thought he was a gangster so they didn’t really chat with him. I’d just filmed a martial arts video as a project and was sitting in the editing suite editing it alone during lunch time cos I always felt better being alone. He came in and we started chatting about marital arts turned out he practised too and a friendship was built, from that point my life changed.

He’s a rapper/producer/sound engineer and had built a team of artists, he taught me a lot of martial arts and various other techniques that I keep to myself, I used to hang with him during my free time at school as it’d get me away from everyone else and he’d show me his music and various other artists.

Long story short I ended up joining the team learning about artists such as Scarface and learning to rap. Together we built up a studio which we now own, a lot of the MC’s disappeared until it was me him and one other rapper that are now part of the group, its called Elements Bound.

At first I could write nice stuff but couldn’t get it on the beat properly, I didn’t get to jump on the mic too often as a result and it made me angry so I worked harder and harder and it was my determination to prove them wrong that was my driving force. Now people want me on their tracks haha.

Seems like Spectral had quite a positive influence on you. So what’s the story behind Elements Bound?

Well rather than just another rap cliché, Elements Bound focuses on creativity and independence for all associated artists. Whether they rap, sing, produce, draw or make videos all members of EB are unique solo Elements in their own right but at the same time they are all Bound by their love of their respective arts. Because we own the studio we can do what we want, it’s much better than being owned by a record label but ten times as hard to get anywhere fast.

Anyway to go back to your question I still don’t really listen to hip hop, I like Ludacris, Meth and Red and Scarface and that’s pretty much it, I don’t listen to hip hop to keep my sound as pure as possible, I’m sure you’ve heard rappers and you can blatantly tell who their influences are, if you ask me have I heard of this rapper or that one most likely I haven’t, I don’t know how to put it across without sounding full of myself but I can’t be listening to other rappers or I’ll just end up comparing myself to them and this mission is hard enough already.

Oh right, that’s similar to Blunted. We have always tried to represent the elements of hiphop through the Blunted forum. The aim being to provide a platform for the different elements to flourish. Right, your music tastes, what do you listen to?

Some rock, some classical, jazz, hip hop in Chinese, those guy are sick trust me.

Right I’m gonna check some of that Chinese ish, sounds interesting. Now, your name is Shaodow – I take it that’s an oriental influence?

Indeed it is, I travelled over to China in 2004 to study Shaolin Kung fu with the monks and the name represents my love for martial arts and music. At the same time I have this weird ability to copy people’s techniques and make it my own, whether it’s through rapping or martial arts if I see you doing something I like chances are I’ll learn it. I’m hyper competitive and have to force myself to tone it down but if I’m listening to a rapper or focusing on them it’s because I’m pushing myself to grow and surpass them.

Oh as a side note MR is an alternative to MC, just a little reminder to myself to stay unique and be myself not follow what everyone else is doing.

Anyway, China I loved it out there, absolute peace, I wrote my first song, Back 2 Da Drawing Board over there, that was really when my style developed and I had written a piece of art that I was proud of, after I got back life was just different, I was more confident in myself it was my dream and I achieved it, so all in all pretty good trip.

My new dream is to put a music video on TV, I’ve filmed it and I’m proud to say it is now up on my myspace, www.myspace.com/mrshaodow and I sent it off to MTV and Channel U on the 21st so hopefully I’ll achieve that too. Still it hasn’t been easy, you won’t see me at a party unless I’m performing because I’ll be at home working on my stuff or thinking about working on my stuff or eating, its constant hard work because I demand quality for those choose to listen to my stuff.

Now I’m at the stage where it’s not as difficult to get live performances people have started approaching me to ask for my presence, my next aim is to get paid gigs, cos a brothers gotta eat.

Yeah, I’ve heard about your live shows – should the crowd be issued with crash helmets just in case?

Hahahaha yes. Seriously though I mix Kung Fu with music during my stage show because I can, its different and more enjoyable for the crowd, when I do a show I want people going home happy having enjoyed themselves, I give it my all because I love it.

Still letting me on the stage is a real bad idea, anywhere there’s a mic you’ll find me and some people trying to get it back off me. If you check out my song ‘Help! I’m A Rap Addict’ it pretty much explains it.

As I said, I’m overly competitive even worse I’m a natural show off, so everyday I’m forcing myself to stay humble, when I get on the stage, all that pent up energy gets released so every performance is unique and interesting in its own way, may be one day I might explode or something that’d be fun for the crowd.

When I perform I wear my Chinese top you may have seen it in a picture, I had it made in china and it has the Elements Bound (EB) logo on it, I also tend to sell the CD’s that I’ve produced. I bought myself a CD printer so now I don’t have to rely on anyone to get my product ready.

It must help being a little extrovert if your pushing your music. You’re a busy fella that’s for sure. So what you been up to in the last couple of months?

Well the last couple months have really been the beginning for me, I really decided that I was gonna make a go of this in January 2007 so I went out there and got myself a show at the market tavern, I wasn’t too happy with my performance at that time as I had only done a few so not much experience but I vowed to get at least two shows a month.

Anyway I must be blessed cos the right people showed up to the shows at the right time, the first time I managed to develop the show that I now perform is when the Nightshift guys came down to do a review on the night and they ended up writing about me, which was nice.

As I said produce my own CD’s now, within about 3 month’s I’d finished my first single, ‘Look Out There’s A Black Man Coming’ and sent it off to the radio stations, they’ve played it on BBC radio Oxford and regularly on Rapture FM. Also filmed my music video as you know and started up my clothing line, which I am wearing in the video and in the process of developing further.

Erm what else, it kinda sounds like I’m showing off to be honest this interview stuff is hard, getting who you are across without sounding like a fool. I forget most of what I’ve done, my eyes are focused on the next stage but I performed after Klashnekoff just recently, so a good four months really, I have big hopes for the end of the year.

At the end of the day if something came of my music my main focus would be to stay humble and stay hungry, money and fame changes people I hope I’m strong enough to maintain who I am in fact I know I am, I’d like to think that you could come up to me after a huge show and I’d chat to you human to human.

Oh I forgot, whilst all this is happening I’m also studying Law and Business at Brookes, if rapping doesn’t work out I guess I’ll be a lawyer. People ask me how I have time for all this… I don’t know but I feel that God’s got my back and I don’t bother asking questions.

Busy days! Juggling college and your music must take a lot of discipline. I know you found time recently to rep on Cro’s Main Ingredient Radio Show. How did you find it?

Oh yeah I forgot about that, yeah it was great Cro’s a real cool guy, but I remember him from a show I put on with some dude at the Cellar, Live Vibes it was called. He didn’t remember me but then again why should he.

It was my first time on the radio so it was a definite experience; I remember talking about jumping out of the window for some reason which was embarrassing when I listened back to it, but altogether a jolly old time.

After my exams I’m going up to Cambridge to go on Rapture FM so I’ll be repping the Ox on the 20th of May.

Representing the O-X, thats what we like! Show em the Hands of Wind if they mention rowing, haha. Now the hard part, describe your music in 5 words -

Erm I dunno that’s hard. Was that five? In truth I don’t have any words for it, I wouldn’t call it hip hop specifically and I defiantly wouldn’t call it urban (I hate that word) but everyone else would so what can you do.

I call it music at the end of the day, its not political cos I don’t know squat about politics and find it all a puppet show anyway, its just life, I talk about things I see things I feel, and put it into a way that the majority of people can relate to at the same time. I can take a man’s experience or story and turn it into a song, and have him nodding his head and feeling it, it’s not the exact experience but a shadow of the vibe he had (once again the reason for the name).

I’ve just checked the video to your new single - good effort. It’s out now yeah?

Yep ‘Look Out There’s A Black Man Coming the single’ a long name but I’m sure it will create interest as a result. I won’t say too much before people jack my ideas, it happens more than you’d think.

At the end of the day, the days of the single are dying and that’s a shame, this one is gonna be more like a mini album, showcasing the talents of not just myself but other people who make art for the love of it.

The main song is a satirical look at racism, from the eyes of a young black man asking people just basically not to judge me and assume I’m like the ones who give us a bad name. I can’t quite remember how it was born I started writing it this time last year, the idea came to me when I was doing laundry. Thinking about it though I did get into a fight and may be that was an inspiration.
On my birthday some drunk guy called me the N word I hate the word and refuse to use it cos it’s degrading so I certainly don’t expect to be called it. Needless to say he wanted a fight and I love the fact that I look like I can’t fight (guess it wasn’t a good idea telling everyone about China) I don’t remember if it was the adrenaline but I swear he didn’t even manage to touch me it was over quickly but I was left with a sour taste in my mouth over the experience so I spewed it onto paper.

It took a long time to write it, a couple months because I swear I have OCD all my songs have to be near enough perfect, have to make sense, you have to know what the f I’m talking about and I must be proud of it, it is representing me after all.

Anyway, second song is The Club remixed by Offkey if you don’t like the original chances are you’ll like this, third is Back 2 Da Drawing Board.

I’ve signed a contract with a worldwide distribution company so expect to see it out and about once I’m ready to release it. I’m planning to film my third video for the single as well very soon, most likely in Oxford so holla at me if you want to be a part of it.

Lastly I will be pressing up some vinyl’s for the DJ’s I got love for them guys and I know there’s dedicated vinyl fans out there, the hard part is getting them to buy mine.

Yeah, it seems like the futures doomed for vinyl but getting your tune pressed is definitely a good look. Now onto the more important questions. What’s your favourite meal?

Haha chicken, my girl usually does a whole baking tray’s worth and I have the majority to myself, now that’s happiness, I just don’t seem to put on weight which is weird. By the way before anyone gets any ideas, I can cook too, I just like her chicken.

Mmmm, chicken, you gotta try McCoys chicken, it’s ridiculously good. How about your favourite film?

Erm dunno anymore, used to be Iron Monkey the Kung Fu film but since I went to China it’s not so amazing when you’ve seen it first hand.

To be honest I don’t have much time to watch films I’m either working on my music or doing University work.

Mate, there are too many good films out there. My recommendation for you is Ghost Dog. I know your gonna be feelin that. What’s your favourite piece of clothing?

My performance top most definitely, I have some huge ideas for future clothes including Shaodow thongs, I’ll find you if you steal the idea. I like wearing my own clothes helps me stay strong on those days when I’m wondering why I became a rapper when EVERYBODY is a rapper.

Right, it was good chatting to you. All the best for your future endevours. Lastly, you got any last shout-outs?

Well, thanks for reading the interview I guess. Please spread the word about me and my stuff I really can’t do this alone and check me out at www.myspace.com/mrshaodow , you’re welcome to email me I’d be happy to chat and get some feedback etc.

I’m being featured in an online magazine on www.liveforlondon.com so check it out if you can.

Please come to my shows and chat to me I ain’t anyone special and it’s not like its far to travel.

Oh if you have any shows and you want me to be a part please contact me I’d be honoured and if there are any live musicians out there especially rock bands or jazz bands holla at me I have need of your services.

Apart from that look out for me, Mr Shaodow coming to a speaker near you.

www.myspace.com/mrshaodow