My man beads of the KNott gang recently had the chance to chop it up with the wescoast based MC Shade Sheist. Read what went down:
TIHH: Who is Shade Sheist?
Shade Sheist: I would describe myself best as “The Exception”. I am everything that is not supposed to be. Most thought you had to be a hardcore criminal in order to produce good ‘gangsta rap’ music, I proved them wrong. Many thought that I was doing too much at age 13 and that I would never be able to bridge the gap between the ‘clean’ artist I started as and the ‘mature’ artist I have become, but again, I proved them wrong. The first few labels I signed to said I would have to keep releasing singles and eventually one would pop on the Billboard charts. The first single I ever released as Shade Sheist went #1 right off the bat. I was 19 years old and cracking, following the footsteps of West coast greats such as DJ Quik and Snoop Doggy Dogg. Shade Sheist, to be put simply, is the product of a world of experience and quality.
TIHH: People who are familiar with you know that you have a long history in this industry. How did it all start for you?
Shade Sheist: Elementary school, being influenced by Another Bad Creation and Kris Kross, then eventually DJ Quik and Snoop. I linked up with my best friend and formed a group; we started at about the size of ABC and then ended up a duo like KK. We rapped clean rhymes and mostly talked about love and our dreams of living the good life, all the while I was cussing like a sailor inside! Every month we would hit World on Wheels (a skating rink) and grab the latest issue of Rap Pages, turn straight to the back where the ads were and check for any upcoming talent shows in our area. Several auditions and showcases later I met folks who introduced me to other folks and with each new connect I climbed closer and closer to the top. Before I could fully realize the magnitude of how far I had come I was already on TV, in magazines and traveling the world!
TIHH: Of course, sometime down that road, you dropped When “Where I Wanna Be” (featuring Nate Dogg and Kurupt). How did things change for you?
Shade Sheist: Too much to really explain! I remember recording the track and being like “ehh, it’s cool,” I was more excited that I had Nate and Kurupt on the record with me; they are legendary in my eyes. I had no idea that song was going to be that big, even with Nate and Kurupt on it. I won’t even lie about it! When Damizza called me up at like 5 in the morning to tell me that we were #1 in Billboard I didn’t even react, which pissed him off. I didn’t realize what it all meant (that and I was half-sleep) but when I came to, I woke up to a totally new world. People who didn’t recognize me, now did. I was signing all types of things for people including babies! Folks even started giving me things; expensive things, for free! Females who thought I was cute now thought I was fine! HaHa. It’s been an interesting transition, to say the least.
