Flawless Hustle.com Exclusive: The 10 Question(s) Q&A Session Series: Sha Stimuli

Written By: Dub MD 27. Oct, 2009 2 Comments

Interview by Dub MD
www.twitter.com/dubmd84

This 12th edition of the 10 question(s) Q&A series is with a Brooklyn emcee that embodies the term underrated and slept on. Sha Stimuli has been in the game for years now, but is still considered a new emcee, and still hasn’t got the proper recognition, he deserves. But now in 2009, Sha Stimuli is set to show everyone exactly how he does it, with his long overdue debut album ”My Soul To Keep” in stores right now. The Brooklynite chops it up with us about his new album, whats hes been doing over the past year, and his feelings about the internet.

Dub MD: Sha Stimuli, what’s good fam? its been a minute since our last Q&A session, and you’ve done a lot since then, for those who have been under a rock, what are some of the things you’ve done over the past couple of years?

Sha Stimuli: Well 2008 I dropped 12 CDs, The Wire, Love Jones, March on Washington, Hotter Than July, The Breakup. I really went hard getting out all the material that was inside of me. I then began doing a verse every week for 6 months for Coast 2 Coast mixtapes and that got me a record deal.

After being signed to Virgin some years ago it feels good to have control over my own project and do what I want. My album is currently in stores and it’s called My Soul To Keep. This is my debut!

Dub MD: Coming from Brooklyn, how does coming from there shape your attitude to the music/culture? and what do you think of the New York Hip Hop scene right now?

Sha Stimuli: Brooklyn made me a student of the game. With so many emcees from Brooklyn and so many different styles I was just a part of it all. We have so many cultures and crews and influences in one area I absorbed it all.

The New York scene right now is ok. There aren’t many artists saying anything too deep but the music is decent. I really like what Saigon is doing and my dude Maino. I just wish the DJs would show more support instead of making us feel inadequate about doing real hip-hop records. I appreciate Peter Rosenberg for what he does on radio.

Dub MD: Your debut album “My Soul To Keep” finally has an official release date,can you give us a little background on the album, and why should heads go out and cop that above everything else that’s out right now?

Sha Stimuli: Its an album about life. I took a bunch of stuff I was going through and things that I saw around me and put them into music form. I think it’s one of those LPs that you can vibe out to and smoke to or take a long trip and feel like you went on a musical journey. I believe the stories are deep and the music is real. It’s more than just a hip-hop record.

Dub MD: With this new album, what artists and producers did you connect with this time around? and what’s your label situation like just now?

Sha Stimuli: I got Just Blaze, Lord Digga, my older brother. M-Phazes, Jaisu, J.Cardim, Focus, Freeway, Young Chris, Torae, its a well-rounded disc coming out through Chambermusik / E1 Music formerly Koch Records.

Dub MD: You’ve got a lot of support from hip hop fans online, How important do you feel the internet is to underground hip hop these days? do you think its helping or hurting the game in the long term?

Sha Stimuli: I’m not really sure if it’s helping or hurting the game or if it’s just different. It is a true testament of fans being in control. An artist can post his music for the world to hear, comment and make or break careers. People definitely can manipulate views and listens but yet still good music can prevail.

The internet allows us to reach the world but the downside is that anyone can become an artist and there isn’t much of a filtering system like a label or A&R so in the long run, it may have an adverse effect. Or maybe it will go back to the time where there’s not a lot of money in the game and it returns to its purer days.

Dub MD: Where do you get the inspiration to write the type of material you do? What is the writing process like when it comes to working on your projects? And why do you think mc’s that keep integrity in their music, never make a real mark on soundscan?

Sha Stimuli: My inspiration comes from everything around me. I just see things and they get me thinking. I cant really explain it but it comes from my heart. I’m always aiming to say something that gets people to feel a way.

That’s important to me. I hardly remember where I am when I’m creating something or what was going through my mind. I believe it comes from a higher place. I think there are artists with integrity that make it far, I just believe it’s difficult to appeal to the masses and still be yourself and make the music that you would like to make.

I have a rare opportunity to do what I want to do and I am thankful. The issue with reaching more people is that your message cant really be too much of a message. The masses have been brainwashed to believe that ignorance, sex and violence sells.

Dub MD: How does “My Soul To Keep” differ from the countless street albums you’ve released in the past and how do you think you’ve changed as an artist since from your time a Virgin Records up to now in 2oo9?

Sha Stimuli: This CD is musically closer to what I like to do. I enjoy live instrumentation and change ups and dropouts. I wanted concepts that no one has touched on before. On Virgin I had the same vision but my view was probably more narrow. I think back then I just wanted to get fame and wealth from music. Now I want to make a difference and touch people’s lives.

Dub MD: What do you think is your most defining and unique characteristic that sets you apart from every other artist out there? and how would you describe your style to those who still haven’t heard your music?

Sha Stimuli: I think my most defining characteristic is my passion, when you hear me, you can feel my desire to speak thru music. You can tell that I care and that I want you to be a part of what I am experiencing.

My style is conversational, I love to alter my flow according to the music and I am not afraid to talk about anything that I go thru in my life. My style is hard to put in a box but it is thought-provoking. My gift and my curse.

Dub MD: You’ve shared the bill with a lot of legendary hip hop artists, If I’m coming to a Sha Stimuli show. What am I going to experience, that I won’t experience from just listening to your material on CD?

Sha Stimuli: You will see me paint the pictures that I deliver on record. My live show is a performance. I bring energy and life to my words and I make sure that everyone in the crowd feels what I’m saying on stage.

I pride myself on being audible and on keeping the songs moving and most importantly I engage the audience. Performing is one of the things that lets me know I was born to do music. It feels natural.

Dub MD: What is on tap for Sha Stimuli for the rest of 2009 and beyond? do you have anything to say to the fans? anything you wanna get off your chest? any shout outs?

Sha Stimuli: My Soul To Keep is my main focus. I am working on a bathroom book of all my blogs, I am also working on movies and maybe even a family one day. Shout to my whole team and all those that believe in me. My mother, my brother, The Carnegie group, DJ Victorious, Big Will Da Boss, Mister Fame, and everyone that has been there for me.

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