I’m probably not the greatest advocate for UK Hip Hop. Many of the ‘UK Hip Hop’ artists that have risen up and progressed into the realms of radio airtime and mainstream press coverage, have basically tarnished my view on the whole genre. Call it narrow-minded, ignorant or whatever you want – but a lot of the material I hear is about making fast money, girls and the ghetto – neither of which I’m interested in: my wage is pretty crap, I’m straight and was brought up in Barnet! But then luckily there are a few diamonds in the ruff that stand out and compensate for the blur of ‘bragging-culture’ that occupies the minds of many rappers (and artists in general), artists such as Akala and Mikill Pane for instance; and now, more recently Shadez the Misfit!
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Over the past week there was huge buzz on Twitter surrounding the launch of young UK rapper and fashion designer; Shadez the Misfit, and his mixtape: ‘Misfit Maximus‘. Having made his mark on both the fashion world (Bape/Swarovski/Converse) and music world (performances at Lovebox/Channel 4/Dazed&Confused press coverage/hosting for G Shock sessions) – Shadez the Misfit is probably one of the most recognised rappers on the underground scene. Listening to his mixtape, you get an idea of why he refers to himself as a misfit; he comes across as humble – making honest references to his experiences growing up, discussing his influences, negative hurdles he’s overcome and his concerns around how money could change him:
“For me, while everyone is trying to fit in – I’m here to stand out. I’m not a product of my environment”
The only thing Shadez The Misfit appears to brag about is his music, and rightly so – after having Dazed&Confused, one of the most respected arts and music magazines recommend his music! His lyrics and themes vary just as much as the beats he’s chosen to use do; ranging from electro, to indie and dub-heavy electronica. Which is understandable considering his eclectic variety of influences: Andre 3000, Dexter Wansel, Kurt Cobain, NERD and Zero 7.
One of my favourite tracks on the Misfit Maximus mixtape is ‘Learn to Fly‘ which talks about ambitions, dreams and even makes reference to the Greek Legend of Icarus!
Quite rare for a mixtape, which are often collaboration-heavy, ‘Misfit Maximus‘ only has one feature which is from fellow UK rapper, ‘Its Nate‘.
Check out Shadez The Misfit’s website to download the full album for free. You can also visit his Facebook and Twitter pages for updates and details of his next events.
About Tara
Music discoverer, explorer and lover! I enjoy traveling, politics, film and all things creative! Follow me on Twitter for rants, food & Hip Hop and check out my other blog!