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Artwork by Andres Lora
It's been a minute since I've had a chance to post something from Philly's Funk Fanatic My Man Shafe, but he's back with a new EP. The appropriately titled Funk features three new tracks that further develop his signature blend of soul, funk, and melodic rapping. First up is a sequel to Shafe's jam I'm Cookin'. This time around he's grabbed a classic break from The Gaturs' Gatur Bait for the remix:
My Man Shafe - Cookin' Part 2 (right-click to d/l)
Rather than do a full writeup on the EP (the Cliff's Note version: It's Dope), I got Shafe to sit down and answer a few questions about his approach to music and what he finds inspiration from. Mixed in with the interview are the two other tracks from the EP, Brothers - arguably Shafe's strongest track to date - and Too Cold.
In your own words, how do you describe your style musically? What's the vibe that you're going for when you start working on a song?
My music is soul 100%. It's coming from very deep inside. As far down as I can dig that's where my music comes from, so I know it's soul....I love funk as well so it goes in that direction, but if I had to use one word: SOUL.
Most of your solo music has a "live" sound and energy to it where it feels like it was recorded with the intent of it being performed in front of a live audience moreso than a lot of hip hop today that tends to be geared more towards solo ipod listening. Is that something you intentionally go for when you start writing a song?
You know I really don't. I just get in touch with what I'm feeling in the moment and go. That's similar to when I perform, I just grab that moment and express it. I feel like a lot of stuff today is either lowest common denominator type music, or artists aren't digging down as much. There's more music less soul, so it's good for a moment then dissappears. My music having as much soul & passion as it does really lends itself to the live audience because they can feel it, and connect.
When you first started rapping and working on your performances, were there any other emcees or groups that you studied or that inspired you? Or even non-hip hop groups? All your music has a strong funk vibe to it so I'm assuming some older groups had some influence on you. (Some of your songs sound to me like an evolution of what the Brand New Heavies were doing in the early 90's; were you ever into them?)
I never messed with the Heavies but I will now that you mentioned them lol. As far as the live shows I watched Black Thought & The Roots. Growing up and seeing them in the Philly area was a huge influence. I really really connected to Thought for some reason. I just knew the soul & skill he had was what I wanted to have when I hit the stage. It was like pure passion and it just hit home, I felt it. He's the Otis Redding of rap to me and I look up to both those artists as people I would like to emulate. Pure soul.
My Man Shafe - Brothers (right-click to d/l)
Your flow is really unique, the best way I can describe it is sort of a melodic version of Peedi Peedi. I've never heard any of your older stuff but from what I've been told your delivery was a lot more "traditional" back in the day. Assuming that's accurate, what was the turning point where you started to switch things up?
I never intentionally tried to switch anything, as I got better and more confident it began to come out differently. To the point now where it'll be raw lyrics but I almost try to sing them instead of spit them. I feel the hurt and the pain in the music and it helps me cope with the pain I have inside of me and it justs comes out melodic at this point. I always wanted to be deadly lyrically but be able to bring it out in a melodic, rhythmic way. So, something with deep meaning that was easy to listen to. I don't feel like many mc's, or any for that matter, take that approach.
From the footage I've seen of your live shows, you bring a ton of energy to the performance. What do you do before a show to get yourself mentally prepared and hyped up?
You know, right before I go onstage I just take a breath and remind myself to "let it go." Then, whether im freestyling or doing joints, I dig as far down as I can and bring out the most concentrated energy I have, and just go. Whether it's 2 people or 2000 I give every single ounce of my being to that stage, that performance. I have some really deep pain that only comes out in a few ways, performing being one of them, so I'm intensely passionate. It just means so much to me to be able to go onstage and vent. It's everything to me. Hence a lot of energy and soul comes blasting out.
My Man Shafe - Too Cold (right-click to d/l)
If you want to see Shafe perform live, you can check him out at Philly's Triumph Brewery every Monday night alongside Tony Catastrophe. My Man Shafe also performs every first Tuesday of the month at Legendary Dobb's Black Stars Jam.
And don't forget, you can check out all of Shafe's official Thirty Three Jones Records releases over at Thirty Three Jones.
Previously from My Man Shafe:
My Man Shafe featuring Zilla Rocca - Look at Her
I'm Cookin'
Dre Boogie featuring My Man Shafe and Zilla Rocca - Everlasting
Street Funk
Red Knight Going Down
Get Work
New Wu Freestyle with Zilla Rocca and Alex Ludovico
Soul Love
4/3/2013 7:30:00 PM posted by Fresh