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Diamond in The Rough
Thursday 8th November 2012 | Osh
Shawn Crystopher.
Not a name widely known in these parts, this is surely a guy to sit up and take notice of. His raps contain social and political observations seen through the eyes and narrated by a highly intelligent, articulate and perceptive young black man from the ghetto. He was raised by a single mother and was in occasional contact with his father until his death in 2009.
Shawn Crystopher is a 26 year old Inglewood Calif. native rapper who, it would seem, was destined for great things. From nursery he skipped straight into Year 2 and whilst still in primary school, this child prodigy perfected the use of five musical instruments, which led to him learning how to produce his own music. He then went on to graduate high school at 16 and was given a four-and-a-half year scholarship to the University of Southern California, where he majored in Political Science.
This background in Political Science is definitely a contributing factor to his rhymes, along with his clearly apparent intellect.
His 2008 debut mixtape I.W.G: I Wear Glasses earned him rave reviews and critical acclaim along with sponsorship from urban clothing giant LRG. Crystopher's eclectic music style is what makes this young and conscious rapper so refreshing, collaborating with everyone from Mann to Mike Posner to N.O.R.E. The 2009 follow up to his debut, The Audition, got 35,000 downloads in its first week of release. Not bad for an independent artist. HIs subsequent release You and Only, You in 2010 was widely critically acclaimed and featured in many glossy hip-hop mags, with hit single "Catch Me if You Can" premiering on BETs 106 & Park as the New Joint of the Day. VIBE magazine covered the album release party in TImes Square , NY.His latest creation Lovestory is a mesh of neo soul, old school hip-hop flavours and new school beats flavoured with the kind of creative consciousness that has various artists lining up to collaborate with him. No wonder super-producer Timbaland snapped him up and added him to his ever-growing stable of artists.
Shawn's website, Honourrolestudent.com, hosts all his music and all his releases are available online for free download. For those who remember what true hip-hop is about, you won't be disappointed.
Kyla
