Sha Stimuli

Sha Stimuli
Background information
Birth name Sherod Khaalis
Also known as The Present, S.T.I., Stimuli
Origin Brooklyn, New York
Genres East Coast hip hop
Occupation(s) Rapper, High School Basketball coach
Years active 2003 – present
Labels Chambermusik Records

Sha Stimuli, born Sherod Khaalis (August 9, 1978), is an American rapper from Brooklyn, New York. He is known for his mixtape releases, beginning with Let Me Show You The Way in 2002, which earned him a spot in Source Magazine's Unsigned Hype section.[1] Sha Stimuli is cousin of Dre Knight and is the younger brother of producer and rapper Lord Digga, through whom he was introduced to known Brooklyn rappers such as Notorious B.I.G and Masta Ace.[2]

Background

As a kid, Sha Stimuli often followed in the footsteps of his older brother, Lord Digga, learning various things about the music business. As a producer on the Notorious B.I.G's album Ready To Die, Digga often took his little brother to recording sessions at the studio, which later on influenced him to become a rapper. At only 14 years old, Stimuli, as Kid Dynamite, appeared on Masta Ace's album SlaughtaHouse.[3] Before continuing with music though, Stimuli focused on his other love, basketball playing at Brooklyn Technical High School , heading to Iowa to play NCAA Division 1. In 1997, he studied at the Delaware State University while interning at Roc-A-Fella Records, bringing him closer to his true passion: music.[4]

Musical career

In college, Stimuli gained recognition by being active in freestyle ciphers. Beginning his mixtape career in 2002, Stimuli released his first tape entitled Let Me Show You the Way, gaining him recognition in various print and online publications. Some years later, Stimuli was signed to Virgin Records and was set to release his debut album, Thee Emotion Picture, in the third quarter of 2007. Recording at Baseline Studios, Stimuli had producers Just Blaze and Nottz working on production for the album, but the process soon came to a halt due to problems that arose at Virgin Records. In early 2008, legal issues between Virgin Records and Def Jam left Sha Stimuli without a management team and label.[5]

In early 2008, together with childhood friend DJ Victorious Stimuli took on an endeavour to release one mixtape per month for the next 12 months. Each mixtape had a theme and concept, ranging from politics ("March On Washington") to relationships ("Love Jones", "The Breakup"), and gained him a significant amount of attention. In October 2008 Sha was also featured on the track "Destined to Shine" from Statik Selektah's album Stick 2 the Script.[6]

Debut album

Sha Stimuli released his debut album, My Soul To Keep, on October 27, 2009 with Chambermusik Records / El Distribution. The first single, Move Back, features rappers Freeway and Young Chris and is produced by Just Blaze. The album was released to critical success.[7][8][9]

2012

On January 23, 2012, Sha Stimuli released The Calling, which was the first EP from his The Rent Tape Series, which is 12 EP's to be released in 2012. This series is similar to his series in 2008, in which he released 12 mixtapes in 12 months.

Discography

Studio albums

Mixtapes

Guest appearances

List of non-single guest appearances, with other performing artists, showing year released and album name
Title Year Other performer(s) Album
"God's Plan" (Remix) 2000 I-20 Endless Pursuit
"Voodoo Priest" 2014 t.h.e. MisFit Crazy8 Re-State Of Emergency
"Delirium" Willie the Kid & Bronze Nazareth The Living Daylights

EP's

References

  1. ↑ http://www.soundclick.com/bands/default.cfm?bandID=748476
  2. ↑ http://shastimuli.com/about/
  3. ↑ http://www.soundclick.com/bands/default.cfm?bandID=748476
  4. ↑ http://shastimuli.com/about/
  5. ↑ http://shastimuli.com/about/
  6. ↑ http://www.thehiphopchronicle.com/2008/09/08/statik-selektah-stick-to-the-script-tracklist/
  7. ↑ http://www.hiphopdx.com/index/reviews/id.1296/title.sha-stimuli-my-soul-to-keep
  8. ↑ http://www.yoraps.com/search.php?misc=search&subaction=showfull&id=1255351491&archive=&cnshow=news&ucat=6&start_from=&
  9. ↑ http://www.xxlmag.com/online/?p=61150

External links