M.E.B.B introduces SHAKAR EL SWAGGA
October 13, 2009 by admin · Leave a Comment
Born Chukwudi Ezeagwa, Shakar hails from Nise in Awka south Local Government Area of Anambra state. His stage name originated from his high school days when his classmates started calling him Shaka after they read about Shaka Zulu in class. Chukwudi had mentioned to his friends that he wanted to be great like Shaka Zulu; however, he didn’t want the name “Zulu”. Couple of years passed with his friends appending any last name they wanted to his new found alias. However, he coined the name Shakar El Shakar which he later changed to Shakar El Swagga after hearing the word: Swag and looking up the meaning. Swag, as he said, is something in him that he always knew he had but never knew the right terminology to define it.
Like most artists, he sang in the choir in his younger days though he had to stop due to the distance from his home to church. Nonetheless, this UK based artist still found a way to be in touch with his passion by watching music videos that his dad brought home. With a ton of musical influences spanning across multiple regions of the world and ranging from the legendary Fela Anikulapo-Kuti, Tuface Idibia, Lagbaja, Asa, D’banj, Sunny Neji to the likes of Brenda Fassi, Notorious B.I.G , this song writer and performer describes his music as originating from a fusion of genres. A fusion of dancehall, hip-hop, reggae, indigenous music and rock but gearing mostly towards the dancehall.
Motivated by beats, he points out that his three singles: “Jangolova”, “Anyhow”, and “Orishirishi Swagga” presents and delivers three different kinds of beats. “Orishirishi swagga” , his first single, was released November 2008 to announce his entry into the industry. He came back with his second single and my favorite: “Jangolova”, a song influenced by his early years in April 2009. “Anyhow” which dropped merely few weeks after “Jangolova” was released due to the fact of the demand for an up-tempo song by the DJs: something people could dance to in the clubs and parties and he definitely nailed it!
Though not signed to any record label as of this post, you can expect a debut album from him before July 2010. He’s not rushing to get his album out as he wants to spend his time to make sure the album is banging, hot, a crowd and fan favorite! Collaboration wise, he says he might work with one or two artists on remixes of his songs but he really wants to showcase his talent as an individual first. Nonetheless, he says he’ll like to work with DaGrin, Lord of Ajasa, and Illbliss. I
Though he’s based in the UK, his fan base is definitely growing both in the motherland as well as other countries. His fan base spans the UK, Nigeria, Ghana and many other countries. In the nearest future, you can expect a video for “Anyhow” from him.This is definitely one artist to watch out for now and in the upcoming years!
