FEATURING SHABZI MADALLION

1.    Who is ShabZi Madallion?

ShabZi Madallion is a rap artist, passionate individual about the craft, about rap, about music. ShabZi Madallion is a sound engineer, very energetic person, I am really about the music, if people want to get to know more they would have to listen to my music, because I speak more about what I am, who I am, what I go through in there.

2.    What sets you apart from the current generation of Hip Hop Artists?

I’m not trying to set myself apart, I am who I am, I am 28, my recent single is titled that and one of the symbolic meaning of me calling it 28 is the revelation that I’m at a place in my life where I am carving a way to be myself and embrace what I have to offer. So, the difference between me and someone else is that I am happy to be myself, I have no yearning to be different intentionally from someone else, I know I am different because of my own story and me being in my own lane.

3.    Tell us more about your style of writing.

What influences my style of writing, is my eagerness to express myself, share my experiences, I am obviously in love with poetry, how I came to it before being on rap music, I was just literally writing my thoughts, what I have been through. So, when I got into music what started influencing the writing was other artists that I respected, that goes from 2pac to William Shakespeare to all the great writers whose work as seen my eyes and ears.

4.    Who are your biggest influences?

Music is my biggest influence, I am at an age where nothing specific can inspire me, anything can inspire me, for me inspiration is about it resonating with your spirit and you being able to relate to that art form. Right now, my biggest influence is music.

5.    What is the best part of your work?

The creation process of it, being free, being lost in it to the point you are able to finish something that you are proud of, something that resonates with you, something that reflects how I felt when I started the process.

6.    How/where do you see yourself/your work in the next 3/5 years from now?

I think with me, I’m at an age where I do not like projecting where I would see myself, for me if I am on the wave of growth, I am happy with my life. In 5 years, I hope to be the best version of myself, the best artist, the best rapper, the best brother to my brothers, the best son to my parents, the best friend to my friends, The best ShabZi Madallion

7.    What marketing tools do you utilize?

I use music distribution platforms, the other would be creating content to put out there on social media on a regular basis, regular could be every day to once every week, whatever works for any artist that is in a situation where they want to market their stuff.

8.    What is your favorite holiday spot/food/gadget?

I don’t really have one, I am not a big fan of holidays, when I do take one it’s with my family. What am I eating right now? I am eating food from Khaya in Ghandi Square. My favorite gadget, it’s my music software, anything that helps me with my music.

9.    What song best describes you?

All my songs describe me, I think that is a hard question for me, because every song is literally who I am, what I am thinking, what I went through, unless I am writing about someone else’s story or me observing something. There is no one song that best describes me, there are many songs that will let people into who I am in my new album that is yet to come titled Nomvula.

10.What are your favorite childhood memories?

There are many, but one that comes to mind is the one where I used to ride my bicycle to school, it was like 20 minutes from home, so if I rode my bike it would take me 35minutes. Those memories are good because they remind me that I enjoy solitude, having some time to myself, and usually those rides to school used to good for my peace, my sanity, my energy and it started my day off well, had so much energy when you riding and getting hit by the wind.

11. If you were a cartoon character, which character would you be and why?

I would be the Madallion, I think people do not know how much of a cartoon Madallion is. Either than that my favorite cartoons growing up were Tom and Jerry and Daxter’s Laboratory.

12.What has been your biggest career highlight?

I think with my journey, that is a hard question, every mile stone is a highlight; that goes from getting the first 10 plays, getting the call from The Hustle, to getting on Back To The City for the first time, having an affiliation with Sportscene. It’s a lot for me, with my journey I will probably have something to say about each part of that journey if i am asked a question that triggers me to respond about certain parts. But every part of my journey has been a big moment for me because I work hard, either if it was just me initially, to when I started having people help me, every part is a great career highlight, having a team is a good career highlight.

13.Sneakers or Formal shoes?

Sneakers over formal shoes any day.

14.Messy or neat freak?

Let’s say I’m an organized mess.

15.If you could throw a parade in the president’s office, what would it be? 

I wouldn’t throw a parade in the president’s office.

16. Which shoe do you wear first when dressing up, left or right?

My left, or my right… I don’t think I pay attention honestly. 

17.If this is our last ever conversation, what words of wisdom would you leave me with?

Be yourself, less fear, be more daring.

-->