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Shakka
Background information
Birth nameShakka Philip
Born (1989-05-16) 16 May 1989 (age 34)
Origin Notting Hill, London, England
Genres
Occupation(s)
  • Singer
  • songwriter
  • record producer
Instrument(s)Vocals
Years active2009–present
Labels
Website www.officialshakka.com

Shakka Philip (born 16 May 1989), known simply as Shakka, is a British singer, songwriter and record producer signed to Pitched Up, Columbia Records and Sony Music. [1]

Shakka released his debut major label EP The Lost Boys in 2015 [2] which included the hit " Say Nada", with the official video (featuring Jme) having been viewed by over five million people, [3] earning him his first MOBO Award for Best R&B/Soul Act. [4] In 2016, he returned with the follow-up EP, The Island, which earned Shakka his second MOBO Award for Best R&B/Soul Act [5] alongside a spot in The Independent's Ones to Watch 2017 list. [6]

Career

2009–2011: Early projects and Shakkapellas

Shakka self-released his first official EP, Foolishness, in July 2009 which was recorded at a local youth centre. [7] With production from both Shakka and TE1, this was Shakka's introduction into the music industry. Shakka consciously decided to sing with his British accent as opposed to an American-influenced accent that many of his contemporaries were using at the time and this formed part of his trademark sound.

He then went on to release a conceptual mixtape, The Shakka Crown Affair, in 2011 [8] which gained Shakka much respect among his peers, solidified him as an emerging creative phenomenon in the UK and brought him to the attention of successful British rapper Wretch 32.

Having developed a fanbase in the UK, Shakka went on to release a series of YouTube covers and mashups entitled Shakkapellas [9] in 2012 which gained him fans globally and put him on the radar of music industry tastemakers. [10]

2013–2014: Rise to fame

2013 proved to be a successful year for Shakka, collaborating with various artists, most notably featuring on Wretch 32's single " Blackout", which reached number 6 on the UK Singles Chart. [11] He was also selected to perform on the BBC Introducing stage at Glastonbury Festival, [12] and then toured globally with Basement Jaxx as their guest vocalist.

This year also saw Shakka receive extensive recognition named in MTV's top 20 Unsigned Artists of 2013 list [13] and receiving two MOBO Award nominations; including Best Newcomer. [14] BBC's Radio 1Xtra were early champions of Shakka's music playing some of his Shakkapellas on the station and have supported him throughout his rise to fame.

Noted television performances in 2013 included performing on 'The Graham Norton Show' [15] alongside Wretch 32, as well as on Sunday Brunch and Channel 5's The Wright Stuff.

He followed this growing success with another independent project, the Tribe EP, [16] in 2013. In July 2013 he released the single by "Spin", taken from Tribe. [17] In November 2013 he released the single "Just Want to See You". [17]

In 2013 Shakka was also chosen to perform in, and produce music for, a National Theatre production called "Home" [18] directed by Nadia Fall which ran for two months during late summer. During this production he had the pleasure of sharing the stage with Antonia Thomas (E4's Misfits) and BAFTA award-winning Michaela Coel (E4's Chewing Gum).

2015–present: Breakthrough: The Lost Boys and The Island

In 2014, Shakka released a collection of remixes aptly named Shakka B-Sides. It featured the remix of Ten Walls' " Walking with Elephants" featuring Frisco ( BBK), which achieved over 8 million views on YouTube. [19] In 2015, Shakka signed to Pitched Up/ Sony Music. [20]

In 2015, Shakka released his debut major label EP The Lost Boys and a new single entitled " Say Nada".

Shortly afterwards, he released a remix of "Say Nada" featuring two verses by Jme ( BBK), which has accumulated over 5 million YouTube views. [21] The solo version of the song features on his EP The Lost Boys, released 6 November 2015. [22]

In 2016 he returned with the follow-up EP, The Island, which earned Shakka his second MOBO Award for Best R&B/Soul Act [5] alongside a spot on The Independent's Ones to Watch 2017 list. [6]

Shakka featured on Ghetts' new record "Know My Ting", [23] released on 27 January 2017 on Black Butter Records.

Shakka is also the music producer for E4's Chewing Gum TV series, which broadcast its second series in January/February 2017. [24]

On 12 August 2021, Shakka announced the release of his debut album, Road Trip To Venus, which released on 24 September 2021.

Discography

Albums

Title Details Peak chart positions
UK
[25]
Road Trip To Venus
  • Released: 24 September 2021
  • Label: Marathon Artists
  • Format: Digital download, CD

Extended plays

Title Details Peak chart positions
UK
[25]
Foolishness
  • Released: 2009
  • Label: Self-released
  • Format: Digital download, CD
Tribe
  • Released: 5 July 2013
  • Label: Self-released
  • Format: Digital download
The Lost Boys
  • Released: 6 November 2015
  • Label: RME Records
  • Format: Digital download
144
The Island
  • Released: 10 November 2016
  • Label: Sony Music Entertainment
  • Format: Digital download
17
"—" denotes an album that did not chart or was not released in that territory.

Mixtapes

Title Mixtape details
The Shakka Crown Affair
  • Released: 2011
  • Label: Self-released
  • Format: Digital download

Singles

As lead artist

Title Year Peak chart positions Certifications Album
UK
[25]
"Sooner or Later" 2012 Tribe
"Spin" 2013
"Just Want to See You"
"When Will I See You Again" 2014 Non-album single
" Say Nada"
(featuring Jme)
2015 75 The Lost Boys
"I Love the Way"
(featuring Mr. Vegas)
2016 The Island
"Don't Call Me"
"Rollin'" [27]
(featuring Frisco)
2017 Non-album singles
"Man Down"
(featuring AlunaGeorge)
2018 25
"Sugar Cane" [28]
"Too Bad Bad"
(featuring Mr Eazi)
2019
"SOS"
"Rest of My Life" [29]
(with Sigma)
2020
"—" denotes a single that did not chart or was not released in that territory.

As featured artist

Title Year Peak chart positions Certifications Album
UK
[25]
UK Dance
[30]
UK Indie
[31]
SCO
[32]
" Blackout"
( Wretch 32 featuring Shakka)
2013 6 3 3 10 Non-album singles
"If Only"
( Show N Prove featuring Shakka)
2014
"Playground" [33]
( Lethal Bizzle featuring Shakka)
2015 79
"Different Kind" [34]
( Frisco featuring Shakka)
"Wide Awake" [35]
( Idris Elba featuring Shakka) [36]
Murdah Loves John [37]
"I'm a Pro" [38]
(Nick Brewer featuring Shakka)
2016 Non-album singles
"Know My Ting"
( Ghetts featuring Shakka) [39]
2017
" Bridge over Troubled Water"
(as part of Artists for Grenfell)
1 1
"Take Over" [40]
(Da Beatfreakz featuring Mr Eazi, Seyi Shay & Shakka)
2018
"Certified" [41]
( Wiley featuring Shakka)
Godfather II
"Run Tings"
( ROMderful featuring Shakka & Dounia)
2019 Press L To Continue
"Badman Walking Through" [42]
( Jme featuring Shakka & P Money)
2019 Grime MC
"—" denotes a single that did not chart or was not released in that territory.

Guest appearances

Title Year Artist(s) Album
"This Groove" 2010 Incisive In-ci-sive
"I'm Just Trying"
"Just Wait"
"Release"
"Do Your Thing" 2011 Incisive, Muneshine Him & Her
"More Fire" 2013 Angel About Time
"Rock This Road" 2014 Basement Jaxx Junto
"Lost Away" [43] 2015 Sigma Life
"Sober" Incisive FM
"Dreams / Sunshine" 2016 Wretch 32, Pantha Growing Over Life
"Get Mine" Midas Hutch The High
"Bingo" [44] 2017 Donae'o, Ghetts Sixteen
"Jungle" [44] Donae'o
"Friday to Sunday" [45] Cadet The Commitment 2
"My Size" [46] Fekky El Classico
"No Drama" [47] Not3s, Tinie Tempah Take Not3s
"Push" Incisive Split, Vol. 1
"Don't Call Me" Young Thug, Carnage Young Martha
"Mandem" Jay Prince Late Summers
"Under Construction" 2018 Stylo G Ten Years On
"At Least You Know" Jarreau Vandal Anthology
"Womba" 2019 Sarkodie, Herman Suede Black Love
"Beautiful" 2022 Kojey Radical, Wretch 32 Reason to Smile

Awards and nominations

Year Organisation Nominated work Award Result
2013 MOBO Awards Wretch 32 ft. Shakka – 'Blackout' Best Song Nominated
MOBO Awards Shakka Best Newcomer Nominated
2015 MOBO Awards Shakka Best R&B/ Soul Won
2015 UMA Awards Shakka Best R&B/ Soul Won
2015 UMA Awards Shakka feat. JME 'Say Nada' Best Collaboration Won
2016 MOBO Awards Shakka Best R&B/ Soul Won

References

  1. ^ "Shakka Biography & History – AllMusic". AllMusic.
  2. ^ "Shakka Looks into The Future with the Lost Boys EP – Complex UK".
  3. ^ "Shakka – Say Nada (Remix) ft. JME" – via YouTube.
  4. ^ "Winners 2015 – MOBO Awards". Archived from the original on 27 March 2017. Retrieved 31 January 2017.
  5. ^ a b "Winners 2016 – MOBO Awards".
  6. ^ a b "Ones to watch 2017: Our favourite new artists to listen out for in the New Year". The Independent. London. 12 December 2016.
  7. ^ "Foolishness Vol.1 by Shakka".
  8. ^ "The Shakka Crown Affair, by Shakka". Shakka. Retrieved 1 February 2017.
  9. ^ "Shakkapella – YouTube". Retrieved 1 February 2017 – via YouTube.
  10. ^ "Interview with Shakka – MOBO Awards".
  11. ^ Wretch 32. wretch32.com/
  12. ^ "Glastonbury 2013 – Shakka".
  13. ^ "Brand New For 2015 – MTV UK".
  14. ^ "2013 BEST NEWCOMER NOMINEE IN ASSOCIATION WITH HTC: Shakka – MOBO Awards".
  15. ^ "NME Videos". NME.
  16. ^ "Tribe – EP by Shakka on Apple Music". iTunes. 5 July 2013. Retrieved 1 February 2017.
  17. ^ a b "Tribe – EP by Shakka on iTunes". iTunes Store. 5 July 2013.
  18. ^ Geoghegan, Kev (27 August 2013). "Home at National Theatre shines light on homelessness". BBC News. Retrieved 1 February 2017.
  19. ^ Mela music (25 January 2015), Shakka – Walking with elephants feat Frisco (HQ), retrieved 1 February 2017
  20. ^ "Shakka signs to Sony – We Are BANG Radio".
  21. ^ IAmShakkaVEVO (3 September 2015). "Shakka – Say Nada (Remix) ft. JME" – via YouTube.
  22. ^ "Listen To Shakka's Concept EP The Lost Boys".
  23. ^ Grime Nation (27 January 2017), Ghetts – Know My Ting ft. Shakka, retrieved 1 February 2017
  24. ^ "Michaela Coel Explains Why The Music She Recorded For Chewing Gum Isn't Getting Released". The FADER. Retrieved 1 February 2017.
  25. ^ a b c d Peak positions in the United Kingdom:
  26. ^ a b c "BRIT Certified – bpi" (To access, enter the search parameter "Shakka" or "Artists for Grenfell" and select "Search by Keyword"). British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 22 October 2018.
  27. ^ "Rollin' (feat. Frisco) – Single by Shakka". iTunes Store. 21 April 2017. Retrieved 23 September 2018.
  28. ^ "Sugar Cane – Single by Shakka". UK: iTunes Store. 6 September 2018. Retrieved 5 October 2018.
  29. ^ "Rest of My Life – Single by Sigma & Shakka on Apple Music". Apple Music. Retrieved 2 April 2020.
  30. ^ Peak positions for the Dance singles in the UK:
  31. ^ Peak positions for the Indie singles in the UK:
  32. ^ Peak positions for the singles in Scotland:
  33. ^ "Playground (feat. Shakka) – Single by Lethal Bizzle on Apple Music". iTunes. 16 July 2015. Retrieved 1 February 2017.
  34. ^ "Different Kind (feat. Shakka) – Single by Frisco on Apple Music". iTunes. 31 January 2016. Retrieved 1 February 2017.
  35. ^ Idris Elba (3 December 2015), Idris Elba presents – Wide Awake Ft. Shakka (From Murdah Loves John), retrieved 1 February 2017
  36. ^ "Idris Elba names 'Luther' inspired album 'Murdah Loves John' – NME". NME. 11 June 2015. Retrieved 1 February 2017.
  37. ^ "Murdah Loves John (The John Luther Character Album) by Idris Elba on Apple Music". iTunes. January 2015. Retrieved 1 February 2017.
  38. ^ "I'm a Pro (feat. Shakka) – Single by Nick Brewer". UK: iTunes Store. 16 September 2018. Retrieved 1 February 2017.
  39. ^ "Know My Ting (feat. Shakka) by Ghetts on Apple Music". iTunes. Retrieved 1 February 2017.
  40. ^ "Take Over (feat. Mr Eazi, Seyi Shay & Shakka) – Single by Da Beatfreakz". UK: iTunes Store. 6 April 2018. Retrieved 5 October 2018.
  41. ^ "Certified (feat. Shakka) – Single by Wiley". UK: iTunes Store. 6 April 2018. Retrieved 5 October 2018.
  42. ^ "Grime MC". Apple Music. Apple Inc. Retrieved 29 June 2020.
  43. ^ "Life (Deluxe) by Sigma". UK: iTunes Store. 4 December 2015. Retrieved 1 February 2017.
  44. ^ a b "Sixteen by Donae'o". UK: iTunes Store. 30 June 2017. Retrieved 5 October 2018.
  45. ^ "The Commitment 2 by Cadet". UK: iTunes Store. 21 July 2017. Retrieved 5 October 2018.
  46. ^ "El Classico by Fekky". UK: iTunes Store. 4 August 2017. Retrieved 5 October 2018.
  47. ^ "Take Not3s by Not3s". UK: iTunes Store. 17 November 2017. Retrieved 5 October 2018.

External links