Rashod B.

The perfect blend of old school R&B and new school soul only begins to describe the gifted voice of urban inspirationalist Rashod B. He is a God-send, driven and n his own words “predestined” to affect positive change in the face of pop culture. Darvin Rashod Brown grew up in the urban backdrop of Jacksonville Florida where street life, drugs and violence were the dramatic norm. Early on, music became Rashod’s escape as he found refuge in local church choirs and choruses. .At the age of 19 Rashod began singing in a male quartet called Two Times Two. In an effort to mimic the successes of idles, Boyz II Men and Jodeci, Two Times Two began performing at local night clubs and talent showcases. While only minor notoriety was achieved, the group setting would prove to be a nurturer for Rashod’s innate ability to write songs and arrange harmonies. In 1997 Rashod sought to turn his hobby into a full-time career. A spontaneous move to Georgia presented the opportunity to audition for several major record labels and producers in the area. Rashod’s vocal talents soon came in high demand around the Atlanta music scene. Ronnie Hudson (bassist for Isaac Hayes and Dr. Dre.) paid special attention to Darvin’s unique sound and signed him to an exclusive management agreement. While his resume grew with credits on productions by J-Boy Entertainment and Dallas Austin’s DARP Inc, Rashod began to re-examine the spiritual convictions garnered from his early choir experiences Due to creative differences, yet on good terms, Rashod ended his 2 year business relationship with Mr. Hudson and ventured out to find his musical identity. After rededicating his life and his voice to the gospel of Christianity, Shoddy B. began exploring ways to use his talent as a tool to fulfill “The Great Commission” defined by a revitalized faith. In 2003 Rashod gave an impromptu performance for producer McCormick Harris III. The two clicked and immediately collaborated on songs for the Harris’ compilation, “King Midas Presents I Got Next Vol. 1”. While the recordings that followed were received well by the listening public, they did not quite capture Darvin’s artistic vision of self. The task of carving Rashod B’s musical niche put creative chemistry to the test, but the task would prove to be one of ease. In late 2005 the self-proclaimed wonder twins reentered the recording studio and began work that would amount to Rashod’s first solo album, THE GIFT AND THE CALLING. With a defined artistic direction, Rashod delivers a compelling 2007 debut laced with a healthy dose of spiritual progressiveness and uplifting encouragement. “I’ve always seen and lived around the temptations of street life”, says Rashod. “I just want to make music that directs the attention of people, especially the youth, towards God’s true purpose for their lives. Everybody’s got a gift and a calling!” With the booming rhythms and infectious choruses of singles such as “Higher Praise” and “Shake Em Off”, THE GIFT AND THE CALLING offers an eclectic mix of hip-hop, gospel, and R&B all woven into one piece of sonic inspiration. It’s Rashod B; a new face, a new voice, a new era!