Shaun Boothe

There’s not a whole lot we can say about Toronto musician Shaun Boothe that can’t be gleaned from simply giving his tracks a listen. As intelligent and soulful as they come, Boothe is celebrating the recent release of his single, “Do It For You” and the continued success of his newest project, The Biography Series. Focusing in 12 different cultural icons, Boothe tells these inspirational life stories through rhyme and video footage of each icon. So far covering Muhammad Ali, Bob Marley, Jimi Hendrix, Sean Combs and Oprah, his next focus will be on Tupac Shakur.
Boothe has been writing songs since he was about 10 years old, but it wasn’t until he won a national competition put on by Canada’s Much Music that Boothe truly began to look at music as a serious profession. Winning 25,000 toward a car, spending money and a summer job at Much Music, Boothe turned around and sold the car back to the deal the same day, invested in himself and started working toward making music his full-time job.

Read our interview with Shaun to check out what making music full-time has meant to him and visit his site to get a free download of “Do It For You”

Reviewsic: What are your top three musical influences?

Shaun Boothe: That’s always a hard question for me to answer. I’d definitely say Nas and Tupac are my biggest influences when it comes to my bio series. Everything else is just so random. I like Kanye a lot for pushing boundaries. I usually get a lot of my influences or inspiration from outside of hip hop tho. I like a lotta stuff coming out of the UK right now. It’s refreshing.

Reviewsic: What are the last three albums or bands you listened to?

Shaun Boothe: I just hosted the night at a Kendrick Lamar concert here in Toronto. He’s a really dope rapper from Compton. His O.D. album is probably the last full length I really really took in. Big Sean’s Finally Famous album is a great party/summer vibe. Just banging beats and playful rhymes. He’s also signed to Kanye’s label. Another album I think is dope is The Weeknd’s House of Balloons. It might not be one of the last three albums I listened to but it definitely stayed with me like it was. Plus it’s homegrown. Toronto has some of the best producers in the world right now I think.

Reviewsic: If you could work with one person in the music industry (musician, label, producer etc), who would it be and why?

Shaun Boothe: To be honest I’m incredibly happy with my team right now. The only thing I’d really want is to free up more time and wipe away all of our other life responsibilities so we can really just focus on what we love. I’d just want a chance to just fly out to Hawaii like Kanye does and get away from all distractions. When we can get to that point we’ll be unstoppable. I’m more excited about what we can do on our own. If creating this bio series has given me anything it’s a greater awareness of wanting to build and leave my own legacy.

Reviewsic: Lately we’ve been on this kick of revisiting artists we didn’t pay as much attention to in the past and wondering, “Why didn’t I listen to this 10 years ago?”- If you could go back in time and push 3 bands/records on your younger self, who/what would they be and why?

Shaun Boothe: Funny enough I never really got into Tupac until later in life. I think what he really represented for hip hop was lost on me at the time. I wasn’t thinking that deep. And now seeing that he’s no longer here and how the void he left is still so huge in hip hop just makes me wish I had appreciated him more when he was alive.

The other two I’d have to say are Jimi Hendrix and Queen. The cool thing is that I ended up incorporating both of them into my music later on. I always heard of Jimi Hendrix but never cared enough to dive in. Not until later. Then I dove in even more when I decided to do a bio on him. With Queen, my mom would always play them at home when I was growing up. I think anything rock made me a little resistent. I was young and only wanted to identify with Black music. Everything else I kind of fought. But eventually I grew out of that and saw their work for the brilliance that it was. I even ended up sampling some of it for my single Poor Boy. The die hard Queen fans hate me for that. Ha!

Reviewsic: What inspired you to make this Unauthorized Biography series? What goes into your writing process for each one?

Shaun Boothe: I wanted to do something to pay tribute to James Brown after he passed. He had done so much for hip hop. Deciding to do the full hip hop bio was inspired by a tribute song Nas did for Rakim, another old school rap legend. The writing process starts with tons and tons of research. Online articles, magazines, DVDs, the key is to not just retell facts but to really get to the core of what this person is really about. What’s their true legacy. It’s hard. It kind of reminds me of my school days where I’d have to write essays with a thesis statement and summarize my points in clear paragraphs and all that. I also spend a lot of time on fact checking. Especially since when you’re online it’s so easy to get false information. I don’t wanna dishonour anyone’s legacy by getting it wrong. I feel like I got a responsibility. Then after all the facts are gathered the challenge is writing it in a captivating way, showcasing my talent as an artist myself. A lot of the times I think about how Tupac was one of the first rappers to ever have University courses revolved around his writing. I want that for my work. I want it to transcend hip hop, just like all the cultural icons I write about transcend whatever their job was or is.

Reviewsic: How would you compare yourselves as a musician now as opposed to when you first started making music?

Shaun Boothe: Kind of the same way I’d compare myself as a person then to now. I’ve grown. I know who I am a lot better now. I’m more comfortable in my skin. I think that shows in my music. Afterall, music, at it’s best, I really just an honest reflection of the person as a whole. Flaws an all. Before I was a little scared to be myself. Just like in high school you’re biggest concern is fitting in. Then you get outta high school and realise being like everyone else is kinda lame. It’s all about finding your true voice and standing out.

Reviewsic: What are your plans for your music in the next year?
Shaun Boothe: I plan on doing a lot more shows. I’d love to travel and see the world thru my music. I’ve toured Canada a bunch of times but not much outside of Canada. I also wanna finish up the rest of the 12 bios for my seires and put all of it together as a box set for the people who support it. I have 5 more to go if I’m gonna stop at 12. I’m incredibly excited about some of these videos I haven’t released yet and a few incredible ideas we still have yet to shoot. But with everything going on, all roads still lead to one place – The Waiting Room. That’s the name of my project where you can get all my material. I’ll have some previously released stuff on there, some unreleased stuff and some brand new stuff. It’s more of a thank you project for the people who’ve been supporting me already and a ‘catch up’ project for the people who still have never heard of Shaun Boothe or any of my music. I can’t wait to get it out. Waiting Room drops this July 12th. - Reviewsic.com

Shaun Boothe kept us waiting for ‘Waiting Room’, but it was well worth it. The Toronto native is becoming quite the big kahuna as he’s called in some great artists in the game right now like, Cyhi Da Prynce, Talib Kweli, Kardinal Offishall, Kim Davis, STS, Amanda Diva, and Nadia Stone – and this is just his mixtape.

In June Shaun Boothe came to RapCity to premiere the music video for “Let Me Go” off this mixtape. - MuchMusic.com

Shaun Boothe - Waiting Room

By Ryan B. Patrick

Syrupy soul samples abound in the aptly titled Waiting Room. Talented Toronto, ON MC/producer Shaun Boothe has been teasing fans with this mixtape for a minute, in-between touring, touting his "Hip-Hop in 3D" credo and producing his popular "Unauthorized Biography" web series on famous black celebrities/icons. The Lykke Li sample for well-received single "Let Me Go" grabs the casual ear, while harder heads will hang around for "1, 2, 3" (featuring STS) and the "Bohemian Rhapsody"-driven "Poor Boy" (remix) featuring Kardinal Offishall. The former MuchMusic Temp thrives on the concept track, and introspective numbers like "Phone Sex" (by way of a Bobby Glenn soul sample), "Concepts" (featuring a more subdued than usual Talib Kweli) and the surprisingly frank "Headline" (which deals with being the opening Canadian act to a bigger American name while on tour) officially lock down Boothe's penchant for above-average lyrics on top of above-average production (by Boothe and producer cousin Nineteen85). Boothe's sort of been an enigma in Canadian hip-hop: a well-respected MC who's had next for what seems like an inordinate amount of time. As the old saying goes, as a full-length effort, the ironically titled Waiting Room may be late but Boothe is right on time with a package that speaks to both grind and gloss.

How does it feel to finally have the full-length out?
It feels great. The response has been incredible. I called it Waiting Room because I've been waiting so long to get this stuff out. Needless to say, I feel like there's been a huge weight off my shoulders. As an artist, being able to share music is why we do it. To put something out, you get the energy back and it keeps you going.

What type of vibe did you want to create for this album?
I wanted to create a classic. I'm a fan of soul samples; I didn't want to necessarily go back in time, but I wanted to do it in my own way and create something that's timeless, something that's musical. But most importantly, I wanted to create a cohesive body of work. And I think we really accomplished that. A lot of times you just see artists working with producers of the day and it sounds more like a compilation of songs rather than a body of work that represents someone. I like all types of music and all types of production, but with this, I wanted to give someone something that they can wrap their heads around and understand. And then for the next project, you'll see the progression and where I want to take things. But I don't want to confuse people by throwing anything in there. For the next project, you might hear something completely different. - exclaim.ca

We've been waiting on Shaun Boothe's album for a long time. The artist formerly known as Rikoshay spoke with TO STATE OF MIND .COM on the set of his "Poor Boy" video way back in 2009 and told us to look out for his upcoming joint. It is fittingly titled Waiting Room and is now available for download on his website shaunboothe.com.

The opening track "Still Waiting" sets the tone for Shaun's choice of beats with soul samples that come out cool and not dated or thrown into that early-2000s-Kanye West basket. "Do It For You" featuring Kim Davis has another sexy soul sample accompanied by honest raps ("They say there's no money in music/So you should know I do it for you") and Kim Davis' amazing voice.

The remix to "Let Me Go," which is probably Shaun's biggest hit, features Atlanta rapper CyHi Da Prince, a signee to Kanye West's G.O.O.D. Music. Cyhi definitely adds to the track, with its familiar bass and soulfully-voiced hook that has taken the video [below] into the MuchMusic Countdown's Top 20.

"One Side" has a bassy, electronica-y beat and kicks off with, of course, a soul sample. Shaun waxes philosophical about women not trusting him in relationships and the real-life struggles of his people: "My cousin needs a job and she says 'Shaun I'm 'bout to give up/I got all these degrees, but all they see is a nigga."

"Phone Sex" is a sexy, hilarious and then even sexier concept song set to a sample of "Sounds Like a Love Song" by Bobby Glenn (the same sample used in Jay-Z's "Song Cry"). "1 2 3" is Boothe's newest single and features another ATL rapper, STS. They both work the beat's loud, jazzy horns and bassy bottom, Shaun rapping that he's enrolled in "the school of hard knocks/full course load," and STS claiming "Boothe got next/I got now/Beat like this, I'ma wear that out."

"Get A Job" is another concept song, Boothe's specialty, this time about all the different careers he chose hip-hop over, and "Headline" is a deeply honest joint about the pain and yearning on the road to hip-hop success or failure. Waiting Room also features past Shaun Boothe hits "Music Man," "Poor Boy (Remix)" featuring Kardinal Offishall and "Concepts" featuring Talib Kweli.

Shaun Boothe's first official full-length release is enjoyable but real, polished but not glossy. It has a cohesive sound, with soul-and-bass beats that flow together well, none feeling out of place. He's not hyper-lyrical, but his rhymes are solid, his flow rides any beat nicely and he says cool shit like "Oh, your shoes match your shirt/That's fire/My actions match my words/That's fly-er," and real shit like "my emotions are mixed, not mastered."

Waiting Room is definitely required listening in your car speakers on any Toronto street, in your headphones on those new TTC subways and out of the boombox at your summer barbecue. - TO STATE OF MIND .COM

Shaun Boothe
Waits No More

By Vee Manzerolle

Rising star Shaun Boothe has been busy making his mark. His debut album Waiting Room is fresh on the market. He recently performed alongside Snoop Dogg and even free-styled with Donny Osmond. He’s also responsible for the critically acclaimed Unauthorized Biography Series. And to top it all off he’s been deemed one of Canada’s top three lyricists and rappers of all time by T-RexXx from MuchMusic’s RapCity. SoulMatters was fortunate enough to fire some questions at Shaun Boothe.

SoulMattersMag: I would love to hear about your hip-hop beginnings. At what point in your life did you realize that this was what you wanted to do? And how were you first introduced to the scene?
Shaun Boothe: My first memories of actually rapping was at 10 years old. I’d write little songs making fun of girls in my class and tease them with it at recess. It was fun. Ever since then it’s always been something I did. I had boxes full of lyrics even back then. I don’t know if there was an exact moment when I realized it was something I wanted to do. It was just something I did. Always.

SMM: Lately you’ve been getting a vast amount of attention within the public realm. How are you coping with all the mass interest in your music and all things Shaun Boothe?
SB: That fame stuff has never really fazed me. It was never what I did this for so now that I’m experiencing a bit of it it just feels like more of a bonus. If I can leverage it to do other things then that’s cool. People call me back more. People wanna work with me more. Things happen a bit more easily when you got momentum on your side and you show and prove on your own. Me and my team, we definitely worked hard for this. Sometimes I do get caught off guard though. I don’t realize how many people are taking notice until I really go out there and see it. I’m still in the studio a lot working away. Once you get a little taste of success, especially after working for it for so long, it’s addictive. You never wanna let it go.

SMM: Who do you look up to for guidance in this industry? The music industry is definitely not known for being an easy industry to work in.
SB: When I first started getting out there a guy name David ‘Click’ Cox, an A&R from Universal Canada, was always a believer in me and helped me out a lot with trying to guide me in the industry and steer me in the right direction. I’m fortunate to know good people like Farley Flex (former Canadian Idol Judge, Maestro’s former manager) who have been in the game for years and can give me insight on business stuff. Also, my uncle Barry Boothe is a legend in the game in his own right. He’s the founder of a DJ Crew called TKO sounds. Anyone that’s been around in the Toronto club scene knows how much of a pioneer he is. He was just recently inducted into the Stylus DJ Awards hall of fame with TKO Sounds a couple years back. I go to him with a lot of ideas or looking for insight. I can’t say I’ve had a real mentor though. I had to learn a lot on my own. Early on I’d go to Chapters a lot and just read up on all the music business books I could find. Then I’d just put them back on the shelf. That was my music biz 101. I didn’t get a diploma for it though.

SMM: Recently got the chance to open up for none other than Snoop Dogg in London, Ontario. What was that experience like for you?
SB: It was dope. Doggystyle was one of the first albums I ever bought. Snoop is a legend. To open up for someone like that is an honour. Plus I’ve never seen him live before so I was actually more excited just to watch him do his thing on stage for the first time. I didn’t even stay backstage or anything like that. I actually went into the crowd. I wanted to see it that way. It was crazy cuz he showed up a little late and people were getting really nervous thinking he wasn’t gonna show and all that. I really felt like a riot was gonna break out. But as soon as he hit that stage all the anger and frustration disappeared and the place erupted. It was an ill thing to see.

SMM: You were on CP24 when Donny Osmond was acting as the co-host. Steve Anthony introduced you by saying that you have been called one of the “top three Canadian rappers of all time.” How does a statement like that make you feel?
SB: Man, that’s an honour. I’m gonna be working extra hard just to live up to that statement in my own mind. We got so much talent here. It’s just great to be included in the conversation to be honest. For a long time I felt like the guy on the outside was talented but no one noticed. To be recognized for your work, your passion, your talent, and by people you respect, it’s a beautiful thing.

SMM: I have to ask and I’m sure you’ve been asked this question a bunch of times, but what was it like free-styling with Donny Osmond?
SB: (laughs) That was pretty hilarious. None of that was planned by the way. I gotta give it up to Donny for having the balls to do that on live TV. Things like that is why I love live TV. At its best it’s completely unpredictable. It was a lotta fun. He’s a real down to earth guy. He hit me up on twitter and everything, Steve Anthony too. Such a genuine and stand up guy.

SMM: Let’s talk about your debut album Waiting Room dropped in July. You have numerous guests appearing on the album from Kim Davis to Kardinal Offishall. You even collaborated with Lykke Li who’s an up and coming artist that’s also been receiving a lot of media attention. How did you come to team up with these artists? And what was it like to work with them?
SB: It’s funny to me because I feel like I rarely collaborate but when I looked at my track list, you’re right, it does have a decent amount of collabs on there. Every one of them was a different scenario. But overall I just wanted to showcase talent I believed in. People I’m a fan of. Some reached out to me, and some I reached out to them. Some of us were able to actually get in the studio together, and some others just collaborated with me online, sending files and going back and forth that way. One of the first really significant collabs I’ve ever done was the one with Talib Kweli on my song "Concepts", which is a bonus track on the album. I loved that one so much because it wasn’t just him adding a miscellaneous verse to one of my half finished songs. We actually had a concept to it and went back and forth trading bars, playing off each others previous lyrics. I love that kind of stuff.

SMM: Any specific tracks on Waiting Room that you’re partial towards?
SB: My favorite track on the album I think is the outro. It’s called "Headline". It’s a song that came to me when I was driving home from the last date of this tour that I did with an American hip hop group called Atmosphere. I was their opening act. I was just reflecting on how amazing and also how frustrating the experience was. On the one hand it’s an incredible opportunity to be going all across the country performing for sold out crowds. On the other hand deep down I couldn’t help but be envious. I’ve always wanted that for myself. To have loyal fans who actually know every word to every song. To see how Atmosphere’s music has touched so many people. I want that. And my song "Headline" reflects on those feeling. It gives you a glimpse into the mind of an opening act. “Dreams don’t got deadlines… and next time around imma headline”. That’s the hook. I felt like it was the perfect way to end Waiting Room.

SMM: You’ve toured across Canada opening for Kardinal Offishall and for Talib Kweli + Hi-Tek. You’ve won various competitions. It goes without saying that you’ve experienced quite a bit within your hip-hop career thus far. Do any of these experiences standout for you as an artist? And if so, why?
SB: The touring is always the most fun because that’s when you actually get to connect with the fans. That’s what it’s all about. I love the instant reaction and energy you get back from a live show. But the biggest turning point was still when I won the Much Temp competition along with the 25k towards a new car, downtown condo for the summer and a temp summer job at Much. That’s where it all turned around for me. That’s when I really knew that music was gonna be my full time career from then on. I’ve still never looked back.

SMM: After Waiting Room’s release what’s next for you?
SB: Look out for a lot of new videos, a lotta shows. My next step is to take everything I’ve been doing here in Toronto and present it to the world. Expect to see a lot more stamps on my passport. - Soul Matters Mag