July 16, 2007 @ 11:30 am
Shop Boyz
Can These Rappers Rock? Totally, Dude. From our August 2007 issue.
On a sweltering spring afternoon in Atlanta, it takes more than run-of-the-mill rap stars like Fabolous and Rich Boy to excite the clamoring college students at the HiFi Buys Amphitheatre for mtvU's Campus Invasion. Enter the little-known Shop Boyz. Swathed in Prada sneakers and customized T-shirts, Rasheed "Sheed" Hightower, 21, along with his cousins Demetrius "Meany" Hardin, 26, and Richard "Fat" Stephens," 23, instantly command attention with their riotous hit "Party Like a Rockstar." The crowd, now unhinged, rushes the stage, yelping the song's chorus: "Party like a rockstar! T-t-t-totally dude!"
It's an odd thing for a rap group to be shouting about. But after their brief performance, relaxing backstage in a small VIP room, the trio seems unsurprised by the song's popularity. It's dominating Atlanta nightclubs, soundtracking TNT's NBA playoff coverage, and threatening to become a stadium-rocking sports anthem. The rock sound is the key to the equation, the group says, "When you hear 'Party Like a Rockstar,' you gotta throw the heavy metal in there," says Sheed. "The song wouldn't be what it is if that guitar wasn't in there."
It's an unlikely sound for these Bankhead boys - all three members grew up in Bowen Homes, a notorious housing project. "If it ain't dope boys or rappers, ain't really nothing comin' out the 'hood," says Sheed matter-of-factly. Mentor Brian "Bingo" Ward helped the youngsters stop dabbling in "street shit" and signed them to his On Deck Records in 2005. A year later, Shop Boyz recorded "Rockstar," the anchor of their ONDECK/Universal Republic debut, Rockstar Mentality.
"We would've put out another song and you would've said, okay, that's all right. But with 'Rockstar,' we grabbed you — 'Listen to this song!'" says Fat, basking in a post-show afterglow. "That's what you got to do in Bankhead to get in. Everybody basically the same. . . with the drugs and grindin' and strugglin' and all that. You've got to grab your chance."
Article tags: Atlanta, Party Like A Rock Star, Rap Rock, Shop Boys, Shop Boyz, Totally Dude
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Previous: Alison HindsPage printed from:
http://www.vibe.com/music/next/2007/07/next_shop_boyz/
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Government Name: Bernard Freeman
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Comments
1.
lilshon_7 says:
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What it do. I wish yall could be my shop boyz ya dig. I am really feeling yall. keep it up.........
February 12, 2008 at 12:07 pm
2.
lalakk says:
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shop boyz are cool specilly meany
January 23, 2008 at 6:38 pm
3.
THEHERO says:
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Da Backwudz are now..
LABRATZ!!
Former Rowdy Records act Da Backwudz, have left Dallas Austin’s camp to form the four man super group LABRATZ , and are set to release their first project on upstart label Royal Family Music. The former Rowdy signees site business and creative differences for their departure and were eager to find some like minds to spread their creative wings. They found that with long time Decatur homeboys and collaborators Heavy Slim and G-Wiz. The final piece to the puzzle appeared upon meeting super producer Sol Messiah (Chamillionaire, David Banner) who is also the co-founder of Royal Family Music. LABRATZ and Sol Messiah got right to work on the soon to be classic ATLANTIS RISING . The project has two guest appearances featuring Dead Prez and Nappy Roots. The rest of the album is an exclusive collaboration between LABRATZ and Sol Messiah. LABRATZ have the southern artistic stylings of an Outkast, along with a musical and lyrical assault likened to Wu Tang Clan. Still, LABRATZ has a style all of its own and they are destined to start a movement. Limited edition cds have hit the streets and select tracks have started an internet buzz. If you want to find out more about LABRATZ, check out www.myspace.com/thelabratzmusic and send all messages to thelabratz@gmail.com .
LABRATZ members are:
Big Marc (aka Leon Rothstein)
Sho Nuff (aka Marty McFly)
Heavy Slim
G-Wiz
*Sol Messiah (honorary member)
December 16, 2007 at 5:46 pm
4.
JULIAN ELDER says:
A KEEP UP WHAT CHALL DOIN AND WE ALL GON PARTY LIKE A ROCKSTAR YA DIGG MONEY AND f**k b**chES
September 19, 2007 at 11:38 am
5.
Jackie says:
Hey Meany, Sheed, and Fat this yall homegirl and sister from the bricks. Just want to say congratulations on all yall accomplishments. I love yall and yall know where to catch me in the brick Bowen Homes BB Bowen Homes..... 1 Luv
August 29, 2007 at 6:56 pm