ambient

Residing in Belgium and hailing from South African descent, it’s no wonder diaspora is rife in Shaka Shams music.

The 18-year-old rapper takes influence from old school and modern hip-hop, as well as trap, boom-bap and ambient, resulting in a refreshingly unique sound.

While his music may prove impossible to pigeonhole, his lyrics are easier to pin down. Crystal Clear is the first in a series of releases under the Elements umbrella which will see Shaka exploring different themes – with this EP it’s the sometimes murky world of late night club life.

Taking his name from his Zulu roots, Shaka channels the mighty warrior ability of the Zulu into creativity, turning himself from the shy youth of his early teens into a musical force. Having picked up the hip-hop bug from his cousin at the age of 11, recording his own track at their house. Though it would have been easy to keep music as just a hobby, Shaka was determined to get to the next level and to get his music heard by as many people as possible.