In an oversaturated environment of artists vying to gain credibility, you can’t help but think of the line said by Jay Z…

"He's all right... but he's not real”

Shogun is that deal. While most artists out there portray an illusionary image from street thugs to dealing drugs, Shogunna paints a real picture of what he is and what he lives. Being caught up in the street life at a young age, all the surrounding experiences have befallen on Shogunna like a trial of tests. Gangs, guns, fights, jails, and a lifestyle of dangerous activity can push you to your limits. But you don’t go that route and expect to have it easy. In the end, it’s what you make out of it that defines your character. For Shogunna, picking up the pieces and trying to transform a painful past to a prospered future, is what defines him as a new person being reborn through redemption. It’s in his expressions of experiences that you can feel and connect with the struggles, whether with laughter or with pain. Add to that with the drive of unrelenting ambition, and you get a clear and true sense of what his artistry is made of; the truth, the struggle, the streets.

In early 2007, Shogunna put out an independent release called “Signed 2 the Streets”; an album showcase of artistic creativity, opening a window into his realm with all originally written & produced songs. It also defines his attitude in not having to succumb to industry trends of the moment, and to keep a raw and unfiltered soundscape that is true to his persona. A lot of critics can say, all the real G’s are either dead or in jail. Well, Shogunna has done his time and is now extending his lease on life through music. Shogunna is that deal. Read more on Last.fm. User-contributed text is available under the Creative Commons By-SA License; additional terms may apply.