Let’s Talk with Shade Sheist

Hailing from Inglewood, California, Shade Sheist (born Tramayne Thompson) is a vet  in the game.   Shade has been releasing music since 1993 and has worked with some of Hip Hop’s biggest names:  Dr. Dre, DJ Quik, Timbaland, Kay Gee, Nate Dogg, and Ja Rule.  We cut it up with him recently…….see how it went down.

TIHH: Who is Shade Sheist?

Shade Sheist: I would describe myself best as “The Exception”. I am everything that is not supposed to be. Most thought you had to be a hardcore criminal in order to produce good ‘gangsta rap’ music, I proved them wrong. Many thought that I was doing too much at age 13 and that I would never be able to bridge the gap between the ‘clean’ artist I started as and the ‘mature’ artist I have become, but again, I proved them wrong. The first few labels I signed to said I would have to keep releasing singles and eventually one would pop on the Billboard charts. The first single I ever released as Shade Sheist went #1 right off the bat. I was 19 years old and cracking, following the footsteps of West coast greats such as DJ Quik and Snoop Doggy Dogg. Shade Sheist, to be put simply, is the product of a world of experience and quality.

TIHH: People who are familiar with you know that you have a long history in this industry. How did it all start for you?

Shade Sheist: Elementary school, being influenced by Another Bad Creation and Kris Kross, then eventually DJ Quik and Snoop. I linked up with my best friend and formed a group; we started at about the size of ABC and then ended up a duo like KK. We rapped clean rhymes and mostly talked about love and our dreams of living the good life, all the while I was cussing like a sailor inside! Every month we would hit World on Wheels (a skating rink) and grab the latest issue of Rap Pages, turn straight to the back where the ads were and check for any upcoming talent shows in our area. Several auditions and showcases later I met folks who introduced me to other folks and with each new connect I climbed closer and closer to the top. Before I could fully realize the magnitude of how far I had come I was already on TV, in magazines and traveling the world!

TIHH: Of course, sometime down that road, you dropped When “Where I Wanna Be” (featuring Nate Dogg and Kurupt). How did things change for you?

Shade Sheist: Too much to really explain! I remember recording the track and being like “ehh, it’s cool,” I was more excited that I had Nate and Kurupt on the record with me; they are legendary in my eyes. I had no idea that song was going to be that big, even with Nate and Kurupt on it. I won’t even lie about it! When Damizza called me up at like 5 in the morning to tell me that we were #1 in Billboard I didn’t even react, which pissed him off. I didn’t realize what it all meant (that and I was half-sleep) but when I came to, I woke up to a totally new world. People who didn’t recognize me, now did. I was signing all types of things for people including babies! Folks even started giving me things; expensive things, for free! Females who thought I was cute now thought I was fine! HaHa. It’s been an interesting transition, to say the least.

TIHH: Nate Dogg and Kurupt were on top of things in that time period; was it intimidating to have them on that record?

Shade Sheist: Hell nah, but it tripped me out. Because like I said, they are legendary here on the West. Nate wanted to get on this record before he was even invited. He pretty much invited himself, same with Kurupt. If it was on me, I wouldn’t have even picked this particular track for this initial collaboration. Kay Gee gave me a whole beat CD to work with and there were much harder joints on there than “WIWB” in my opinion. But everything happens for a reason!

TIHH: When your official album, “Informal Introduction” was slated to drop it seemed like you would have made a huge mark on the game. What happened to the album originally? A lot of label issues correct?

Shade Sheist: That and 9/11. It was a lot of things. “II” was supposed to drop in early 2002 and kept being pushed back every time we came up with a new single. The album was complete but then MCA opened the budget to get a Timbaland record, then a DJ Quik record, so forth and so on. This compromised the track listing and the master CD which we had to keep remanufacturing. It finally dropped in September, one day after the 1 year anniversary of 9/11, how convenient. Then, only a quarter into promoting the album, which by this time was halfway up the charts, MCA announces that they are going bankrupt, again, how convenient. Damizza and I holla’d at the President of MCA and asked to be released from our contracts and we were granted such right. There is more to it, but it’s an old record that I don’t want to play anymore.

TIHH: How important was that material to you? You had everyone from Dr. Dre to DJ Quik to Timbaland to Devante (Jodeci) on there. How does that album compare to all your other work?

Shade Sheist: There is no comparison, as far as the quality. When you have all of those individuals helping you make something classic, you would need all of the original players to recreate that. However, the production of that project has shaped me as an artist. I don’t release wack shit. I don’t know how!

TIHH: You weren’t only working with the west coast heavy hitters at the time; you also had strong ties to Ja Rule and Murda Inc. How did that all come about?

Shade Sheist: Artists mingle with other artists, producers with producers. Damizza and Irv Gotti were cool, Mizza played Gotti one of my records and he flipped out. I was introduced to Ja, he dug my style and we started writing. Then I met the crew and we started writing. Before you knew it this was my official connection to the East Coast. Irv promised me he would put me out and he did. My first commercial release ever was “The Murderers” project. Nothing but love to The INC!

TIHH: And even though you’ve been out of the public eye in some sense, you have been hard at work at all times. Can you tell us a little about your overseas ventures?

Shade Sheist: I like to hit at least one international country in a year’s time and I have been making good on that. Last January I hit Canada for my first time and smashed it! Most already know that I was the first West Coast artist to ever perform in the country of Taiwan a few years back. I’ve been to Japan recently and have plans to hit Europe this year. I love traveling and performing for my international supporters, they are the best.

TIHH: What was it like being the first West Coast rapper to perform in Taiwan?

Shade Sheist: Just watch the YouTube channel. [laughs]. They will never forget us!

TIHH: How important are the overseas connects to your career?

Shade Sheist: They have acted as a lifeline. As I stated in past interviews, I have issues with some of the characteristics of (a lot of) domestic fans and music industry employees. Overseas however, they eat this good shit all the way up! They look forward to every new release and keep up with everything I do more so than they do here in the states. So which way do you think I’m gonna swing when it comes to making career moves? To answer that, I make way more money in overseas ventures than I ever did domestically.

TIHH: Since we touched on all your past work; what’s next for you? Any new albums, tours, movies, etc?

Shade Sheist: All of the above. “Movin Units,” my group LP with Nune drops next. Then I will release “P.N.L.A: The Exit Strategy” towards the end of the year. I also will drop the Canada edition of my World Tape like soon soon! So this covers me musically. Visually, I have a DVD series dropping this year, related to my World Tape. I am also directing a bunch of videos that I will be starring in, the next one up features TQ and Young Noble from the Outlawz. The track is from a dope new artist out of East London called RedMusicUK. I also plan on returning to the film industry as an actor, my career before music.

TIHH: As I stated earlier you’ve worked with the best of the best but who would you say is the most memorable to have worked with and why?

Shade Sheist: DJ Quik because he was the first gangsta rap I had ever heard in life. Surprised it’s not NWA or Ice Cube huh? Nah, it was all “Quik is The Name”. So when I had the honor of getting in the studio with him, having him lend me his and Eazy-E’s moniker “John Doe” I was out of my mind! Then we released that single and now I have a billboard spot in history with my favorite artist in the world next to 2pac.

TIHH: Do you still have any contact with those artists that you previously worked with?

Shade Sheist: Yep. I see Quik in his own studio time to time. I usually see Bishop Lamont and Glasses Malone around. Roscoe and Techniec. I talk to Warren G and Kurupt online. Everyone I am usually known to associate with. I would like to be back in contact with Nate but I know he is getting his health in order so I keep him in my thoughts.

TIHH: Is there anyone you want to work with that you haven’t gotten the chance to yet?

Shade Sheist: Just Jay-Z really. And the obvious, 2pac.

TIHH: Being from California; what do you think about the new crop of west coast emcees? And who do you honestly feel has the best chance to make it pop off for the coast again?

Shade Sheist: I say the same thing every time, we are the best! The new breed is just as hard as the vets, some harder! I think we have more spitters in this generation than we did in the past though. The Game has been making it crack for us on a national mainstream level, he has attention and I think he can keep it rolling. Bishop Lamont is also another likely candidate, plus he has that thing called ‘Dr. Dre’. Glasses and Jay Rock have been putting in work, so has Crooked I, Roscoe and myself.

TIHH: You’ve been in this game for a long time and have seen the ups and downs of the industry; what keeps you in the game?

Shade Sheist: Used to be the love but these days it’s the money. I only have so much time left on my career clock so I wish to maximize my financial return for as long as I want to keep doing this. This is no longer a hobby, it’s a job and I don’t work for free! Besides the obvious though, my supporters keep me around. It only takes a few good words from my loyal peeps and it just makes me wanna make something new to show off! I plan on willfully retiring from this game in the near future but every time I think I’m the close to completion I get pulled further the other way. So let’s just see what happens!

TIHH: On a more personal note, I know that there’s about to be a Baby Sheist real soon. LOL. You ready for the little one fam?

Shade Sheist: Of course, my little girl will be here real soon! Another star in the family, perhaps?

TIHH: One more personal question, Lakers or Celtics? I already know the answer but I had to ask.

Shade Sheist: The same shit I said while in Boston during the NBA playoffs/finals: LAKERS ALL DAY. Best record in the league, best player in the league and most effective team in the league. Celtics are cool. LOL.

TIHH: Desert Island Hip Hop: If you could only have one album with you on a deserted island; which album would it be and why?

Shade Sheist: That’s hard. Would I get sick of listening to myself? That’s why I’m leaning towards DJ Quik’s “Quik Is The Name”. I can pull major memories out of my brain while bumping that classic. So let’s go with Quik.

TIHH: Any shout outs or last words before we let you go?

Shade Sheist: Shout out to everyone who took the time to read this. YOU are who I do this for.

1,719 views | Posted in Artist Spotlight, Interviews