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<\/a><\/p>\nShadcore is a local legend in Tampa Bay music scene.<\/p>\n
Rasheed \u201cShadcore\u201d Harrell, aka Shadcore, is a Tampa hip hop scene staple who recently released his new book, I Left a Mess in There<\/a>.<\/p>\n Born in Lakewood, New Jersey, and raised in St. Petersburg, Harrell is a family man, \u201cmarried to my lovely wife of 27 years, Tonya Harrell,\u201d he shared in a recent online interview. The proud father of three adult children, Jaire, Tasanee, and Kailey, along with a \u201cwonderful daughter-in-love,\u201d Alyana Harrell, and granddaughter, Athens Amor Harrell, at \u201c50 years young,\u201d Harrell is still well on \u201cgo.\u201d<\/p>\n Shadcore performing<\/p>\n Currently finishing up his final semester, en route to becoming an ESE Teacher for Pinellas County Schools, in I Left a Mess in There, the hip hop artist-turned-author said that readers will get a \u201ccomprehensive look into how a classic hip-hop album was made. They\u2019ll understand the inspiration behind song titles, subject choices, and so much more.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThe inspiration to write this book came from people losing a connection to the music. This allowed me to reconnect listeners with the music and to rediscover why they fell in love with it in the first place,\u201d he noted.<\/p>\n Harrell relayed that he desires for readers to \u201csearch within themselves to see how they can leave impactful \u2018messes\u2019\u201d in their own lives and the lives of others. In this case, \u201cleaving a mess isn\u2019t about destruction. It\u2019s about shaking things up and leaving your footprint behind.\u201d<\/p>\n Readers and listeners can get a subscription for a small monthly fee and gain access to the private, online book club, \u201cInside The Mess,\u201d starting in March. They will take a deeper dive into the book, where Harrell will be covering each song and chapter monthly, and receive early and exclusive access to new material, archived and unreleased songs, and discounts on select merchandise. For a higher price, subscribers \u00a0will receive everything in the first tier, as well as an entry into a bi-annual raffle \u201cto get a customized song made personally by me,\u201d shared Harrell.<\/p>\n The Tampa rap legend shared that the BET Plus show, \u201cLil Kev,\u201d received an NAACP Image Award nomination, and his songwriting group, Soul Supply, had three songs placed in the show. \u201cTwo of the songs in the 8th episode are actually featured and sung by the animated band known as The Scintillations,\u201d he noted. \u201cSo, we can now confidently say that our music was featured in an NAACP Image Award-nominated series \u2013 I think that\u2019s pretty dope,\u201d he acknowledged.<\/p>\n Shadcore at Nubian Bookstore<\/p>\n Harrell was recently invited to Atlanta to be a guest on Khujo Goodie\u2019s (of the legendary Goodie Mob) and DJ Papi\u2019s (Goodie Mob\u2019s touring dj) podcast, \u201cShowtime Atlanta.\u201d\u00a0 \u201cI was able to talk about the album and the book, as well as kick a freestyle on air. Also, while I was there, I visited a Black-owned bookstore named Nubian Bookstore. The owner purchased some copies so, print copies are now available in Atlanta,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n Get more info and access at his websites:\u00a0shadcore.com\/mess-makers<\/a> and\u00a0harrellbooks.com<\/a>, and follow him at IG:\u00a0@shadcoreofficial FB:\u00a0facebook.com\/shadcore1<\/a>\u00a0and YT:\u00a0@maltrease. You can email him at shadcore92@gmail.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n Tory Howard aka Jay Grey aka Legal Alien<\/p>\n Tory Jelani Howard, better known as Jay, or by his emcee name, Jay Grey aka Legal Alien, was born in Wilson, NC, and relocated to St. Pete in 2017. The 47-year-old emcee-turned-author recently shared about his book, Behind the Wheel, 6000 Rides Later: Confessions of an Uber Driver, in an online interview.\u00a0<\/p>\n Howard related that the book is based on his experience and is also inspired by the 90s HBO series, \u201cTaxi Cab Confessions.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cAfter reading my book, readers learn that driving Uber is a lot like other service industry jobs \u2013 where you wear multiple hats like confidant, therapist, friend, and even security,\u201d noted Howard.\u00a0<\/p>\n He observed that \u201cpeople sometimes confuse you with an extension of the app, rather than a person giving them a ride, until you show them your human side.\u201d<\/p>\n Realizing that people often climbed into his Uber with the comment, \u201cI know you meet some interesting people,\u201d Howard decided to share his stories. \u201cThe number one question they would ask was \u2018Has anyone ever got in your car drunk, and threw up all over the place?\u201d The artist said he wanted to let people know that not only was he someone with a multitude of varying experiences and dimensions, but that he could also \u201ctell stories about driving people around and make it interesting.\u201d He also believed people could relate to his stories, \u201cwhether rider, driver, or curious reader.\u201d<\/p>\n Howard has \u201cbeen in love with hip hop since I first heard it,\u201d and while he\u2019s been recording off and on since the early 2000s, he just recently began showcasing his skills publicly.<\/p>\n He acknowledged that his emcee career directly relates to his new book. \u201cRhyming and MCing is basically taking words and making them interesting to the listener. I also do this with the book by relating dialogue between rider and driver while making that interesting but in a slightly different way.\u201d<\/p>\n Jay Grey aka Legal Alien performing at FloridaRAMA<\/p>\n Still actively making music and performing as Jay Grey aka Legal Alien, he has \u201cmuch more music on the way,\u201d including an \u201c absolute hit that I\u2019m going to drop soon, so stay tuned.\u201d If you want to catch him performing, he\u2019ll be live at the Urban Drinkery<\/a> on the 28th of February.<\/p>\n Howard\u2019s book is available on most book apps, including Apple Books<\/a>, Smashwords<\/a>, and Barnes&Noble.<\/a>\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n Visit his website, \u00a0www.jaygrey.com<\/a> for updates on the release of the print copy, and follow him on Instagram at @jaygreyakalegalalien on Instagram and TikTok.<\/p>\n
<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a>Harrell said his artistic output \u2013 emcee to author \u2013 is inextricably connected. \u201cMy career as an emcee is totally tied to the book. You don\u2019t get the book or the insight without the passion and experience in creating the music. They go hand in hand. I\u2019m not sure I would have discovered an interest in being an\u00a0author if I didn\u2019t first fall in love with writing songs,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n
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