We recently connected with Rashad Harrell and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Rashad, thanks for joining us today. What do you think it takes to be successful?

To be successful requires a relentless drive. You have to “see” yourself as a success long before you actually become one. You have to let the “no’s” motivate you, not deter you.. Putting in the man hours on your specific craft is an inescapable necessity.. But most importantly YOU have to define what success looks like to you. There are different definitions and levels to success. Only you can tell when you have reached that level. And when you do remain hungry because there is always more to be done and more to accomplish!

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers?

My name is Rashad Harrell but professionally people know me as Shadcore- an emcee from St. Petersburg, Florida, who can rhyme with the best of them. I am also a songwriter, podcaster but most importantly a husband and father. I have been married to the love of my life, Tonya Harrell, for 24 years and we share 3 amazing children Jaire (23), Tasanee (21) and Kailey (19). I am a solo artist with 3 albums that are available for streaming right now (Oh My Shad- 2015, Aux Tales – 2018 and Frisson – 2020). I began rapping as a nine year old kid after hearing Run-D.M.C. This has always been my passion – to write, record and perform. I am also a member of a 7-piece live hip-hop band known as The Real Clash. We have been together since 2012 and we have opened for artists like The Roots, Usher, Anderson Paak, Redman and Method Man to name a few.
I provide a service known as “Let Rashad Rap”, where I will customize a rap song for special occasions such as birthdays, anniversaries, graduation parties and so on.

Any stories or insights that might help us understand how you’ve built such a strong reputation?

What helped build my reputation was my determination to be the best rapper in my city. I didn’t just want to be good – I wanted to be the best. I knew in order to achieve that goal I had to put in work. So I practiced day in and day out. I put extra thought into the words that I would use.. I experimented with different flows and cadences. One of the things that I find most fascinating about the art of rap is storytelling. The ability to tell elaborate stories that rhyme excites me still to this day! Ice Cube is one of the best to ever do that so I studied him. I got better and better as time went on until I eventually achieved my goal. While that fact may be debatable to some I know many people will tell you that I am one of the best if not the best to come out of St. Petersburg.

What do you think is the goal or mission that drives your creative journey?

There is one particular goal I would like to achieve before it’s all said and done. I want to have one of my songs featured in a major blockbuster film. In fact I would like to write a song specifically for a film that not only gets nominated for an Academy Award but also wins the award! I am also driven by grandfather time. I find myself getting better with time. While athletes usually lose a step or two the older they get, as a musician I am continuing to ascend as I age and that is very motivating!

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shadcoreofficial/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/shadcore1
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCMnK2NJkjjKViRWzlwMmwaQ

Image Credits
Rashad Harrell, Jibri Wright