We recently connected with Sho Vaughn and have shared our conversation below.
Sho, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Did you always know you wanted to pursue a creative or artistic career? When did you first know?
I would say around 2014, when I made the decision to go back to school and take up graphic design as a trade. I spent my late 20’s/early 30’s jobless and without much direction as to what I really wanted to do with my life. My mother was recovering from a major health ordeal and my father was already up in age. So it was like a constant “…so what are you going to do now?” in my head, and I had no answer other than I wanted to do something creative that would get me out of my small-city environment. When I did find work, it was unfulfilling and the pay didn’t match the stress levels. I knew I was too talented to do that forever. I’ve always been a skilled rap writer, and I had just put out a project called “Riot Before The Storm” in 2012, but I wasn’t making any music at the time. I’ve always been into breaking videogames (and their genres) down, but couldn’t afford any games or console at the time either. Being an aspiring rapper and a gamer, I like to think that these artforms are connected, especially as we move into a more digitized world everyday. Things like really dope and abstract album covers, posters, game box art, t-shirt designs, UI (user interface) & web design, and motion graphics always stick out to me. I looked around one day and noticed that the world is pretty much one big commercial, and some of the very things we love about art and expression are used to not only sell products but also, promote lifestyle…whether you buy into a particular culture/philosophy or not. I knew that I couldn’t keep letting my ideas just keep going to the wayside, and graphic design seemed like a more “tangible” career to aspire for as opposed to just simply being “the next 30 year old rapper” or just some guy that plays videogames a lot. Not only would it be a new trade that will always be in demand, but it also allows me use my creativity and technological know-how to feed my other passions as well. Also, it would be my introduction into entrepreneurship. Learning how to brand and market myself, not only as a music artist/producer; but as a freelance designer and a gaming content creator as well, just seemed like the best way to naturally find my purpose in life. 2014 was when I knew I wanted to do something that I felt was unique to me.
Sho, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?
I go by “Sho Vaughn” or simply “Sho”. I’m from Albany, GA (The Radium Springs area), My mom calls me by my first (Misho) and middle name, so I just stuck with that as an artist name (real name my rap ish) because it sounds the right kind of abstract/mysterious, but simple enough for people to remember. I come from the era where hip-hop and gaming intersected. The music was less than 10 years old and the 1st Nintendo and Sega Genesis were hitting the streets. I was 4 years old playing PacMan, Mario, and Paperboy before I could even recite a rap song, let alone digest the music. As I got older, my love for gaming grew and my understanding of what was actually being said in rap music grew too. I look at that the cast of Street Fighter II is as much of an influence as Wu Tang Clan. Although I’ve never been formally trained in traditional art, I knew that there was a link between it all that I had to figure out. My biggest inspiration was just how commanding gaming and hip-hop became in society when they were once so taboo and niche.
I am the owner of Hushmouth Media LLC, which has served as a network of platforms and brands for the last 3 years to bring together music, art, and technology. After graduating from Albany Technical College in 2016 as a certified Digital Media Specialist and Press Operator, I worked at several print shops in the area. When the pandemic first began, I was laid off and was given the opportunity to the really hone in on my skills in graphic design content creation. I built my PC with the money I saved and started my company. I provide artwork. branding and printing solutions to small & mid-size businesses as well as individuals. I am also a digital artist specializing in photo manipulation/editing, currently looking to expand into photography and motion graphics in the near future. The name “Hushmouth” comes from a southern expression that basically means being so great that there’s really nothing anyone could say about it. “I can show you better than I can tell you”, if you will. I believe truly captivating art and talent can’t be explained unless its felt, and in a time where people do more talking than anything, sometimes its good to shut people up and let your own greatness speak for itself. That’s what I aim to provide my clients and the culture as well.
Musically, I have been creating hip-hop on and off since 2005. My purpose as an MC is to bring a sort of relatability to the underground hip-hop scene. I released my most recent project titled “Hunnid Hand Slapz” with Sifu Jo3 (Suthern Air Temple/L.A.M.E.) in 2019 as an ode to the blog/mixtape era and its available on my website (shovaughn.net) as either a free download or people can donate what they feel its worth. The project serves as a re-training of muscle memory for me as an MC, as it had been at least 5 years prior that I had released any music at all. I am also currently finishing up the #StayFluid, and honing my skills as a producer.
On the content creation side of things, I am a variety streamer on Twitch & DLive that hosts a weekly segment called “High @ Noon”, which I delve into what’s going in gaming, music, and how the world affects us as black creatives. Again, I love videogames just as much as hip-hop and I’ve come have an appreciation for the human aspect that goes into making these experiences. There are people with families, traumas, and disabilities that sacrifice years of their lives and well-being to create these games we spend billions of dollars on, and in some cases these people (and us, the consumers) are treated unfairly…let alone, there seems to be a big disparity of black creatives in game development as opposed to making content to promote certain games. If people don’t know, they can’t care. These are all aspects of gaming that I attempt explore as well as just enjoying some of my favorite games and talk in depth about them.
What I’m most proud of is that all of this is part of a larger mission to show that there’s no one way to be creative and it allows a community to be built around what we love most. The main focus is staying consistent and executing with a level of honesty that’s becoming more and more rare in a time where everything is based on an algorithm. I don’t glorify “big brands” when they don’t innovate. I talk about other underground artists when people are too lazy to look for new music. I don’t rap just to “get on”, but to also show that hip-hop is a timeless artform that deserves respect as a culture. It’s that unassuming underdog mentality that drives me, and I hope that my clients/audiences feel that in what I produce.
Is there something you think non-creatives will struggle to understand about your journey as a creative?
The mental dexterity and patience that’s required is not for the faint of heart You still have a normal life to maintain. Non-creatives may tend to think that its all just sitting around creating “vibes”, making perfect artwork on the first try, looking cool, and raking in wads of money for putting some words on a hoodie. Now, while it CAN be that to a certain extent, you still have to follow your process to get there. There are times where you almost prefer having a regular 9-5, if just to provide some stability. You’re balancing paying bills and feeding yourself against having an existential crisis everyday. “Is this even worth it?”. “What am I doing here?”. Depression, anxiety, insomnia are common to full-time creatives. I think they wouldn’t understand the moments where you just do nothing, for your own mental health. “Grind culture” has society thinking that you have to dedicate every waking moment nose down in whatever you’re creating, when that’s actually a detriment to the process and final product. They believe everything HAS to win and be successful overnight, but burnout is real for creatives and non-creatives alike. Personally speaking, being around people too much is mentally exhausting, and that counteracts certain networking opportunities that most non-creatives would probably jump at the chance to take. There’s a level of discernment that creatives have that most people wouldn’t understand.
I also think that non-creatives wouldn’t understand exactly HOW you get paid as a creative and an entrepreneur. Streaming music isn’t what people think it is. We get paid fractions of a pennies for even the “good songs”. So maybe buy music directly from artists you like when its available. People whine about a $25/30 design fees, but want a million dollar logo in two days. Understand what a consultation really is and pay your graphic designer accordingly. Everybody doesn’t “blow up” on Twitch in a year or two. Go watch some content and spread the awareness. USE the algorithm sometime. The money is not pouring just because we had an awesome idea. As creatives, we have to learn how to make the most off what we create, and that may take a while…especially if you’re not the hot new face/voice or have a dedicated team to help figure these things out. Learn to be genuine in your support of not only the art and culture, but of the people making these works as well.
Have any books or other resources had a big impact on you?
“Know Your Onions” by Drew De Soto, got me into looking at how to streamline the process of graphic design/production as well as make yourself more valuable as a designer.
“The Futur” channel on Youtube. Chris Do and Ben Burns, especially. Watching them builds from the ground up is inspiring to watch.
“Abstract: The Art Of Design” on Netflix
Kinda Funny Games and The Joe Budden Podcast. I’ve enjoyed watching them grow their audiences into what they are today by simply being consistent.
Contact Info:
- Website: shovaughn.net
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hushmouthmedia/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HushmouthMedia/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/SHOVaughnistic
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCMSVN2ZPrK6wZdBtI1ZI_aw
- Other: https://www.twitch.tv/shovaughnistic https://www.tiktok.com/@shovaughnistic https://dlive.tv/ShoVaughnistic https://www.facebook.com/ShoVaughnistic/
Image Credits
Misho Reid Jason Holley