Duke and the Sheltics

BiographyFrom Kilkenny (Ireland) – to Bern. “Hard but hearty, calm but full of verve and emotions”. This is how closer friends might describe Oliver “Duke” Doogue also known as Duckz.In his lyrics and life, Mr. Duke is a very atypical representative of rap culture. Mere appearances and outwardness are not his kind of thing. He prefers writing about facts of life, his past, his lifestyle and he also expresses his opinion on specific sub-groups without mincing any matters freely.In the early 90’s, Duke was an active break-dancer in a bernese crew called TFB (The Fantastic Breakers) and, later on he joined the Wild Dancers, who were rooted in the Hip-Hop scene. In these days, basketball came to be one of his favourite hobbies in which he indulged passionately.In 1995, he first sat down to bring his thoughts to paper and, as he says himself, in these days he used to rap mostly “when he felt a li’l dizzy” among friends, in his clique or at small freestyle-session jams. At this point in time, Duke thought it was funny to rap since he didn’t consider it as a serious professional goal – so he concentrated his energy on his ability as a basketball player and break-dancer.Only a few years later this should change radically. In 1998, Doogue founded his own basketball club (BSS), in order to give the kids a chance for an indoor-basket ball base. Despite the successes of three consecutive regional championship titles within four years, the club started to fall apart due to a lack of support from the management and its members.In the year 2001, he suffered the tragic loss of a person who was very close to the family, and very dear to him, through suicide. These doleful days challenged the young “double-Cancer” anew, forcing him to rearrange his life and to reconsider in which direction he wanted to head. He began to compose some kinda songs, drawing from his numerous lyrics of his ‘freestyle-battles’, ‘lifestyle-texts’ und defamatory songs (‘diss-songs’) about other people. At the same time, he began to write down his diary-like lyrics in the form of songs. Unfortunately, his financial situation did not yet allow him to produce his songs ‘in studio’. Duke has been chosen as one of few of 330 hiphop acts in a “Best of - 2006” for broadcasting his song “Wish” on the radiostation DRS - virus.Through numerous gigs at clubs (Schliern’s Blue-note, Grafity Wyler, Worb’s Clubhouse, Tony’s Club Bern, Bierhübeli Underground Bern, Coupole Biel to name but a few) at Open-airs like the Schlossfest in Köniz 2000 & 2001 and at the Open-air Ins 2005 & 2006, Duke and his crew have evolved into an experienced and powerful squad. Duke and his posse of Irish tap-dancers, break-dancers, beat-boxers, ‘shadow-wall-sprayers’, gymnastic athletes and together with his soul-like background vocalists now present a professionally planned stage act which, in their league, is hard to top.Doogue’s efforts in deepening his understanding of music in general have given him a point of reference in his life and among artists – he certainly is not the kinda guy who sets about composing half-heartedly. He found out how to ante up his skills in order to challenge himself further and further and to continually improve his music. It can be said that he defies many other ‘pleasures of life’ to attain his goal.On his path, many artists have joined him in his work as a young artist, although quite a few have left his group again since they were not prepared to make the sacrifices necessary to live up to Duke’s standards of productivity, efficiency and team-work.In October 2005, he founded “The Sheltics” in order to be able to delegate organisational and administrative matters.In the production of his songs, Doogue also had to overcome several substantial obstacles. Lamentably in his eyes, the producer and Duke met many complications in the production process. Maybe yet another evidence for the very high aims of Doogue.Fortunately, the young Irishman is now by to finalize his 2007 album “ Diary scraps “ which stems from a broad set of originally 44 songs from which they're by to choose n' work out.Duke & The Sheltics are now touring Switzerland, and hopefully soon other galaxies, to inspire the crowds with their vanguard Irish hip hop sound, all the way staying loyal to the old-school. He’s a living example of a never giving up “fighting irish ”.