Papa Shock

Fiercely independent and uncompromising in his craft, Papa Shock has been persevering in the underground reggae scene for upwards of fifteen years. Coming up in and around Kingston, Jamaica – the birthplace of reggae music – the formative years of his youth also happened to be the formative years of the modern Dancehall style. In those days, it was more commonly known as Rub-a-Dub or simply “deejay style”. In any case, it was a time of great musical creativity and originality. The energy of that era has left a lasting impact on Papa Shock. From that solid foundation, he has evolved his own style over the years, shaping it into the distinctive sound he delivers today. Never one to mimic the latest trends, Papa Shock follows his own musical path; always true to his personal creative visionMusic has been a lifelong passion for Papa Shock, especially reggae music. As a young boy, living in the rural mountains just north of Kingston, he would lay in bed at night with his transistor radio pressed to his ear long after his parents had demanded he go to sleep. The sounds of JBC and RJR were his constant companions in those days and Friday nights he would never miss listening to the weekly countdowns. It became his dream to someday be an announcer on the radio. While that dream would eventually come true, as he grew older he also realized that he wanted to be more deeply involved in the world of music. He wanted to create and perform his own songs.From the days of informally free styling with his friends in Jamaica, Papa Shock knew that he had what it took to create music. Years later, now living in the U.S., Papa Shock began performing at parties. In those early days, he would simply chat well-known songs over the instrumental versions. Soon, however, he began putting pen to paper and crafting his own lyrics. His unique artistry garnered attention from a local producer and they went into the studio to lay down some demos. That relationship was a failed effort, based on Shock’s refusal to compromise his integrity in order to make a quick dollar. Despite the negative outcome of that experience, it did prove to be the catalyst for Papa Shock’s future as an enduring, independent artist. He went on to become a live performance artist, advancing himself as a songwriter in the process. Though he has always primarily been a solo artist, he has collaborated over the years, both on stage and as a lyricist, within a variety of genres, including hip-hop, rock and Ska. Though he never strays far from his Dancehall origins, he can comfortably branch into all styles of reggae, from Lover’s Rock to bare boned, acoustic Roots.With the advent of the Internet and other digital technologies, Papa Shock has continued to spread his musical message to an ever-widening audience, while maintaining his grassroots philosophy. “Of the people, for the people…that’s what reggae is about.” Spurning the notion that legitimacy comes from the blessings of the corporate entertainment machine, or is determined solely by commercial success, Papa Shock continues to generate his musical creations and deliver them to his growing fan base on his own terms…uncompromisingly and unapologetically…he is the Original Shockah.Get more Papa Shock music, including Free Downloads here: Papa Shock music