Draft:Shao Dow

Shao Dow is an independent rapper, manga author, and has appeared on Ninja Warrior UK in Season 4 2018. Originally from London he moved to Oxford to study Law and Business at Oxford Brookes University. After studying Shaolin Kung Fu with monks while living in China, Shao Dow gained influences from martial art to forge his music career, rapping in English and Japanese merging musical genres of nerdcore, anime rap and grime. He has won the award for "Hardest Working Artist" at the AIM Independent music awards in 2017 and received nominations for "Best Live Performer" at the AIM Independent music awards 2022. Shao has self-released 3 albums, and has since sold over 25,000 copies He has opened for Tech N9ne, R.A The Rugged Man , KRS-One , Stormzy, 6LACK, Skepta, and performed at Reading and Leeds Festivals, additionally touring across the UK, Europe, The USA and Asia.

Shao Dow has also featured on a range of radio shows including Fire in the Booth with Charlie Sloth, BBC Radio 1, BBC Radio 1xtra, Capital Xtra, BBC Radio London and BBC 6 Music.

Shao Dow has given music career/manga author presentations in schools to talk about life in the industry and promote music opportunities. He helped launch the UK's first degree course for Rappers and MCs at the Academy of Contemporary Music.

Most recently, Shao Dow wrote a bespoke track for Fortnite’s ‘Mega City’ season update. ‘Thunder Roll’ was used in the official trailer and is one of the main in-game lobby themes and an emote.

In further game related events, Shao Dow's track "Boy" was also used by the Sony Santa Monica Studio to commemorate the one year anniversary of the game God of War: Ragnarok.

Personal Life
Shao Dow has spoken out at the House of Commons to raise issues about the discrimination of musical genres. This particularly in relation to the prejudice against grime acts at live music venues where grime has been linked to violence. The result of this being gig cancellations damaging opportunities for well known artists as well as new and upcoming artists trying to break into the industry. Shao has helped towards "the MPs call on the government to come up with new guidelines for police and local authorities," so changes can be made to “ensure that urban music acts are not unfairly targeted.”

Discography
Albums
 * That's MR ShaoDow To You (2009)
 * Cut the Bullspit (2012)
 * Kung Fu Hustler (2013)
 * The Way of Shao (2016)

Singles & EPs
 * The Grime Single (2008) - Mr ShaoDow
 * Look Out There's A Black Man Coming (2009) - Mr ShaoDow
 * R U Stoopid!?! Single (2010) - Mr ShaoDow
 * Get Stronger Single (2011) - Mr ShaoDow Ft. Ghetts
 * GAS MARK 10!!! (2014) - ShaoDow
 * The Rise (2014) - ShaoDow ft. Ricky on Guitar
 * Katana Flow (2015) - ShaoDow
 * The Way of Shao Single (2016) - ShaoDow ft. Kelly Woods and Ricky On Guitar
 *  'Til The Casket Drops (2016) - ShaoDow ft. Serocee, Durrty Goodz, AC & Papoose
 * Morning After Morning (2017) - ShaoDow ft. Abiade
 * #DropKickMan (2017) - ShaoDow produced by The HeavyTrackerz
 * Kaio-Ken (2018) - ShaoDow
 * Like You (2019) - ShaoDow ft. Manga Saint Hilare
 * Burn Out (2019) - ShaoDow
 * Fallen Heroes (Wiley Send) (2020) - ShaoDow
 * Nani 何 (2020) - Shao Dow
 * Sephiroth (One Winged Angel) (2020) - Shao Dow
 * No Fox Given (2020) - Shao Dow
 * Wait For The Summer (2020) - Shao Dow ft. KVNG
 * Wait For The Summer Bromie Remix (2020) - Shao Dow ft. KVNG
 * Inosuke Riddim (2020) - ShaoDow
 * Dio Brando (2021) - Shao Dow
 * Levi Mode (2021) - Shao Dow
 * Shaggy Ball Z Vs One Jump Man Pt 1 (2021) - Shao Dow & Mashed
 * Cursey (2021) - Shao Dow
 * Smash!!! (2022) - Joe Grind & Shao Dow
 * Shaggy Ball Z vs One Jump Man Pt 2 (2022) - Shao Dow & Mashed
 * Eren Yeager Fi DEAD (2022) - Shao Dow
 * Boy (2022) - Shao Dow & Mashed
 * Re:Set (2022) - Shao Dow
 * Shaggy Ball Z Vs One Jump Man Pt 3 (2022) - Shao Dow & Mashed
 * Shonen Pro Dad (2023) - Shao Dow ft. NemRaps
 * Menacing (2023) - Shao Dow ft. Rustage
 * SHUHARI (2023) Shao Dow ft. Catarrh Nisin
 * ShaDow Clone (Naruto Inspired) (2024) - Shao Dow ft. McGwire & ASTRSK*
 * Shaggy Ball Z Vs One Jump Man Pt 4 (2024) - Shao Dow & Mashed

Features
 * Blindness (2020) taken from the Lost Never Gone Album - Yaffle ft. Nick Moon & Shao Dow
 * Underrated (2021) taken from The Word of Zuby Album - Zuby ft. Mac Lethal & Shao Dow
 * Kickiter (2021) taken from the ASIN9NE Album - Tech N9ne ft. Shao Dow
 * Unlimited (2022) - Mega Ran ft. Shao Dow & Roqy Tyraid
 * Oh My Gosh (Ash) (2022) - Straw Hat Boys ft. Austin Simmon & Shao Dow
 * SPIDER-PUNK (2023) - Cam Steady ft. Shao Dow
 * Zero (Anti-Hero) (2023) - Sam Sky ft. Shao Dow & Roless
 * Money (Money Money Money) - JT Music ft. Rustage, The Stupendium, Shao Dow & Andrea Storm Kaden

Manga
With Japanese influence, Shao Dow wrote a manga comic book named "The Way of Shao Vol. 1" which was illustrated by Tonio Maicon, and published on the 3rd April 2020 by TOKYOPOP. The manga is set in a world where musicians have special powers and abilities, and strength is based on the size of your fanbase, live shows are a battle not just for new fans, but also survival. It consists of more than 100 action packed pages of narrative and illustrative excellence following Shao Dow, an ambitious young music artist fighting his way to the top of the music world.

Manga to follow in the series "The Way of Shao Vol.2" is due for release in 2024, illustrated by Dune Pearson.

Notable Performances

 * Truck Festival
 * Reading & Leeds Festivals
 * Hip Hop Kemp
 * Bournemouth 7s Festival
 * Camp Bestival
 * Tech N9ne UK Tour (2009) main tour support - SWG3 Glasgow, O2 Academy Islington, The Wardrobe Leeds & O2 Institute
 * Live At Heart (2019)
 * The Trinity Centre opening for KRS-One (2019)
 * Focus Wales (2021)
 * The Jazz Cafe opening for R.A The Rugged Man (2021)
 * MCM Comic Con Birmingham (2022)
 * Iberanime Porto (2022)
 * MCM Comic Con London (2022, 2023 & 2024)
 * Animecon Netherlands (2023)
 * Japan Expo Paris (2023)
 * Anime Con Birmingham (2023)
 * Anime Expo (2023)
 * Nerdcore Party Con (2023)
 * Anime NYC (2023)
 * Anime League - London Anime & Gaming Con (2022, 2023 & 2024)
 * Japan Expo Marseille (2024)