Shakka (singer) facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Shakka
Background information
Birth name	Shakka Philip
Born	(1989-05-16) 16 May 1989 (age 36)
Origin	Notting Hill, London, England
Genres	Indie alternative soul R&B hip hop
Occupation(s)	Singer songwriter record producer
Instruments	Vocals
Years active	2009–present
Labels	Pitched Up Columbia Sony
Associated acts	Jme Sigma Basement Jaxx Giggs Wretch 32 Lethal Bizzle Ghetts Frisco Carnage Angel Nick Brewer Cadet

Shakka Philip (born on May 16, 1989), known simply as Shakka, is a talented British singer, songwriter, and music producer. He is signed to record labels like Pitched Up, Columbia Records, and Sony Music.

Shakka became well-known after releasing his first major EP, The Lost Boys, in 2015. This EP featured the popular song "Say Nada". The music video for "Say Nada", which included rapper Jme, has been watched over five million times! This success helped Shakka win his first MOBO Award for Best R&B/Soul Act. In 2016, he released another EP called The Island. This earned him a second MOBO Award for Best R&B/Soul Act and was featured on The Independent newspaper's "Ones to Watch 2017" list.

Shakka's Musical Journey

Starting Out: Early Music Projects

Shakka began his music career by releasing his first official EP, Foolishness, in July 2009. He recorded this at a local youth center. Shakka produced some of the songs himself, along with TE1. From the start, Shakka chose to sing with his natural British accent. This was different from many other artists at the time who used an American-influenced sound, and it became part of his unique style.

In 2011, he released a creative mixtape called The Shakka Crown Affair. This mixtape helped him gain respect from other musicians in the UK. It also caught the attention of famous British rapper Wretch 32.

To reach more fans, Shakka started making cover songs and mashups on YouTube in 2012. He called these Shakkapellas. These videos became very popular around the world and helped him get noticed by important people in the music industry.

Rising to Fame: Collaborations and Tours

The year 2013 was a big one for Shakka. He worked with many different artists. One of his most notable collaborations was on Wretch 32's song "Blackout". This song became a top 10 hit on the UK Singles Chart, reaching number 6!

Shakka was also chosen to perform at the famous Glastonbury Festival on the BBC Introducing stage. After that, he toured globally as a guest singer with the popular electronic music group Basement Jaxx.

In 2013, Shakka received a lot of recognition. MTV included him in their list of top 20 Unsigned Artists. He also received two MOBO Award nominations, including Best Newcomer. Radio 1Xtra supported his music early on, playing his Shakkapellas and helping him as he became more famous. He also performed on popular TV shows like 'The Graham Norton Show' and 'Sunday Brunch'.

He continued his success by releasing another independent EP, Tribe, in 2013. From this EP, he released the singles "Spin" and "Just Want to See You". Shakka also worked on a National Theatre play called "Home" in 2013. He performed in it and produced music for it. He shared the stage with actors like Antonia Thomas and Michaela Coel.

Breakthrough: Hit EPs and Debut Album

In 2014, Shakka released Shakka B-Sides, a collection of remixes. This included a remix of Ten Walls' "Walking with Elephants" featuring Frisco, which gained over 8 million views on YouTube. In 2015, Shakka signed with Pitched Up/Sony Music.

His debut major label EP, The Lost Boys, came out in 2015, featuring the single "Say Nada". Soon after, a remix of "Say Nada" with two verses from Jme was released. This remix has over 5 million views on YouTube.

In 2016, Shakka released his next EP, The Island. This EP helped him win his second MOBO Award for Best R&B/Soul Act. He was also named one of The Independent newspaper's "Ones to Watch" for 2017.

Shakka also produced music for the E4 TV series Chewing Gum, which aired its second season in 2017. On August 12, 2021, Shakka announced his first full album, Road Trip To Venus, which was released on September 24, 2021.

Shakka's Music Releases

Shakka has released several albums, EPs, and singles throughout his career.

Albums

• Road Trip to Venus (2021)

Extended Plays (EPs)

• Foolishness (2009)
• Tribe (2013)
• The Lost Boys (2015)
• The Island (2016)

Mixtapes

• The Shakka Crown Affair (2011)

Popular Singles

Shakka has released many singles, both as the main artist and as a featured artist. Some of his well-known songs include:

• "Say Nada" (2015) - featuring Jme
• "Man Down" (2018) - featuring AlunaGeorge
• "Rest of My Life" (2020) - with Sigma

He has also been featured on hit songs by other artists, such as:

• "Blackout" (2013) by Wretch 32
• "Playground" (2015) by Lethal Bizzle
• "Bridge over Troubled Water" (2017) as part of Artists for Grenfell, a charity single that reached number 1 in the UK.

Awards and Nominations

Shakka has won several awards for his music.