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"PUTCHA MIDDLE FINGAZ UP" DyFOR ENT @ FUSION 9/20/07
"I Feel Like Slappin Somebody Today" video by Southpaw
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Shawn Michael Romano aka (SOUTHPAW) without a doubt represents a new wave of talent taking over the music scene. Born February 6th 1981 in Vicenza, Italy, Shawn, his mother Deborah, and his father Stephen would eventually move to the states only months after his birth. After bouncing around from Colorado, Minnesota, and New Jersey they finally landed in Virginia. Shawn at the age of 6 was already showing signs of artistic and musical talent. Always drawing and performing he was definitely the center of attention.
Southpaw got a hold of his first taste of hip-hop, the Beastie Boys around the age of 7. It was given to him by an older kid in the neighborhood that was eventually confiscated by his parents. They ran a tight ship, not allowing any explicit material into the house, but over the next few years tapes began filtering into the Romano home, and just like the ones before them, they were taken away. Everything from Tone-Loc, EPMD, Eric B & Rakim, to Das-Efx, Cypress Hill and Tribe Called Quest were confiscated by his parents. In the end though, it would not change anything, it was already absorbed. After his younger sister was diagnosed with cerebral palsy, she began to get all of their parents attention leaving Southpaw’s mind to roam freely.
In 1999 he started taking music serious and called himself Prospect. Working with nothing but a computer, a live performance microphone, and a program called acid hip-hop, his first basement tracks were laid down. The group was called RA (rappaz anonymous) consisting of seven mc’s from the neighborhood, where Southpaw stood out among all of them. He then moved to Kentucky to put a project together with the Backwood crew. It consisted of 8 artists, Southpaw being the only white artist out of the 8, but he continued to outshine everyone and got respect from his peers in the hip-hop industry.
In 2004 he made his move to go solo. He moved back to Virginia and changed his outlet to SOUTHPAW. He got the concept from being a lefty and a big Rocky fan. After picking up the knowledge of the music industry real quick, he learned how to produce hits. Never putting a word on paper only writing his lyrics in his head and memorizing them as he went along, people were thrown back as hit after hit flew out of his mouth as if it was tattooed in his brain. From crazy club tracks to tracks that can make you shed a tear, his universal appeal was apparent and he was ready for anything.
With over 100 live performances under his belt, including opening for artists such as, Killa Priest, U-God, Necro, Beatnuts, Jedi mind tricks, Afroman, Graph, Webbie, Brisco and Shawty Lo, he began to gain recognition throughout Virginia and Florida. His live performances were untouched, even by big names in the mainstream music scene. With his captivating stage presence and uncanny way of being able to perform his songs the same as they sound on wax he would literally upstage any headliner he performed before. Some fans may have come to see they’re favorite artist of all time but by the end of the night, the name in everyone’s mouth was Southpaw.
In 2008 he made his move to Orlando, Fl by 2010 he signed with no-other then original G-unit member "Bangem Smurf" and his Feed Da Wolves Entertainment who is working with Rick Ross and the Maybach Music Family. His commercial club banging music continues to keep the club moving and his universal appeal is any record labels dream.
