Richmond Shaw a.k.a. ‘Hotline’ is making his mark

Born and raised in the City of Pontiac, Michigan in the USA, Richmond Shaw, also known as ‘Hotline’ among many music listeners worldwide, is undoubtedly one of the fastest growing hip-hop artistes who is gaining much attention and popularity throughout many countries.

Hotline’s music and history

The hip-hop artiste, who is not only great lyrically but also knows how to perform moonlighting, has practised with world-class hip hop dancers also having mastered the art of poetry and motion. He started off his career about 20 years ago. His inspiration towards the industry triggered when he was four years old, watching his elder brother Reme aka ‘Cream’ reciting rhymes for his uncle and other family members. He went on to work with rapper 50 Cent’s G-Unit through to Kelly Rowland, Yung Joc and Kurtis Blow among others.

Apart from brushing shoulders with Grammy award winner T.I , Oscar award winners 3-6 Mafia, Cassidy, Bone Crusher, and most recently in a performance with Kelly Rowland of Destiny’s Child, Hotline has also been featured on several official movie soundtracks featuring artistes such as 2pac, 50 Cent, Eminem, Busta Rhymes and Fat Joe.

Having produced and released over seven albums and mix-tape compilations, the artiste has performed and worked with various other international artistes including from Pakistan, USA, Qatar, Iraq, Germany, Thailand, UAE and Bahrain, to name just a few.

Kurtis Blow, the hip-hop legend, commented: “Hotline’s an incredible artiste y’all. He’s a rapper, he’s a singer, he’s a producer, he’s an engineer and he does his thing all over the world spreading that real hip- hop!”

“Dressed in baggy jeans and baseball cap, he looks like any other rapper. But his lyrics are far from the staple rap language of drugs, violence, and sex and swear words,” said C. Goward of the Time Out Magazine.

His latest track released in the third week of April 2013 titled ‘Amnesia’ feat. Mixtape also known as ‘The Brazilian Music Machines’ produced by E. Wolf is grabbing attention from the listeners and charts in Brazil.

How the world describes Hotline

During January 2012, Hotline was ranked #1 ‘Hottest Trending’ artiste of all genres in the world according to ReverbNation.Com, the online music social networking site with over 2.89 million music industry professionals including artistes and managers and 22 million unique music fans every month.

Other past accolades includes Critics Choice #1 Rapper in Mideast region by NPR Radio in the (USA), Billboard Magazine ‘Fresh Start’ USA, #1 Hip Hop ambassador Dubai Eye ’09-10, Realest Rhyme in the world ‘March 07’ by Esquire magazine USA and Top Rapper in  Daily Tribune ’11.

He has also been described as a ‘great lyricist’ by the NY Times. Among various other comments were ‘he is the pulse of war’, ‘strong similarities to Eminem with skill’, ‘#1 in the region. Hats off!’ by Newsweek, Pop Weekly and NPR respectively.

With his multicultural taste and passion towards music, Hotline was also named #1 Rapper throughout many hip-hop sites and forums in the Middle Eastern region such as Dubai Eye Radio, Hip-Hop Cribs Kuwait, and Bahrain This Month, among many others. He also went on to grab the genre’s Official Ambassador spot in several leading publications.

It’s just not music

Not only has Hotline been blessed with an uncanny ability for music, back in the day he has also been in the cast of a 2004 Oscar-nominated movie ‘Gunner Palace,’ a documentary featuring a group known as the ‘Gunners’ who are American soldiers of the 2/3 Field Artillery sharing their experiences in Baghdad during the Iraq War.

Among various comments about the movie, a user review stated: “I saw the movie in Toronto and again in Seattle. I have told so many people about this movie and the fact that it is multifaceted and encourages people from all walks of life, right or left to talk.”

He also produced his music video titled ‘International Ace (World Hip-Hop United)’ to that similar of a documentary that shows how music still tends to act as the language of understanding and how hip hop has become a force to not only express one’s creativity but also a force of unity. The video features Hotline with many other courageous artistes who have come together to show the world what’s possible when differences are set aside for the greater good.