September 5th Show

Thanks for everyone who came out to see me perform at Ryan Chelsea Clinton's fundraiser for Reach Out and Read, It really was an incredible show: AB Lugo, Yvonne Fly Onakeme Etaghene and Carlos Andres Gomez were off the hook! Seriously, I haven't heard that much good poetry/spoken word in a minute. Thank you Radeyah and everyone at Ryan Chelsea Clinton for allowing me to be a part of the work.

Last Friday, I got to be the specail guest artist at Willie Mae Rock Camp for Girls. I don't know if I've ever had more fun (or signed more autographs!) then being in front of this enthusiastic crowd of 8-18 year-old girls. Thanks to Noa D for recommending me to the WMRC staff.

On September 5th, I'll be in a show with some amazing performers. I'm attaching the bad-ass flyer. Please come, because you don't see a group of artists appear like this often.

I'll be on retreat from Aug 26-Sept- 2 and so out of touch, but I hope to see you all Friday, September 5th at WOW cafe.

see this old post never published

Check out this post
couldn't figure out how to change the date and I re-designed and updated the Shante Paradigm website. enjoy!

Show this Sunday: Queens Museum of Art

Queerin' Queens Annual Pride Month Celebration

Sunday, June 15, 2 - 6 pm

2 - 3 pm Performance Showcase - Join us for eclectic live performances including: Spoken word artists Robert Ortiz, Hip Hop & Soul artist Shanté Paradigm, fierce Queer Sri Lankan Tamil American Marian Yalini Thambynayagam --- accompanied by the carnal sounds of Varuni Tiruchelvam on cello who conjures spirit through her unique blend of poetry, song, and dance, and Rhythm Locura, (pictured) New York's premier LGBT Latin dance group

3 - 5 pm CINEMAROSA Queens Only Queer Film Series Screenings - The independent film initiative created in 2004 by New Media Artist, Hector Canonge, holds its monthly LGBT screening programs at QMA. For pride month join Brooklyn filmmaker Lesli Klainberg for a screening and discussion of:
Fabulous! The Story of Queer Cinema (Lisa Ades & Lesli Klainberg, 2006, 82 min)
The superstars of gay and lesbian cinema shine in this amazing overview of LGBT film history. It's packed with smart interviews and a tremendous array of film clips from the greatest movies of the genre celebrating more than half a century of queer independent filmmaking from Kenneth Anger's pioneering Fireworks (1947) to the smash hit blockbuster Brokeback Mountain. Also starring John Waters, Wilson Cruz, Guinevere Turner, Peter Paige, B. Ruby Rich, Gus Van Sant, and Alan Cumming. *Followed by a Complimentary Cocktail Reception!*

2008 Appearances

Well, we're in a recording lull, as both Music Man (aka Pat Rivers) and me gotz school to deal with.

I'm basically blogging because I am sick and peeps keep posting wack shit on my MySpace page. PEOPLE! When it says "post a comment." it doesn't mean to post some crazy thing about your new book/album/kitten/facebook/sock drawer arrangement. Geez! It means say something TO or ABOUT the person you are leaving the comment for. And end rant here.

Okay, so appearances in 2008, so far:

Jan 10th-Greenwich Academy, Greenwich, CT. talking about being a music entrepreneur. This is my high school alma mater. 7-10pm. I'm still slightly traumatized by my high school experience, but, here goes nothing.

Jan 17-22- Yoga Journal Conference, San Francisco, CA. This isn't really an appearance per se, but I will be in SF...doing lots of yoga. Can I stay with someone? LOL...no really.

Jan 23- Astrea Fundraiser at Cattyshack, Brooklyn, NY. Me, doing some songs, come, enjoy and get your drink on. See? That rhymed, that's what I do, rhyme. Yay me! Hmmm, I see I'm on neither website. DIVA TIME!!!!!!

Here's the blurb:
Brooklyn, NY

Lesbian Justice League Celebration
Wednesday, January 23, 2008 - 7:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.
With Executive Director Kate Kendell Esq.

Catty Shack Club & Bar
249 4th Avenue
Brooklyn, NY 11215
Suggested donation $10

Come party with the Lesbian Justice League: The National Center for Lesbian Rights and The Astraea Lesbian Foundation for Justice as they celebrate 30 years of fighting the good fight. Executive Directors Kate Kendell and Katherine Acey will be in attendance. This Outreach party for both organizations features a special performance by Shante Paradigm, a Brooklyn emcee and singer. Attendees will have the chance to win fabulous door prizes.

For more information, please contact Eleanor Palacios at epalacios@nclrights.org or at 415.365.1309.

At some point, I am supposed to be doing a radio show, but I have to return the call...I need a manager ya'll. It's true.

Okay sweet kisses to all who gave me love in 2007.

SP

GO NYC's August Music Issue

Hey Ya'll:

Just wanted to let you know I'm featured in Go NYC's August Music Issue. Check it out here.

In other work, I'm working on the line-up for this year's Peace Out East and it's looking like a good one.

I'm also writing a blog for Velvet Park magazine, I just need to get it done!!

More soon.

SP

Where in the World is Paradigm?

Okay Paradigm Fans and Supporters:
It's been a month since my last update, so there is lots to catch up on. I'll just give you the highlights.

Right now, go and check out http://www.blogger.com/img/gl.link.gif. Yours Truly is one of the featured poets. This issue is edited by my friend, Emmanuel Xavier and he's done a gosh darn good job of picking some fine poets. Check it, check it, check it out!

So, I had some shows and that was all good. Last month, I got to go back to Toronto, where I last was for the Pick Up the Mic world premier at the Toronto Film Festival in 2005. This time I went for Toronto Pride and performed for my largest crowd yet, I think there were 300-400 people and it was exhilarating! Johnny Dangerous, DDC and Cazwell were there and I got to some lovely time with a new artist-friend, Belladonna and The Awakening. Here's me with Belladonna and the band before the show.
I also got my own dressing room with my name on it. Granted it was on a piece of lined paper that was torn down to make room for another guest, but still...I signed my first autograph, at least I think it was my first. Look Ma! I'm a star!!!!



I got to stay at two fly hotels: The Gladstone and The Drake

This was my room at The Gladstone. Sometimes touring can be so Sweet.

Saturday night's show offered it's own set of excitement for me. The two highlights were being the headline of CKLN's show, the second, was doing a rendition of "Wade in the Water," that featured Tim'm T. West and Solis of DDC. It was FIRE! That's Tim in the back. Solis, I'll get one of you too!

Loads of other things happened, but i was lazy and didn't blog. The best part was my interview on MTV. Canadian MTV, but still MTV.

Click here to watch, go to the left and scroll down to the Video that has Princes Harry and William as the topic , i be there in the Queer Culture mets Hip Hop article. SUPAH-STAHHHHHHHH!


Don't forget, Peace Out East submissions close at the end of the month, so if you want to perform, sumbit now.

Shante Paradigm Website

Hey Ya'll! The Shante Paradigm website is live. I know it need work, but a girl is just proud to have it up after owning the URL for a year with nothing there.

I will continue to use to site for musings and other such things. I am working on Peace Out East right now, so look for the updates to get more frequent.

As a little treat, I will leave you with two videos for discussion.

The first is a fabulous YouTube creation called, Miss Cleo vs. Milan, this is outrageously funny and fantastic. I'm really digging the quotidian topic, the high phone bill from calling Miss Cleo, but really the fake Cazels are the star of this video....but that Theo Huxtable shirt is a close second.The gold teefs round out the top three.

Speaking of old school vibes, my boy Bryan alerted me to a lovely little bubble gum song, that is helping to renew my faith in age-appropriate hip hop. Lil' Mama's "Lip Gloss" is kinda the jam (shut up Loo Loo)! I mean, shouldn't a 17 year-old be rapping about school lip gloss (from Mac), her locker, anxiety about the cool crowd, her Yankees cap (Booooo, the Stankees suck, Mets baby!!!), and other such innocent topics? No gats, no drugs, no Courvoisier, no clubs, no Jags and rims, just kid stuff. Plus this little girl can rap, even if her subject matter is pretty silly. Check it out! Oh, but black people with light eyes scare the bejesus out of me! She looks like Bow-Wow's lil sister. Anyway, here's Lip Gloss. I can't figure out why she is grabbing her crotch so much. And why must black people always try to make our children grown, Lil Mama? Lil Man, etc,. Sigh, we've got problems, but at least we can sang and dance...

Hit me up with your comments: shante@shanteparadigm.com


One Love

March Madness. It's carpets, it's madness.

Sorry it's been a minute ya'll. I had to take a little escape to one of my favorite places on Earth: Tulum. I know it's odd to link a site that translates, "Crazy white dude," but all the other ones were even more WACK! Fix that, cuz Tulum is the bomb! Here's me looking crazy in the hammock.

I flew back early from my vacation to be on a panel, "Hip-Hop and Homophobia: Exploring Bisexuality, Masculinity, and the DL," organized by Princeton University's LGBT Center (big shout to Larry Lyons and Deb Barasky for making that happen). I was pumped because I got to sit on the a panel with Dr. Cornel West!! Yo, and that cat is as off the hook as he is brilliant. Marc, sorry I didn't tell you beforehand--it was hectic, but I got his number, son, holla. Anywho. Other panelist, were Dr. David Malebranche and Lynne d Johnson. It was pretty lively and think Princeton never had so much hip hop, queerness and blackness all in one place. Very dope. All the panelist where incredibly artrickulate and down-to-earth.

I've been checking out shows, you know, artists got to get inspired and such. I saw my homie, Reuben Butchart at his album release party for Golden Boy. He's sensational and you should see him live--Quebecois soul. Two days later, I had the privilege of seeing Antony & the Johnsons with the Brooklyn Philharmonic at BAM. All I can say is "wow." It was truly a sensationally powerful experience. His voice is dazzling and transportative. Plus, he did the most unbelievable rendition of Beyonce's "Crazy in Love." Seriously. Brilliant insanity.


In terms of my own work, got lots going on: next week, I'll be uptown as an audience member at, what looks to be a great panel at Harlem Children's Zone, a screening and dialogue about Byron Hurt's film, Beyond Beats and Rhymes, sponsored by GenderPAC. Should be cool.

I'm doing some studio work with the AV Folklore peeps who are bringing their groovy sounds and art from London.

Next month, I'm heading into the studio to work on some more songs for my solo album. I'm doing in a show in Denver...I know, but hey, cool, right. It's going to be the hotness. Check it, check it, check it out, just channeling a little LONS there (isn't INSANE they have a wiki entry?). My "studio" look (notice how I'm mad important and on the phone).

What else? Oh, in a totally different musical vein, I'm bringing it back and singing classical/operatic music on May 19th at my high school alma mater, in a tribute to the woman who basically convinced me I could have a career as a singer. She died 10 years ago from stomach cancer, but had a heavy influence on my life (and many others). We're singing some of her fave songs. Oh don't worry, I'll make sure Snowflake takes mad pictures and I will post them here. And you will all laugh.


Still studying for my doctoral qualifying exams next month, that's also part of the reason I've been a bit off the radar. Doing so much yoga it's insane and loving it. I have a great school and am getting super-buff, even if Snowflake still makes fun of my bebidas belly. I'm all about yoga and creativity.

Oh yeah, buy my album.


I will be writing soon. Seriously. I have to write about my obsession with Chris Brown. And my adventures with my homie, Keasha, who's coming to NYC next week.

February Ain't No Joke!

Greetings and Salutations from beautiful Brooklyn! It's cold, ya'll. Anyway, this week brings a couple of little updates of the interview variety. One is an audio interview from WNYC's Soundcheck that I did with Soce, the Elemental Wizard in December and this one has our performances (the website doesn't). It was definitely cool to have independent, queer hip hop representing on NPR, but, there's still a long way to go in terms of hip hop artists being actually listened to as artists by other "music aficionados." The dynamics of race and gender tend to come up as well, and many, many people think hip hop started 5 or 6 years ago by the limited artists they constantly check. Listen for yourself and let me know what you think.

The second interview is by my high school alma mater, my how things have changed. Read it here. And yes, it was as scary as it looks. Scarier.

In other news, the B.Q.E. album, The Digm and the Dutch is out. How many of ya'll copped that? Come one, pleeeeaasssseeee. I understand all my friends who are broke-ass, don't worry, you keep showing me love. But, really, buy that. Feel free to holla at me or Dutchboy with your feedback.

In other news, I have some projects brewing that I can't talk about right now, but hopefully, I will be able to write more soon.

Okay I have to go study, 'cuz I'm a nerdy scholar and spend way too much time here. I'm working on some songs though, no lie.

P.S.: Oh well, Blogger doesn't let you upload big audio clips. Email me if you'd like a copy. Damn I need to learn coding. Help!

Until next week,

SP