Early Life and Career
Sheist was born in Inglewood, California and grew up in both Inglewood and neighboring city South Los Angeles. He started writing music around the age of 10 and formed a performing group with his best friends that won first and second place prizes at local talent shows produced by ASCAP. He worked with producers Johnny J, Howie Hersh and Ronnie King on his early recordings. He performed from 1994 to 1999 as Shady Montage, signed to Hollywood Records. Two singles he released under this moniker, Shake You Down and Leaving You Again (both hip hop interpolations of older r&b compositions) were well received and aired on major market radio stations nationally. At one point during this period he became label mates and recorded with Biggie Smalls (the artist who caused the late Christopher Wallace to change his stage name to The Notorious B.I.G.) As a teen he appeared in several music videos including 2Pac's So Many Tears and South Circle's Attitudes. Sheist graduated from Alexander Hamilton High School in 1997.
Read more about this topic: Shade Sheist
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