We had the good fortune of connecting with Negative Shawdy and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Negative, how do you think about risk?
I see taking risks as making opportunities, or opening doors. I remember early 2019, I was really starting to buckle down with my music career, I met up with my close friend (and someone I see as a musical mentor), Khofa. He was really the only person who has ever talked to me about taking risks & investing in myself. I will never forget him telling me the moment I that first leap & decide to invest in myself that everything else would kind of just fall into place. It wasn’t easy & at first I struggled with the confidence aspect of it all (trust me, there are levels to this ishh). Soon enough though, as I started to take more chances, many more opportunities have revealed themselves.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
Starting off in the music field wasn’t easy at all. When I was about 11 years old, I hooked up my GuitarHero microphone to my Macbook and started recording music on GarageBand. Never did I ever think I would end up performing my first show on a farm in Virginia amongst a crowd of flower growing, pot smoking, talented human beings. I learned a lot from the energy that day. I would go on to play some gigs in local bars in VA and DC. That experience lead to bigger and better opportunities. When I finally moved back to Cali, I was asked to perform at a show my friend, Khofa was headlining at The House of Blues.
I didn’t know what to expect and I remember while performing not being able to hear myself sing over the monitors, so I really gave it my all. One of the songs I performed “Negative Kids”, was a beat my friend had sent me. The beat was created by another artist whom I hadn’t met yet and was impressed with her music.  We shared a mutual friend and were both female artists which I thought was cool.  I was told the artist hadn’t found use for the beat so it was passed on to me.  I assumed she was aware of it, but it became clear by her reaction while I performed, she was not.  I was well aware of her negative reaction and unfortunately I allowed it to interfer with my performance. 
I later learned she was upset her beat was used by me, as she found me unfit to use her beat. I reach out and apologize, explaining how I came to use her beat. I offered to pay for the beat but my request was ignored, Oh and the beat stays unused.  I have since made my own beat to the song, which is on my latest album “Negative Kids”, called “Be Like Me” where I do touch on the interaction rather negatively.  I hold no animosity for the artist and hold myself responsible for the exchange in the “beef culture”.  I’m thankful I was able to grow by the experience.  

My next album is coming out where I really get into my past, the people I chose to surround myself with and the mistakes I made.  I have left the past behind me and now choose to focus on who I am today, the people I associated with and look forward to the big things coming this year.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
You haven’t had good rolled tacos unless you’ve eaten at Vallartas. I would literally buy Vallarta merch if they had some. Chipotle salsa doesn’t get any better. I wouldn’t say don’t go to the one in Pacific Beach, but I am saying any other place would probably be better. If you’re more of a sandwich type of guy/gal, Mona Lisa’s Deli, in Little Italy, is definitely the place to go.

It’s no subway, because it’s 10 times better. I’ve been going to Mona Lisa’s since I was a child and it only gets better. If you’re more into cocktails, I did just turn 21 and can definitely recommend Beach House in Mission Beach. Does it get any better than having your toes in the sand, with a nice cold cerveza in your hand? If you haven’t already, you need to.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I’d like to first give a shoutout to my brother, Dominic Robinson. You can find him on social media @thesoftestboi. He has been working on a project for a little over 2 years now. Give him another year, you are not going to wanna miss it. The next person I’d like to shoutout to is my good friend Hid3f. You can find his music currently on all platforms, but instagram more specifically under @hid3fbeats. He’s a genius, man! Def & I have an album coming out later in the year, already recorded. Lastly I’d like to send a shoutout literally to a lifesaver, Tobias Platt. You can find his new beat tape “Versatility is Key” on all platforms. He engineered my next album to its entirety, which is set to drop next month. Tobias & I have a lot more to come this year. So thankful to have crossed paths with him. You can find him on instagram @Tobiasplatt_

Instagram: https://instagram.com/negativeshawdy

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/negativeshawdy

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCQmhB8UtjtkTYOBkykjfyGA

Image Credits
Matthew Tisnado.

Nominate Someone: ShoutoutSocal is built on recommendations and shoutouts from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.