How did you link up with DJ Quest for thesong “She Get It”?He’s a big DJ out here in my area. He’s on 105.5The Beat. I approached him. I used to see himat clubs and stuff and would give him my CDsand mixtapes. This year I put out a mixtapethat did good, I kinda found my style. He justproduced a beat that fit me.What about the other song you have poppin’,“Sho Nuff”? How did you get that out to thepeople?It’s a song I had for a while, like a year, and Inever released it. Finally someone heard it andsaid it was hot. That’s how I hooked up withmy management. I did the video for the song,which is actually on BET.com right now.When you say you hooked up with yourmanagement, who exactly is that?Down Low Records. They’ve been around fora while, ever since I was younger. I used toalways see ‘em and give ‘em my CDs and tell‘em I rap. I’ve been rappin’ for like 5 or 6 yearsand I finally got an opportunity.How does having management throughthem help you out?It’s really helping me. I’m getting a lot of exposure.At first I was only getting exposure in thearea I live in, now I’m traveling more, doingshows here and there, in and out of the state.It’s really helped me get my name out there.Getting a music video on BET.com isn’t theeasiest thing to do. How did you get yourvideo on that website?My publicist Elora Mason set that up.How long have you been working with EloraMason?Actually, a few months now. My managementhooked all that up.You mentioned catching DJ Quest’s attentionwith a mixtape. How many mixtapeprojects have you done so far?This year was my biggest mixtape, but priorto that I had about four or five mixtapes. We’redoing an independent album, but we’re doingan EP first.The two records we were talking about aretargeted towards the clubs. Would you sayyou specialize in club records, or do you doother kinds of music as well?That is my specialty. That’s what I love doing.On my album is when I get more personal andstart talking about different situations.What’s that like to be in the club and seepeople dancing to the music you make?It feels real good, especially when they don’tknow who I am. I can be standing right nextto ‘em and they’ll be goin’ crazy for my songand not even know it’s me. They’re not reallyfamiliar with my face yet, they’ve just heard myname and my songs and stuff.So you actually go put the record in the clubyourself?We travel all week long. I barely get to rest.I rest like 2 or 3 days out of the week. We’retrying to break the records all over the Floridaarea.There’s a lot of Haitian pride in Florida. Howdo you represent the movement?The movement started before me, but I feellike I’m taking it to another level. I really putpassion into what I do. It’s not all about that,I represent that too, but it’s so much more tome than just that.Like a lot of rappers, you got your start inhigh school. How have you progressed sincethen?Well, right now I really feel like I know myselfreal well. At first I was just experimenting, tryin’this and that, and now I perfected my style.When you hear something now, you knowthat’s Sho Zoe. I really put passion into it now.Are you starting to hear from fans yet?Oh yeah, they love me, especially on Myspace.I’m like a Myspace celebrity. I really push it tothe limit on Myspace. I’m on there like 24 hoursa day. I’m on there when I travel. I feel like it’s soimportant, it’s like an online street team.When you first started rapping, did you thinkyou’d get this deep into it?Nah, I really didn’t. I always knew I had whatit takes, but I didn’t know if I was really gonnatake it there. I didn’t know it would become afull-time job.As a full-time independent artist, how areyou able to generate enough income tomake ends meet?That’s real hard. Sometimes I don’t generate it,but I’m out there in the streets sellin’ mixtapes,travelin’ and stuff. I make beats too, that’sanother way I make money.What’s next for you?I’ve got a new mixtape droppin’ aroundThanksgiving called Grand Opening with DJQuest. I’ve got another mixtape with Krunch,I’m on a lil’ mini college tour right now, andI’ve got a show at DJ Khaled’s birthday bashcoming up.OZONE MAG // 25
Words by Ms. Rivercity // Photo by Adolfo GraphicsKnown around Duval Countyas A dangerous lyricist, Swordzis back on the scene with a newmixtape TO LET THE STREETS knowthat he ain’t GOING nowhere.26 // OZONE MAG
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