1. 08/02/2016 Zoheb Ashraf
GRM magazine have managedtogetan interview withthe manindemandSamShellis.We are here
inhackneyinhis home towntosee what he has to sayabout hisupcomingsingle,affairwithRita
Ora and hisfeudwithDevilman.He hasrecentlyopenedforSectionBoyzatthe 02 inLondon.He
came to fame the same wayas Skeptaand we can know findoutwhat he has plannedforthe future.
We revisitamomentinJanuary,at an earth-shatteringsurprise showinLondonatthe 02 where Sam
ShellishashisarmslungaroundInch’sneck,vibingoutas if they’ve knowneachotherforyears.In
realitythey’ve onlyjustmet,butShellis’disinterestinfame bypassesanyawkwardness.“Idon’tgive
a shitman, if I’mhonest,”he saysnow.“I like Sectionboyz,they’re safe –that’sthe onlyreasonwhy
I was onthe stage withthem.If theywere prickartists,bigor not,I wouldn’thave beenonthe stage
withthem.That showwascompletelyunplanned,if youbase musicoff goodvibesandyoulike the
people thatyou’re workingwith–youdon’tthenhave to planas much.”
Andyetcareful planninghasplayedanimportantpartin Shellis’ career.Despite hisincredible
influenceonthe currentgeneration,he’sonly releasedahandful of tracksandat the age of 20 it’s
anotheraspectof hisapproachthat setshimapart from hispeersandmentors.“It’snot aboutjust
puttinga tune out because youlike the tune,”he says.“It’saboutputtingsomethingoutthatother
people canrelate to”Thisis keyto whyShellis’ rare dropsresonate well,he will be releasing atrack
called‘LastnightinLA’ to hisSoundCloudandplanstoshoota documentarysurroundingthe track.
It’sthissocial responsibilitythathas Shellis’musicinsuchhighesteem.Notonlyishe demonstrating
impressivetechnicalabilityasa producerandMC, buthe’sactuallysayingsomething.Attimes,he
admits,thispowercanbe scary. “Me and Skeptaanda few otherguys,we’ve gotthe people’slove.
So we can do so muchthat back in the day,you’dhave had to relyon a bigorganisationtohelpyou
with.That’squite a scary thing,because it’slike ‘Ohshit,if Idothisisit goingto affectall the
teenagersinthe country?’”He pauses,adding:“Half the countryisdressinglike usnow.ButI like
that. It givesall of the youngpeople somethingtobelieve in,andsomethingtobe a part of. It’snot
like beinginagang.
Althoughhe usuallyoptsnottotalktoo much abouthisanticipateddebutalbum, he doesreveal
that it’salmostcomplete,butit’snota ramp he plansto rushdown. “It’scomingsoon andthere will
be a replytoDevilman,who’sjustlookingtogetfame outof feudswithpeople like me andSkepta.”
Whenaskedaboutthe recentimagesshowinghimwithRitaOrahe replied“yehshe’scool,we’ve
bothwon the Mobo bestnewcomerawardandI met herthroughsectionboyz,at the moment
everythingislookinggood.”
While the future isonthe peripheral of histhinking,rightnow Shellis isplacedfirmlyinthe present,
alreadyfeelingasense of fulfilmentbased onhow farhe’scome already.“I’mgoingtobe a
millionaire bythe time I’m26, I knowit,”he says,drawingour conversationtoa close.“Butthat’s
not where the successisat. Successto me iscurrent.I’m livinginsuccessrightnow,withall my
familyandfriends.”
