M.C. Shan

M.C. Shan, Shawn Moltke, is one of the freshest, most intelligent and coolest rap stylists and innovators to "rock the mic viciously" in recent memory.  His professional character is partly one of pure virtuosity, and partly one of exciting showmanship.  His debut album on Cold Chillin' Records, Down by Law, surpassed the 150,000 unit mark last summer with virtually no airplay.  Ever since going out on the road with Roxanne Shante in 1985, without benefit of a record, the word on the street has been that M.C. Shan is a serious performer who can fire up basic human instincts, like humor, romantic sentiment, and a strong desire for something essentially hip and physically intoxicating.  Over the past couple of years, he has unleashed a torrential outpouring of fresh def jams, including "The Marley Scratch," "The Bridge," and the preachy but funny anti-crack rap, "Jane Stop This Crazy Thing," all produced by main homeboy and blood cousin, Marlon "Marley Marl" Williams.  His 12-inch, "The Bridge," a tribute to the Queensbridge project in Queens, New York, was the subject of a hilarious answer record called "The Bridge is Over."  Prior to signing with Cold Chillin', M.C. Shan built a following with releases on Nia, MCA and Bridge Records.  "Jane" came from his Down by Law LP on Cold Chillin'.

His next Cold Chillin' release will be Born to be Wild, produced by, naturally, Marley Marl and featuring more great dance hall rhymes and love raps.  Although W magazine has declared rap "out" for 1988, M.C. Shan is confident that he and cousin Marley will have cooked up some "sure-fire" winners that will appeal to the core street audience, and cross over into the general mainstream market, as well.