PATIENTLY WAITING

K.C. 40 Ice Shuler
While many young artists are looking forward to partying and spending money, R&B singer KC is quite an exception. Born in Philadelphia, he currently resides in Orlando, Florida. “I’m focused right now. I want to be a successful R&B singer and artist, period. I want to become a businessman as well,” he comments. He began singing in a church choir at the age of six, and years of hard work paid off when he appeared on the hook of Lloyd Banks’ “Karma.” KC strongly believes that God has put him in this position. “I just ask God to put me near the right people,” he says. “It’s not going to happen until God says it is. I’ve been blessed.” Working with Lloyd Banks was a great experience, and KC says that it’s “jumped off” his career in a major way and given him great exposure. He’s working on his own debut album, with more than fifteen songs already recorded and twenty still under construction. His first single is still tentative, but KC is leaning towards “Breaking My Heart.” KC describes his style as very different from the rest. “I like to write about things people don’t hear about often, and bring my own style to it.” His combination of youthful talent, looks, and energy could be compared to a young Usher. Most of all, though, KC is proud of the one thing that truly sets him apart from many other R&B singers: he writes his own songs. “That’s the best part,” he says. “Just the reward of hearing the finished product. You struggle to make a song, and when people hear it and say, ‘Oh, you did that? That’s hot!’ That’s a great feeling. Not many new artists write their own stuff, so that gives me an edge.” With support from his mom and his manager, KC is well on his way to the top, but he hasn’t quite realized his full potential yet. He’s still modest and unassuming. – Nada Taha (Photo: JB)
 

Raised in poverty, 40 always saw selling drugs as his best option for survival. "A real job wasn’t feasible at the time," he reasons. "I come from a one-parent home. There was four of us kids, and even though momma used to work two or three jobs, it never got us nowhere. Living check-to-check seemed like a stupid way." 40 got caught up in the drug game and eventually served 7 ½ years in a Federal prison for conspiracy and drug-related charges. Even though it seemed like a setback, his incarceration proved to be an enlightening experience. "I found me," he reflects. "It was like a re-education, a re-conditioning. A person gotta go through some things in life to finally see what they’re meant to see." 40 had plenty of time to reflect on his experiences. "Since I’ve been out, I’ve written a lot of stuff," he says. "But in prison, it was unadulterated and uncut. The true inner thoughts involving the struggle within a person’s own mind, wrestling with his own sanity." Influenced by artists like Tupac and the Geto Boys, 40’s definitive Texas drawl has helped him develop a unique style. After hitting the streets with a steady flow of undeground tracks, 40 plans to release his debut album independently, titled Bury Me Rich. "Wealth isn’t everything, but I’ve got to amass something while I’m here to leave something behind for my wife and two kids. I’ve got to feed them." As 40 reflects on his life, his struggles, his hardships, and pain through music, it’s clear that he’s learned from the past and moved on. "I did my time," he says confidently. "Stood tall through it all, and now I’m back out here to get my crown." Don’t worry, though, he’s not trying to claim he’s King of the South. "The South is so big, and there’s so many different styles," says 40. "Can’t nobody crown themselves King of the South." - Words & photo by Julia Beverly, jb@ozonemag.com

Cleavon Shuler, better known as "Ice" Shuler, had a dream. He’d always envisioned himself going from the projects to the basketball court, but Shuler found that his dreams of fade away fame were doing exactly what he did on the court: fading away. Everything happens for a reason though, right? Well, in Shuler’s case, he says "the ball bounced off the court and into the streets" of Brooklyn’s Farragut Project for a very good reason. Shuler believes that he was meant to rap. He was introduced to Wil Helton in 1992, and they established a relationship based on their common goal to become established in the music industry. With the help of Helton’s record Board of Directors and Helton’s partner Nat Elmore, Shuler released "We’re Here Now." New York’s Hot 97 backed the project, which eventually moved over 2,000 units and created a buzz for Shuler. He also landed a position at Steve Rifkind’s label SRC, and is now working as a rep for Atlantic Records. Through his day jobs, he’s found unique ways to establish contacts within the music industry that can also benefit his rap career. He’s determined the capitalize on all the opportunities he comes across, and he’s already opened for artists like 50 Cent, Jadakiss, and Digital Underground. Along with his long roster of opening appearances, Shuler has also made the mixtape rounds. You can hear him dropping verses on the hottest mixtapes in New York from DJs like Kay Slay, Clue, and Kool Kid. One of Shuler’s greatest assets, however, is that he’s humble and down-to-earth. He’s willing to work with anyone and everyone. "I don’t have to [rap]," he comments. "It’s not my only way out. I choose to do this because I have a talent that needs to be shared." – Rohit Loomba, poombster@aol.com