New York, NY (Top40 Charts/ ELAV8) The Asian-American rapper known as Sha Dra ELAV8 has released his latest hip-hop single, titled, "Be Like Water." The track has been released with an official music video, one of several Sha Dra videos made available by the artist himself online. "Be Like Water" is a pared-down, straight-up rap track with a mellow, solid back beat and an emphasis on lyricism and urban poetry. An autodidact rapper from Houston,
Texas by way of Taiwan, Republic of China, Sha Dra splits his time between the two locales and explores his multicultural roots in songs like "Soap," "Moccasins," and this feature single, "Be Like Water."
Sha Dra (which is short for Shaman Dragon) learned to rap while spending time in Washington, DC.
"I started by freestyling, and gradually got better," he says simply.
Dra cites as main artistic influences the likes of legends such as John Lennon, Jim Morrison, and Tupac Shakur. However, his most pertinent inspiration for this video and single, as well as for much of his other material, is undoubtedly the great martial arts innovator and metaphysical thinker, Bruce Lee. Speaking of the meaning his song has in store for listeners, Sha Dra writes,
"The song 'Be Like Water' is quoting Bruce Lee. The message is that in a world that is getting crazier, the best way to be is like water, and adapt to any situation that life brings your way."
By the time Bruce Lee had achieved greatness as a martial artist, he had adapted a personal philosophy from the Taoist holy text, the Tao Te Ching. Lee himself quotes the Tao Te Ching in "Bruce Lee: Artist of Life:"
"Nothing is weaker than water,
But when it attacks something hard
Or resistant, then nothing withstands it,
And nothing will alter its way."
Not unlike Lee, Sha Dra has made mysticism a large part of his personality and lifestyle, but Dra mixes this down-to-earth spirituality with the other half of his character, which stems from pop culture and hip-hop. The result is rap music that has more depth than much of the genre.
Dra's music is intelligent, positive, and uninterested in the negative stereotypes of hip-hop such as gang violence and the objectification of women. Sha Dra's music, rather, focuses on self-realization and inner peace. In another of his popular songs for instance, he gives excellent advice for those trying to rid themselves of the negativity of others: "If you just can't cope - just use soap."
"Be Like Water" by Sha Dra ELAV8 is available online everywhere. Don't miss the official music video (links below).
The single "Be Like Water" is distributed globally by MondoTunes (www.MondoTunes.com) and is available at iTunes for convenient purchase and download
ARTIST CONTACT INFO:
eMail:
[email protected]
website: https://www.youtube.com/ShamanDragonTV
Twitter: @shaman_dragon
