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Shaman Dragon aka Elias Tsai, is an American-born, Caucasian/Chinese rapper with a penchant for self-fashioned modern mysticism and party music. Hailing from Houston, Texas, Shaman came to Taiwan in 2005 to make an impact on the Asian music scene. Since that time, he has performed at venues all around the island of Taiwan and released several mixtape CDs. In 2011 he was signed by the newly founded internationally based record label 109ave, and is currently putting the finishing touches on a Puff Nation sponsored mixtape and video campaign set for internet release.
Born to a multi-ethnic household, Shaman has always been aware of having a very broad cultural perspective, and he raps to bridge some of the gaps between East and West, promoting understanding and awareness. In 2007, he formed THC, a hip hop crew composed of Western and Easterners that has made its name well known in Taiwan, boasting flows in 4 different languages. In 2009, he independently released his first album, "Shamanizm." David Chen of the Taipei Times writes, "In songs like Tha Freedom, Shaman sounds at ease rapping in both Mandarin and English. His delivery is always musical, while the lyrics still carry their weight in either language after repeated plays."
Skilled as both a songwriter and freestyler, he raps in English and Chinese, seeking to reach a wider audience in this modern age of technology and globalism. He lists John Lennon, Bruce Lee, and Jim Morrison as some of his major inspirations, people who instinctually changed the world through their art and vision. Lyrically, he is extremely versatile. His songs range from social commentary to personal issues, as well as club music. Musically, he cites influences such as UGK, Chamillionaire, and Scarface, which inform his keen musical phrasing and vocal bravado, but his lyrics don't dwell in gangsta mythology — he sets out to stitch together his own. When asked why he is called the Shaman, he replied, "A Shaman is a healer, and music is my medicine."
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