PRODUCER. THE BUSINESSMAN.
D-SHOT jump-started his career in 1987 with a strategic plan. The young entrepreneur recognized the impeccable rap talents of his brother E-40 and cousin B-Legit. He then witnessed the cutting edge appeal of his sister Suga T and believed in his often-tested business savvy. Soon, after keen observation of the independent music industry, D-SHOT combined all four elements into the ricochet spitting rap group, The Click. His loyal study of the music game prepared his next moves, which set whirlwinds around the key element of distribution. Keeping it all in the family, D-SHOT joined forces with his uncle, veteran Distributor, St. Charles of SMG Distribution. The two independently saturated the market with tape after tape of nothing less than thick West Coast sagas. The Click immediately tested the waters with their album entitled Down and Dirty reaching over 200,000 sales. As Co-Executive Producer of the project, D-SHOT knew the water was hot for the group. Meanwhile, D-SHOT then dropped his first successful solo effort entitled, The Shot Calla. Hit song “Call Me On The Under” drew underestimated attention to major record labels.
92.9 The Box was also very influential in the success of the single. Diligently moving, he was Executive producer of the compilation album Boss Ballin. “I wanted to produce an album as though it was a soundtrack. I knew soundtracks sold at least 150,000 albums.” Boss Ballin reached over 180,000 sales independently, and in 1995 The Click signed with Jive Records. After the deal was made, The Click lost all tact. They released Game Related, which simply manhandled the public with life lived stories. Listeners around the world awarded the group’s abilities with over 700,000 sales. The Click went Gold. But they didn’t stop there. Later that same year, the group appeared on the Original Gangsters Soundtrack with “On The Grind”, which also went Gold. D-SHOT’s vision of the group constantly materialized right in his midst. MCA records approached the group about doing a song on the Tales From The Hood Soundtrack. And in consistent favor, The Click laced the masses with “Hot Ones Echo Thru the Ghetto”, which evolved as yet another Gold selling album. In 1996, D-SHOT and his group touched the High School High Soundtrack, and like Midas it too went Gold. The saying couldn’t have been more true in 1997 when Tupac asked The Click to be featured on his All Eyes On Me album (10x Platinum). The group let all inquiring minds know on “We Ain’t Hard To Find,” make no mistake they were on a mission. As the track Producer, D-SHOT stunned even more unsuspecting listeners with the hot track 'Al Be Yo Huckleberry' on the Booty Call Soundtrack, which also went Platinum. And like most early wild, wild Westerners, D-SHOT too struck Gold.
BIOGRAPHY
(CONT’D)
Never stationary, in 1998 the respectable West Coast veteran, released a solo album "Six Figures" where he wore his hats of Artist and Producer. That same year D-SHOT appeared on E-40 a.k.a. 40 Fonzarelli’s The Hall Of Game album with, “Keep Pimpin”. As CEO of Shot Records, the experienced visionary decided he would Executive Produce another compilation. By using a high profile line up of artists such as; Redman, Nate Dogg, Kurupt, Snoop Dogg, Keith Murray, E-40 and Too Short, Boss Ballin 2 was given life. With absolutely no time wasted, Boss Ballin Greatest Hits was released, and it was justifiably necessary. In 2000 it was time for The Click to drop Money & Muscle, a classic tribute to the raucous style established by the listener savvy group in prior albums. That same year D-SHOT without disappointment, blessed fans with Money, Sex, and Thugs. Now with more than a decade past, music is still the priority, but there is the need for a new challenge, and so D-SHOT drops yet another album, but with consistent determination, the Obstacles Soundtrack was released in 2002 as part of the package for the independent motion picture Obstacles.
THE FILMAKER
As the owner of Shot Films, known for his active imagination and creative vigor, D-SHOT’s film and video appeal seem second nature. As a long time fan of music videos, he became inspired to feed his hunger for film. D-SHOT soon positioned himself as a student at the New York Film Institute. Immediately following, D-SHOT attended the Dove Simmons class, (Hollywood Film Institute) nationally acclaimed for its clever business tactics in negotiating and film strategy. While Producing several film projects he has also served as Co-Director for three on air videos: (rap) “Big Ballin With My Homies”/E-40, (rap) “Big Man”/A-1, and (R&B) recording artist, Levetti. Today as Producer, Director, and Writer of “Obstacles”, D-SHOT proves to catch many untouched audiences with gut-wrenching plots. Not to mention, he, E-40 and Brian Hooks (3 Strikes. Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me) star in the film. The script for “Obstacles” was drafted, developed, and finalized over a two-year span. “When we started filming we were limited to only weekends. That lengthy endeavor was persistently challenging”, says the ever sharp D-SHOT. Notables such as Too Short, Jay O Felony, Kurupt, Fazon (Friday), Brain Hooks, and Lil Bruce all have cameos in the film. Obstacles was played on Black Entertainment Television (BET) in March 2005 and viewed by over 1,200,000 people. The movie sold over 60,000 units through Block Buster Video and other major retail video chains. Time and time again D-SHOT proves to be an avid individual. Anticipation continues to build over D-SHOT’s next motion picture, The Hemp Factory.
After artistically contributing to six (6) Gold albums and two (2) Multi-Platinum album, multiple soundtracks, and numerous motion picture projects, D-SHOT reigns. His titles speak for themselves. His actions move giant step by giant step and his vibrant talents unleash a euphoric effect. And his dynamics beyond, overstep the ones to come. He’s been giving it his best shot for a lifetime and without a doubt...
HE IS D-SHOT.