Shado Chris

An award-winning Ivorian singer, producer, and label owner, Shado Chris is known for his dynamic brand of hip-hop, R&B, and dance music-infused pop. Along with his own tracks, including 2014's "Mon Lahan" and 2017's "Chaleur," he has collaborated on productions with Zeynab, Serge Beynaud C Nous Les Boss, Force One, and others. Born Fale Djerianene Christian Marc-Alexandre in 1987 in Cocody, a suburb in Abidjan, Ivory Coast, Shado Chris grew up in Ferkessédougou, where he became interested in music at a young age, listening to a mix of Ivorian and American artists, including Meiway, Almighty, Stezo, Michael Jackson, 2Pac, and others. Around age 15, he joined a local choir and began honing his vocal skills. He also began teaching himself how to produce music on his computer. He continued to pursue music while earning his university degree in telecom engineering. In 2008, he released a self-produced debut, Metizik, a process that eventually led him to set up his own recording studio. Other performers took notice, and soon he was producing albums for a bevy of local artists, including launching the group Kiff No Beat. More collaborations followed, including tracks with DJ Lewis, Debordo Doliziana, Bamba Ami Sarah, DJ Moasco, DJ Mareshal, Force One, and many more. In 2014, Chris released the song "Mon Lahan," and followed with tracks like "J’S8 Jahin Prêt" featuring Serge Beynaud C Nous Les Boss, and "Said" with Runtown and Nasty C. He also spent time living and working in Kenya, producing tracks and appearing on television. He eventually returned to the Ivory Coast and picked up a number of accolades, including earning two 2016 Ivorian Music Oscar nominations for Best Male Artist and Best Music Video. He garnered a Gold Kundé nomination for Best Artist in West Africa, was nominated for an Afrima Award for his song "Noctambule" with Beninese artist Zeynab, and won the Best Beatmaker prize at the RapIvoire Awards. In 2017, he released the song "Chaleur." Also around this time, he founded his Aura Corp label and helped launch the careers of artists like Kadja, D14, J-Haine, Micem, and Mister Key. "Kitadi," a song with Cameroonian singer Locko, arrived in 2018. In 2020, he released the track "C'est Pas Pae." ~ Matt Collar