KwaShonne shared their story and experiences with us recently and you can find our conversation below.
Good morning KwaShonne, it’s such a great way to kick off the day – I think our readers will love hearing your stories, experiences and about how you think about life and work. Let’s jump right in? What is something outside of work that is bringing you joy lately?
First off, thank you for having me back again — it’s always a pleasure to chop it up with you.
Believe it or not, streaming has become a real breath of fresh air for me outside of work. People joke that streamers are the new ‘rapper’ because everybody wants to do it. I’ve got a circle of streamer friends I game with who finally convinced me to give it a try.
What I love about it is that I can hop on, play the game, connect with folks, and it doesn’t feel like wasted time. For a workaholic like me, that’s a blessing — I can relax, have fun, and still feel productive. It’s been dope.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
What’s going on, CanvasRebel readers — I go by the name of KwaShonne.
I wear a few hats: I’m a Hip-Hop and R&B artist, an Artist Development Consultant, and the CCO of a music agency. Over the past 8+ years, I’ve built my career on independence and creativity — from winning awards to shooting music videos to performing across Georgia — but also on helping other artists carve their own paths.
What makes my journey unique is the way I merge storytelling with strategy. My artistry has always been theatrical — I look at albums like productions, rollouts like acts in a play. That same lens is what led me to start consulting: showing artists how to turn their music into a full experience, not just a release.
Right now, I just wrapped season one of The Missing Piece, my new podcast where I break down the game and share the tools I wish I had coming up. And on the music side, I’m deep into Welcome To The Show: Act II — the sequel to my first major project. For me, it’s about raising the curtain even higher this time around, and continuing to prove that independent artists can create at the highest level.
Great, so let’s dive into your journey a bit more. Who saw you clearly before you could see yourself?
Man, that’s a deep one.
It’s honestly been a few people. Off rip, my brother DeMarcus, better known as Coach D Al. Coach was the one who actually paid for my very first studio session. From there, he never stopped encouraging me to keep going and keep sharpening my craft. He’s always been my most honest critic — quick to tell me what he loved, but just as quick to tell me what didn’t hit. That honesty helped me grow.
My uncle, Antwon Davis, comes to mind as well. Beyond just seeing me as an artist, he saw the bigger picture — the potential for me to become a key figure in the industry, not just a performer. He poured time into me, helping me strategize, showing me how to take all the knowledge I’d been stacking up and actually use it to empower other artists and build something sustainable for myself. He’s the one who helped me shape the Rollout Roadmap into what it is today.
And then there’s my uncle William Thomas on my mom’s side. Back when things were really tough as an independent artist — funds low, crashing at his spot for a while — he never let me give up. Even when people were telling me to quit, go back to school, or do something “more realistic,” he was pushing me to keep pursuing music. He’d even make it out to my shows, no matter how late they were. That kind of support meant everything. I miss him dearly.
Was there ever a time you almost gave up?
Hell yea!
I always say — especially to artists — if you haven’t contemplated quitting music at least ten times in your career, you probably don’t want it bad enough, haha.
The independent route is no joke. Trying to get attention, make a living, and balance the day-to-day of life can wear on your mental. You’ve got to be built for this journey, because there’s no shortage of low support, scams, or straight-up disappointment as you’re finding your way through the industry.
But what keeps me going in those moments are the people who really see me and remind me why I started. Having that kind of support around makes all the difference.
Next, maybe we can discuss some of your foundational philosophies and views? What are the biggest lies your industry tells itself?
I’d say the biggest lie is that ‘the game is to be sold, not told.’
I’ve heard that rhetoric everywhere in the music industry, but it’s never sat right with me. I believe the opposite — the game is to be told, not sold. The value comes in how you apply it. Your expertise, your one-on-one training, your ability to help someone roadmap their career — that’s where you earn your worth. But general knowledge? If it can help somebody, it should be shared freely.
Too much gatekeeping goes on in this industry, and honestly, that shit is corny. Speaking to my people directly — how can we ever get ahead, how can we ever own a real piece of this industry, if we’re busy withholding information from each other? We should be building each other up, not locking each other out.
Okay, so let’s keep going with one more question that means a lot to us: What is the story you hope people tell about you when you’re gone?
I’ll tell you the story I know they’ll be telling.
KwaShonne was a great man who built an empire for his family and showed love in every room he stepped into. Everything I’m building is bigger than me — it’s for those coming after me. I’m carrying the torch my ancestors lit, knowing they sacrificed so I could have opportunities they never did. My mission is to honor that by tripling it for the next generation.
I want people to say I wasn’t just an artist, but a builder — someone who created spaces and systems for others to thrive. Whether through my music, my Rollout Roadmap, The Missing Piece podcast, or the work I’ve done with SMG and 4THPARK, I want the story to be that I left tools, knowledge, and love behind.
At the end of the day, legacy is about impact. My hope is that people tell the story of a man who gave game, uplifted his community, and proved that independence and ownership are possible if you bet on yourself
Contact Info:
- Website: SMG.Ventures
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kwashonne/
- Twitter: https://x.com/Kwashonne
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheKwaShonne
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC3NUBFk1gbGEfdxbEr_DiGw
Image Credits
Christiano Jacithe
