Broadway Barrett
Broadway Barrett aka Robbie Shades is a hip hop/rap artists and beat producer, born in raised in sunset park, brooklyn. Growing up in a lower class brooklyn neighborhood during the early 80's where the crime rate was at an alltime high, Broadway found himself sourrounded by gangs, drugs, murders, but most notable the golden age of rap music. Heavily influence by the likes of Big daddy kane, Slick Rick, Kool G rap, Rakim, Robbie Shades immediately fell in love with the music when he heard the song "The Show" by Dougie Fresh. From there on he began beat boxing for the older cats on his block. It wasnt until highschool when he met up with one of his partners from korna res, Rico spit Nyce, that he began to kick rhymes himself. Both of them formed a crew n began battling in their schools cafeteria, which then leaked into parks and different neighborhoods against other local rapper. Although rapping was a fun past time for Shades, hanging out on the streets smoking weed, drinking 40's, selling drugs was the normal lifestyle for most young males growing up in brooklyn in the 90's. Constantly in trouble, in and out of court and jail for selling drugs, robbery, and a attempted murder case, rapping became just something to do when he was smoking weed hanging out with his people. It wasnt until 2008 that Shades began to get back into rapping scene. His friend P Dot and Rico Spit Nyce told him to stop wasting his talent and actually try writing down some verses and recording them in the studio. Shortly after the three formed the group Korna Res (Corner residents). Their music was an instant hit in the hood. They began to hit up all the open mic shows in NY area which lead to performances at such spots as Hot 97's club S.O.B.'s, the legendary Club South Paw, Club Rothco, etc. They were also the featured artists on Ralph McDaniels Video Music Box. Recently Robbie Shades has stepped away from the group to focus on his first solo mixtape project entitled "Broadway Barrett presents The Intervention." Which he then followed up with the video directed by exile Ramirez. Broadway Barrett has performed at Club Drom with the likes of Sadat X, Son Ray, Living Proof, SkyZoo, The Nexus Lounge,etc. and has been interviewed on GID Radio Show, That Fire Radio Show.
