Hailing from Tottenham, London, Kenneth Erhahon, publicly known as Shocka, is a renowned rapper specialising in the ‘Conscious-Pop’ genre. As a mental health advocate too, Shocka’s main objective is to raise awareness about mental health issues and provide support to those facing their own challenges by being a voice for the voiceless. His career kicked off in 2008 when he released his first mixtape, which paved the way for him to join the group ‘Marvell’ alongside Double S and Vertex.
Marvell received positive recognition for their direct-to-fan approach, releasing mixtapes through their own platform, and their presence in high-profile studio sessions with the likes of Drake and Rihanna. In 2010, the BBC included Marvell in “Hot For 2010”, putting Shocka on tour with Diversity, Skepta and Chip.
However, despite high expectations, Marvell’s debut single fell short, leading the group to be discarded by their label and driving Shocka to fight a mental health battle. Shocka took a break from music while receiving care and support at a mental health facility, but eventually, Shocka resurrected himself back into the music scene in 2014 with a “Fire in the Booth” freestyle collaborating with Double S.
From there, he embarked on his solo career, gaining momentum with his debut warm-up session with SB.TV and tracks such as “My Revolution” which featured a cameo appearance from Russell Brand. This was quickly followed by Joey Clipstar enrolling him twice on the “Hardest Bars” series alongside Cashtastic and Stormzy, and the artist has also participated on Grm Daily as well. Additionally, Shocka also amassed 113K views on a freestyle titled “Now” in honour of the Grenfell Tower fire, which struck a chord in many people’s hearts and was reposted by numerous other artists in the industry, along with his currently highest streamed song, ‘Self Love’ which is on 200K and resonated with many listeners.
Through his music and advocacy work, Shocka strives to make a positive impact on the world, emphasising the importance of mental health and self-love.
Throughout his journey, Shocka has collaborated with various artists and has been recognised for his thought-provoking and reflective music. His style has been described as real-conscious and affirmative, drawing inspiration from artists like Kendrick Lamar and J. Cole. Shocka’s music carries a message of self-love and encourages listeners to prioritise their own wellbeing, inspired by his personal experiences. An interesting fact about Shocka’s music is that he doesn’t actually write his lyrics down; he just thinks of what comes to mind and takes them to the studio purely by memory!
Aside from his music, Shocka has spoken at several events, such as TEDxLondon Beyond Borders in 2019, where he shared his personal story about his mental health journey and emphasised the importance of self-love in overcoming challenges like anxiety, depression and low self-esteem. Shocka has also made appearances on ITV and podcasts, providing wisdom to aspiring artists and discussing the impact of the music industry on mental health. Shocka’s participation in the series “Mind Yourself” also sheds light on young people suffering and recovering from poor mental health, including highlighting his own battle with schizophrenia and an anxiety disorder.
Then In May 2020, Shocka released his debut album, “Impact Over Numbers.” The album features collaborations with artists such as Burna Boy, Ayo Beatz, Brook Baili, and Chrissy Day, along with a tribute to the late artist Cadet.
In the present day, Shocka continues to work passionately in the music industry and beyond, using public speaking to inspire and mentor the younger generation. He actively participates in campaigns against abuse and harassment targeting women and has also authored a book titled “A Section of My Life”. Along with an ITV documentary. Shocka actively encourages everyone to join the “Make Life Kind” movement, promoting support and healing for others who have experienced mental health issues.
