Michael Dapaah (BIG SHAQ) Interview - The Grind Before The Rise To Stardom [Urban Hype]

Описание: Michael Dapaah (BIG SHAQ) Interview - The Grind Before The Rise To Stardom

Interview By ➡️ Shanelle Manderson

Link To Urban Hype Magazine Issue ➡️ https://issuu.com/kingsmedia/docs/urb...

BIG SHAQ - MANS NOT HOT (MUSIC VIDEO) ➡️    • BIG SHAQ - MANS NOT HOT (MUSIC VIDEO)  

He’s the epitome of the rising social media star: a 24-year-old climbing the comedic ladder one laugh at a time. Urban Hype find out
what makes Michael Dapaah the funny guy of the moment

Four episodes into the release of his Mockumentary ‘Somewhere in London’ aka SWIL, comedian Michael Dapaah sits opposite me and dapper he definitely is. We’re catching up in a West London studio to
talk about his latest project that has everyone literally laughing out loud.
He’s wearing a grey tracksuit, black socks and leopard-print slides in true roadman style, reminiscent
of Shaq, one of the many hilarious fictional characters featured in his skits that have pushed him to
the front of everyone’s digital radar.
“All I wear is tracksuits” he says laughing, as the team look in dismay at the lack of variety of outfits
he’s brought for the photoshoot.

Michael Dapaah mans not hot
That’s the beauty in a lot of the characters Michael brings to life – they embody different parts of his
personality and allow him to zone into a different part of his brain creatively.
“When I was younger I was a bit of a roadman. I was clever but also rebellious at times, so Shaq
allows me to tap into that side of me,” he says. “I’ll incorporate things from the past but also
observe and use what I see nowadays.”
“Obviously I’m different now. Man’s polished baby – cream my skin and that – brush my teeth twice,
sometimes three,” he jokes in Dapaah style. “Man keeps it tidy. I look after myself. Everything’s
changed up.”
I mentally prepare myself for a good time. There’s no doubt he’s a natural entertainer and that I’m in for a memorable conversation.
A funny guy for as long as he can remember, the British-born social media personality and presenter
first appeared on-screen in 2009 as one of the original cast members of the comedy series ‘Meet the
Adebanjo’s’. He then went on to produce his own sketch called ‘I’m So Dapaah’ and has since
worked with Eddie Kaddi and Aadidas for The Spirit of London Awards in 2012, Stormzy and
platforms Cheeky Sport and MOBO, establishing himself as a much-loved media figure.



However, it was only last October he began taking his career seriously.
“I was messing about for years, just trying to find my feet – find myself. I’ve done loads of
different things and they were all a part of the journey but I wasn’t really serious,” he says.
After becoming wholeheartedly dedicated in 2016, the idea for SWIL was born. What was to follow?
Eight months of script-writing and a collaboration with Marv Brown Films to bring the visuals to life
that have led to over a million YouTube views to-date. It was the pairing of the two that made the
production such a success.
“It was really just putting creative minds together,” says Michael. “Marv is a comedy-head himself so
what I developed to a certain level, he’s added his little sprinkles here and there and we were just
able to create this body of work.
“He’s a beast behind the cameras as a director, but when it comes to the creative part, acting and
performing, that’s my thing. It comes naturally – good for it,” he says, his lips pursed and eyebrows
raised simultaneously before bursting out into laughter.

Michael Daapah on "hustling hard and staying true to who you are"
Every project comes with its difficulties and for Michael it was the process of developing the
characters. He was trying to come up with everything in one go. From how they were going to
sound, to what they were going to wear and how they were going to act.
It was when he started to actively take steps to make the script a reality that the characters
personalities naturally grew and fell into place.
“I never had the vision Patrick would talk like this for example,” he says, imitating the character’s lisp. “But I always knew he was going to have a moustache and that he was going to be a different
kind of dude. I don’t know why. I’m crazy like that,” he laughs.
One thing is for sure. He’s able to draw inspiration from anything and everything. He puts this down
to being lucky enough to have experienced many different walks of life and being given
opportunities to see different things. Even the journey to the studio and events of today are enough
for him create a skit he tells me. However, he’s not one to watch everyone else’s game-plan despite
having respect for them.