Shotta Kaz

Born Alwyn Burton at the U.W.I. hospital in Papine St. Andrew, Jamaica, Kazanova A.K.A. Shotta Kaz spent his most impressionable years growing up in the notorious Back Bush section of Mountain View. Music played a vital role in Kaz's life while attending Vaz Prep & Ardenne High. His passion began at age four, when his mother noticed her son's interest in the piano at church, and decided to put him under the tutelage of one of Jamaica’s most renowned pianist. As he grew, Kaz witnessed and ...

Born Alwyn Burton at the U.W.I. hospital in Papine St. Andrew, Jamaica, Kazanova A.K.A. Shotta Kaz spent his most impressionable years growing up in the notorious Back Bush section of Mountain View. Music played a vital role in Kaz's life while attending Vaz Prep & Ardenne High. His passion began at age four, when his mother noticed her son's interest in the piano at church, and decided to put him under the tutelage of one of Jamaica’s most renowned pianist. As he grew, Kaz witnessed and experienced extensive abuse of power by the local law enforcement. Years of this injustice hardened Kaz to the point where at age 13 he saw a cop gunned down less than 50 feet away from him and felt no grief. Growing up on Bygrave Avenue was not easy for Kaz and his family, but it gave him the tough skin and streets smarts he needed to survive in life. During these years, Kaz would hang out with his older cousin Kevon Beswick, better known as Bezo, free-styling songs over the rhythmic patterns Bezo made by drumming on tables; if he wasn’t with Bezo, he was on the corner with his crew composing songs to pass the time. After finishing 3rd form (9th grade) in Ardenne High, he and his family moved to Bed-Stuy, Brooklyn. While adjusting to his new environment, he diligently honed his craft with the knowledge that one day he’d be able to record in a studio and make music that his people could relate to. In an effort to get closer to the entertainment industry, he started working for an urban magazine which influenced him to start his own Caribbean online magazine/promotion site(www.jiggytime.com). Heavily influenced by Bezo and a Jamaican producer named Bam-Bam who both are like older brothers to him and the local fame he was gaining as the owner of JiggyTime, he decided to take his music seriously and voice his past and present experiences along with his future aspirations through music. Recently his music caught the attention of the multi-platinum producer Jimi Kendrix(Fr. Smith Bros./Street Radio/Family Bizness), who referred to him as the future and gave him 8 tracks to write and record original tracks to. He has also performed at the ING NYC marathon with his crew 'The NY Giants' and recently recorded a few tracks with star of "the wire" Julito McCullum AKA J.Brice.Now this multi-talented artist/song-writer is a rising star in the Reggae/Hip-Hop industry, building a buzz, getting recognition and Internet/radio play all over the US, Jamaica and Europe…