Promise (rapper)

Promise
Background information
Origin	Toronto, Ontario
Genres	Hip hop soul
Occupation(s)	Rapper, singer-songwriter
Years active	2000–present
Labels	Good Fruit Co., Mixed Bag Music, Duck Down Music, DFS Records
Associated acts	Dan-e-o, Perfeck Strangers
Website	goodfruitco.com

Promise Jason Jamal Shepherd, professionally known as Promise, is a Canadian hip hop soul artist and songwriter from Toronto.^[1] He is currently a member of the group Perfeck Strangers, based in Scarborough, Ontario. Promise has collaborated with many artists, including Jhené Aiko, Lecrae, Manafest, Andy Mineo, Marco Polo, eLZhi of Slum Village and Royce Da 5'9" of Slaughterhouse. He has also collaborated with fellow Toronto native Drake, whom he met on the set of Degrassi: The Next Generation.^[2]

Discography

Studio albums

• 2002: The Promise That Heaven Kept^[3]
• 2008: More Than Music
• 2011: Awakening^[4]
• 2016: TellAVision^[5]

Singles

• 2003: "Alright"
• 2008: "In God We Trust" (featuring J. Ivy, Calvin Richardson and Elzhi of Slum Village)
• 2008: "Change" (featuring Mr. Probz, Supastition and Royce Da 5'9")
• 2011: "Against The Odds" (featuring Jhené Aiko)
• 2012" "Make a Change"^[6]

Mixtapes

• 2005: "AmiRacle"
• 2006: "Music"
• 2007: "Dj L'oqenz: Kanye West presents Promise Vol.1"
• 2008: "Dj Mensa: Kanye West presents Promise Vol.2"
• 2009: "2dopeboyz Presents: D.O.P.E. Mixtape"

Guest appearances

• 2002: Mark J - "National Anthem Remix" featuring Shabach, 2nd Nature, Promise, R-Swift, J Silas, Da' T.R.U.T.H., Lecrae, Japhia Life, Triumph
• 2004: Nifty - "The Real" featuring Manafest and Promise (The Preface Ep)
• 2004: Nifty - "Hope" featuring Janée Olivia (The Preface EP) Producer credit
• 2005: Roshana - "Intro", "I Know I", "Care For You", "Steady", "Soul Searching" featuring Voyce Alexander aka Aion Clarke & Drake (Roshana) Co-producer/Writer credit
• 2006: Nifty - "What's Right" featuring Promise and Jessica Jones (The Candidate)
• 2006: Manafest - "Critics" (Glory)
• 2008: Tonéx aka Ton3x - "Maverick" featuring Promise (The London Letters)
• 2009: Dillin Hoox - "Liar" featuring Promise & Sha Stimuli
• 2009: Gary Beals - "Excuse Me", "Waiting", "You" (The Rebirth Of...) Writer credit
• 2009: Revived - "Free", "Come Back", "I Am" (Revived) Writer credit
• 2010: Dj Mick Boogie - "MCs Act Like They Don't Know" (Survival Kit) featuring Sha Stimuli, Promise, J.A.M.E.S. Watts, & Fashawn
• 2010: Shad - "Time" (TSOL) iTunes exclusive bonus track
• 2010: "The Bridge" (The Stupendous Adventures of Marco Polo) Prod. Marco Polo
• 2010: "HIStory" featuring Peter Katz. Prod. Colin Munroe
• 2010: Duane Forrest - "Natural", "Broadway Remix"
• 2011: NBA 2K11 OST - "Better Than You"^[7] featuring Duck Down All-Stars:^[8] Buckshot, Skyzoo and Sean Price (prod. Double-O of Kidz in the Hall) and in video game as character on celebrity list^[9]
• 2011: The Get By - "These Girls" (Let Go) Writer credit
• 2011: Buckshot, Smif N' Wessun, Promise - "Run To Remember"^[10][11]
• 2012: Bumps INF - "Living Dead" featuring Promise
• 2012: Dalton Higgins - Far From Over: The Life And Music of Drake
• 2013: Various Artists - "These Girls Too" featuring GMF, Promise, Tona, Rich Kidd and The Get By
• 2014: Da' T.R.U.T.H. - Hope (Official Remix)" featuring This'l, Braille, Derek Minor, Promise (Heartbeat)

With Perfeck Strangers

• 2012: "Series Premiere" featuring Justin Nozuka, Wordsworth, etc. Production by LordQuest

Awards

• 2002 CGMA Covenant Award for Hip-Hop/Rap Song of the Year for "Alright"
• 2003 Kardinal Offishall Strength In Numbers Award for Best Performance
• 2003 Vibe Award Nominee for Best Hip-Hop/Rap Album of the Year
• 2003 UMAC Award Nominee for Best Gospel Recording for "Alright"
• 2003 Maja Award for Best Urban Gospel
• 2003 Maja Award Nominee for Best Male Artist of the Year
• 2003 Maja Award Nominee for Best New Artist of the Year
• 2007 Shai Award Nominee for Hip-Hop/Rap Album of the Year
• 2009 CGMA Covenant Award for Hip-Hop/Rap Album of the Year for "More Than Music"

References

1. Fox, Luke (2009) "Exclusive: Workaholic Toronto Hip-Hop Artist Promise Signs to Duck Down Records", Exclaim!, September 10, 2009, retrieved 2011-06-19
2. "Promise Interview: SXSW 2010 - Spinner Canada". Spinner.ca. 2010-03-16. Retrieved 2012-11-30.
3. Bonner, Gerard (2003). "The Promise That Heaven Kept (review)". GospelFlava. Retrieved 2011-03-13.
4. Hill, Kellus (2011) "Awakening (review)". DaSouth.com.
5. Daniels, David (2016) "Promise reveals star-studded tracklist for new EP".
6. Dobbs, Katie (2012-09-30). "Hip hop hope: Police (Toronto’s finest) and Promise (the hip hop artist) release song". thestar.com. Retrieved 2012-11-30.
7. "NBA® 2K11 Compiles Most Powerful Hoops Soundtrack Ever". 2KSports.com.
8. "Celebrating 15 Years of Duck Down Music". Rap-N-Blues.com.
9. Hayward, Andrew (2011) "NBA® 2K11 Ranked #3 in Top 25 Video Games Featuring Hip-Hop Stars As Playable Characters". Complex.com.
10. "Duck Down Brings Attention To Alzheimer’s Disease". Okayplayer.com.
11. Samuel, Kiran (2011) "Duck Down Artists Collaborate For the Alzheimer’s Research Foundation". TheFader.com.

External links

• Official Website
• 2009 review at The Christian Manifesto. Retrieved 2013-07-05
• 2009 interview at Exclaim. Retrieved 2011-08-20
• 2009 at TheCyberKrib United. Retrieved 2011-08-20
• 2009 interview at Raptalk. Retrieved 2011-04-15.
• 2010 interview at Raptalk. Retrieved 2011-08-26.
• 2011 at Abort Magazine. Retrieved 2011-07-03
• 2011 at Exclaim. Retrieved 2011-08-20
• 2011 interview at Praverb Dot Net. Retrieved 2011-07-13.
• 2011 interview at Torontoist: Sound Advice. Retrieved 2011-07-14.
• 2011 review at Imade In Truth. Retrieved 2011-07-15
• 2011 review at Ill Breaks Crew. Retrieved 2011-07-24
• 2011 interview at Sway Magazine. Retrieved 2011-07-25
• 2011 review at MC FÜBBment. Retrieved 2011-09-21
• 2011 review at NiftyChristian. Retrieved 2011-10-09
• 2011 interview at TheWolvesDen. Retrieved 2011-11-05
• 2011 highlight in NBA 2K11 at Complex Magazine. Retrieved 2011-11-18
• 2012 interview at Vents Magazine. Retrieved 2012-07-21
• 2012 at CBC News. Retrieved 2012-09-30