Representative Albums: "The Best of Cold Chillin'," "Down by Law," "Play It Again, Shan"
Representative Songs: "The Bridge," "Marley Marl Scratch," "Down By Law"
Biography
According to legend, MC Shan (b. Shawn Moltke) got his big break in 1983 when the future boss of Cold Chillin' Records caught Shan trying to steal his car. Although the fact that old-school super-producer Marley Marl was Shan's cousin probably didn't hurt either, Shan took advantage of the opportunity to become a member of Marl's Juice Crew All-Stars. After several singles (including the old-school classic "The Bridge"), his 1987 album debut Down By Law established a b-boy persona over tracks produced by his cousin. The same held for the 1988 follow-up, Born to Be Wild; on 1990's Play It Again, Shan, he opted for a more mature outlook and a new producer, but it proved to be his final effort. Though he moved into production work, he made a return on "Da Bridge 2001," from Queensbridge's Finest, a 2000 LP released by Nas. ~ Steve Huey, All Music Guide
Shan also found himself to be a key player in the noted hip hop rivalry the Bridge Wars between the Juice Crew and Boogie Down Productions. The feud was started when Shan and Marl released a song called "The Bridge" as a B-side to "Beat Biter," itself an answer record directed at L.L. Cool J. KRS-One responded with "South Bronx," and the Juice Crew replied with "Kill That Noise." Slate magazine described it as follows: "In 1986, it was a beef that launched the star of KRS-One, when his withering attacks on MC Shan effectively ended his rival's career."[1]Boogie Down Productions then released "The Bridge is Over," widely celebrated among hip-hop fans as the paramount dis song. Years later, MC Shan remade "The Bridge" into "Da Bridge 2001," and strongly denied the bridge "was over", saying:
The Bridge was never over / we left our mark / The jam is dedicated to you and your boys / I brought my Queensbridge thugs to kill that noise
Shan's second album, Born To Be Wild, followed in 1988 and revealed the b-boy persona of Shan, with production once again by Marley Marl. 1990's Play it Again, Shan displayed a more mature style, but proved to be his last album. When Cold Chillin's sub label Livin' Large was active, he was listed as one of its artists but never released any material. Despite the fact that he focused more on his production career (like Snow's 12 Inches of Snow, which featured "Informer", on which Shan appeared) he recorded "Da Bridge 2001" for Nas's 2000 compilation called QB's Finest, which also featured Mobb Deep, Cormega, and Nature.
Shan also had a brief stint in film, playing a bit role in Steve Martin's L.A. Story film as the Rappin' Waiter. He is also the older brother of female rapper & radio personality Princess Ivori.
Shan is credited as the guest rapper on the Sum 41 song Daves possessed hair/ what we're all about from the album Half Hour Of Power.
