Shane Patrick Hughes, professionally known as Shane Eagle, is a South African rapper and songwriter who gained recognition in 2015 by securing the fourth position on the inaugural season of the Vuzu rapping reality competition, The Hustle. Following his success on the show, Shane Eagle released multiple non-album singles before making a significant impact with his debut album titled "Yellow" in 2017. The album included the gold-certified lead single, "Let It Flow."
In October 2019, Shane Eagle dropped his debut mixtape titled "Dark Moon Flower," featuring collaborations with notable American rappers such as Kota the Friend, Santi, Caleborate, Dreamville's Lute, and Bas, as well as the English band The Hics. The mixtape also showcased collaborations with fellow South African rappers Nasty C and PatrickxxLee.
Apart from his success as an artist, Shane Eagle is the owner of a recording label named Eagle Entertainment, a platform contributing to the South African music scene.
Early Life
Shane Patrick Hughes, born on June 7, 1996, hails from Rabie Ridge, a suburb of Johannesburg. His background includes a colored mother and an Irish father. Following his parents' divorce when he was five, he went to live with his father in Kempton Park, Johannesburg, while maintaining regular visits to his mother, still residing in Rabie Ridge.
The name "Eagle" has its roots in a group of friends from Rabie Ridge, Johannesburg. Shane adopted this term as an integral part of his stage name. His journey into rap began during high school, and at the age of 13, he recorded his inaugural song at a friend's studio.
Career
Upon completing high school, Shane Eagle was driven to participate in the inaugural season of the Vuzu rapping reality competition, The Hustle. The competition scouted artists through video submissions of participants rapping on social media platforms like Instagram or Facebook. Shane eagerly applied and was subsequently selected to compete. He ultimately secured the fourth position after a double elimination of the top four contestants.
Exiting the competition, Shane Eagle experienced a surge in public recognition and an expansion of his fan base. On October 8, 2015, he released his debut single "Way Up," featuring BigStar Johnson, the winner of The Hustle, under rapper JR's record label, Feel Good Music. The song gained significant airplay on South African radio stations, including YFM, 5FM, and Highveld 947.
In March 2016, V Entertainment's news parody segment, V Entertainment, announced that Shane Eagle would be joining as one of the presenters alongside Moozlie, DJ Speedsta, and Dash Mkhathini. They all joined the long-term presenter Lalla Hirayama. However, by the first quarter of 2017, the show declared a break, prompting Shane Eagle to step down before its revamp.
Throughout 2016, Shane Eagle released several non-album singles, including "I'm Back," "Cutting Corners," and "Top Floor." These singles were launched through his independent record label, Eagle Entertainment, established after his departure from Feel Good Music. On June 18, 2016, Shane Eagle performed as one of the opening acts at the Castle Lite Unlocks concert headlined by rapper J Cole.
Shane Eagle's debut album, "Yellow," was released on August 31, 2017. The album received initial support from double lead singles: "Let It Flow" and "Need Me," featuring singer KLY, both released on the album's launch day. By November 2017, "Yellow" had surpassed one million streams on Apple Music.
One of the album's singles, "Let It Flow," achieved gold status according to the Recording Industry of South Africa in September 2019. The success of "Yellow" was further recognized when it won the award for Best Hip Hop Album at the 24th South African Music Awards. Additionally, the album earned nominations for Album of the Year, with "Let It Flow" being nominated for Best Music Video, and Shane Eagle himself receiving a nomination for Newcomer of the Year.
On August 26, 2018, Shane Eagle launched his first tour, "The Yellow Tour," in support of his album "Yellow." The tour spanned four cities, commencing in Cape Town on August 31, 2018.
Shane Eagle followed up his debut album "Yellow" with his first EP titled "Never Grow Up," which was released on December 28, 2018. This EP achieved gold certification from the Recording Industry of South Africa. Interestingly, it received the gold certification simultaneously with the lead single from "Yellow," "Let It Flow," which also attained the same status.
In 2021, Shane Eagle continued his musical journey with the release of the single "Ammo," featuring YoungstaCPT. On August 13, 2021, he dropped another single, "Skydream," featuring Redveil. These releases showcased Shane Eagle's ongoing commitment to producing new and engaging music for his audience.
Personal Life
Shane Eagle's personal life reflects his close connection with his roots, as his mother resides in Rabie Ridge, a place he frequently visits and references in his songs.
In terms of musical inspiration, Meek Mill holds a special place as Shane Eagle's favorite rapper.
Despite Shane Eagle's efforts to maintain privacy in his personal life, he has been fortunate to have a long-term girlfriend named Nicole Swarts. The rapper strives to keep their relationship away from the public eye and the scrutiny of social media.
Discography
Studio Albums
2017 - Yellow
2022 - Green
Mixtapes
2019 - Dark Moon Flower
Extended Plays (EPs)
2018 - Never Grow Up
Singles
2015 - "Way Up"(featuring Big Star Johnson)
2016 - Cutting Corners
2016 - I'm Back
2016 - "Top Floor" (with Big Star Johnson)
2017 - Let It Flow
2017 - Need Me
2017 - Black Rick
2018 - Gustavo
2018 - The Moon
2019 - "Ap3x (Remastered)" (featuring Bas(rapper)
2019 - Black
2019 - Paris (featuring Nasty C)
2021 - Ammo (featuring YounstaCPT)