photo by steed media service

Cupid often reminisces on the days when he did odd jobs to get his voice heard. For nearly 10 years he performed at weddings and parties to showcase his vocal talents. But after releasing a song that promotes a dance he made up as a child, he became an instant sensation in the Louisiana and Texas music markets. The "Cupid Shuffle" has since gained national recognition by bridging the generation gap on the dance floor.

"My producer [Mr. Phat] and I wanted to do something different," Cupid says. "For an R&B act, it's hard to get a ballad played in the club. So we came up with a style that incorporates the streets with R&B."

Along with passing out promotional CDs of "Cupid Shuffle," Cupid also marketed the song on MySpace and YouTube. "Once I discovered that I could get my music around the world for free, I was using MySpace from 8 to 12 hours every day," he says. "The game has changed and the technology age has helped a lot of independent artists."

Online and radio buzz have helped Cupid make history. After doing the Cupid Shuffle with 17,000 fans in Atlanta, he established a Guinness World Record for the world's largest line dance. "This entire year has been an achievement," he says. "A lot of people are talking, but would you rather your kids do the 'Cupid Shuffle' or shoot someone to be hard? Everyone's message means something, but I stay in my own lane. I just do music." - amir shaw

Share this article with a friend