Shannon Williams aka BrothaBlack of the Yiman nation has a long history working working in remote and urban Aboriginal communities for over 20 years promoting and encouraging grass roots and emerging Indigenous artist, teaching hip-hop and helping mentor young people to assert their artistic skills.
Shannon has worked in various capacities in the Education sector predominantly in South Western Sydney from school based and at a regional level, assisting in the delivery of staff professional development workshops, cultural workshops for students, supporting students, families and school staff.
In 2013 combining two of his passions for Aboriginal Education and the Arts, Shannon partnered with the Australian Human Rights Commission to produce, “What You Say Matters” a song and video clip to address racism, a resource aimed to educate young people about racism and to empower them to respond when they experienced or witnessed it.
The resource encompasses elements of the Early Years Learning Framework and the Australian Curriculum, and aligns with Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) Actions. The clip has over 115,000 views and the classroom resource is currently used by both primary and secondary school staff as a tool in the promotion of reconciliation and to evaluate how well schools are working towards creating a culturally inclusive environment.
Shannon is also an accomplished artist and is referred to as one of Australia’s pioneers of the Indigenous Hip Hop movement. Shannon is a founding member of Indigenous Hip Hop crew, South West Syndicate.
In 2007 he released his first solo album ‘More Than a Feeling’ featuring the breakthrough single ‘Are you with me out there’ fast becoming an anthem for underground Hip Hop goers and added some genuine south-west side grunt to the soundtrack for Foxtel’s smash hit TV series ‘Dangerous’.
He has received extensive airplay on Triple J including performing a set for Live at the Wireless, broadcast in 2007 also a short stint building radio and presenter skills on “mid dawns”.
He featured on the Foreign Heights track “Get Yours (Remix)” nominated for the 2007 ARIA Award for Best Urban Release. He is also the studio host in Move It Mob Style® seasons 1, 2 & 3 nominated in 2012 for The ASTRA Awards Most Outstanding Children’s Program or Event and in 2014 for Most Outstanding Children’s Program at the 56th annual TV Week Logie Awards.