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Producer Overcomes Racism After Drake Shoutout
24 Jun
Summary
- Producer Maneesh experienced childhood racism over his name.
- Drake's feature on "Shabang" brought him validation.
- His late mother would be proud of his identity pride.

Indian-Canadian producer Maneesh Bidaye found significant validation after being named on Drake's song "Shabang." This recognition came after years of facing racism and hurtful jokes related to his name during his childhood. Maneesh recounted how educators and peers struggled with his name's pronunciation, causing him distress.
The recent success of "Shabang," which included a viral TikTok challenge and peaked at No. 4 on the Billboard Hot 100, has helped Maneesh move past these painful experiences. He expressed that the milestone made him feel his late mother would be proud, as he chose to embrace his identity rather than adopt a stage name.