The phrase “Damn son, where’d you find this?” has become an instantly recognizable sound, a sonic stamp that DJs and music lovers worldwide associate with a certain era of mixtapes, particularly those in the trap music scene. If you’ve ever found yourself nodding your head to a track punctuated by this booming voice, you’ve encountered a meme in its purest audio form within dance music culture. This iconic drop, heavily featured on Gucci Mane and OJ da Juiceman’s influential Trap-a-holics mixtapes in the late 2000s, wasn’t just a random sound effect. It was a knowing wink from trap producers, an acknowledgment of electronic dance music’s (EDM) influence and history within hip-hop. But who is the man behind this ubiquitous voice? The answer is Shadoe Haze, a 42-year-old voice-over artist with a surprising background.
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The story of how this iconic drop came to be is a blend of internet sleuthing and serendipitous discovery. According to DJ Ayres and his collaborator, the journey began with inside jokes. “After about a year of making inside jokes in Shadoe’s voice about disco—’Damn son, that’s Balearic as hell!!’—DJ Ayres and I did some sleuthing, found Shadoe through the Internet, and bought some drops.” Their quest to find the voice led them to an unexpected revelation: Shadoe Haze isn’t just a voice-over artist; he’s also a drum and bass DJ tucked away in Northeast Louisiana. Adding another layer to his multifaceted persona, he also runs a Taekwondo studio. When the voice-over work finally came back from Shadoe’s studio, it was filled with surprises. Beyond the expected professional recordings were “pornographic ad-libs and hilarious off-script jokes,” showcasing a personality as vibrant as his voice.
Unmasking the Voice: An Interview with Shadoe Haze
Intrigued by the man behind the “drop heard ’round the world,” an interview was arranged to delve deeper into Shadoe Haze’s world. The questions aimed to uncover everything from his voice-over work for figures like Justin Timberlake (a playful jab, as it turns out) to the rave scene in his local Monroe, Louisiana. And, importantly, to gauge his awareness of the trap music phenomenon he inadvertently helped soundtrack.
THUMP: I’m gonna read you a question that I found on Yahoo Answers when I googled “Monroe Louisiana rave” and you can answer it. It sounds like it was written by a narc:
“Where can I find an underground rave near me? Or just a rave in general? I realize that I really want to go ravin’! I want to see a bunch of people at an all-night party with strobe lights and rave sticks and intense music, and have FUN! I live in West Monroe, LA. So if anyone knows where I can find one, that’d be great help. Also, I’d like to be able to find one anywhere I go! Also, where can I get decent rave clothes (and some ski goggles)?”
Shadoe Haze’s reaction to this question was immediate amusement. “That’s fantastic [laughs]. If I had to guess I’d say it would probably be underground somewhere. Old school guys like me, we used to go to all-night parties. That’s just what people did back then. I go play a show, I try to be nice because I’m headlining and stay through the other guys’ shows and encourage them but it’s at a point where I can’t stay past 3AM anymore.” His response highlights a generational shift in the rave scene, acknowledging the energy of the past while hinting at the realities of the present.
He continues, “A lot of the older DJs that are still playing now are burnt out. That party life—they don’t care anymore. There’s always a place to find a party, but I don’t know where you’d find an all-night rave anymore.” This provides a glimpse into the evolving landscape of dance music and party culture from someone who has witnessed its changes firsthand.
So where are you playing these days?
Shadoe’s current focus is more grounded. “I have a mobile DJ service. People are like, ‘Man, with all the stuff you’ve got going on why are you still doing that?’ And it’s because I can’t tell you how many times I’ve played a song on a dance floor and someone cried or laughed or smiled and said it was the best time they’ve had their entire life or whatever.” This reveals a passion for music that goes beyond fame or recognition, rooted in the direct impact music has on people. He further explains his connection to DJing by stating, “Back in the day, when I wanted to cut out and relax and spin what I enjoyed, it was the break beats and the drum and bass. There you were like an artist. You can paint whatever kind of picture because no one tells you what to play in your set. When I do private parties it’s a lot different.” This underscores his artistic roots in genres outside of trap, genres that allow for greater creative freedom in his DJ sets.
Do people in Monroe have any idea that you’re kind of a cult celebrity for your voice-over work in this particular kind of dance music called trap, or in the Trap-a-holics Mixtapes? Do they have any idea what that is?
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The question of local fame and recognition in relation to his “damn son where’d you find this” meme is directly addressed. Shadoe recounts the moment he discovered the reach of his voice: “There’s a little bitty town on the other side of West Monroe called Ruston. I have a guy that’s a close friend of mine that lives there. He produces dubstep and now he’s doing trap. He lives in that little bitty podunk town. That dude called me one day. I had no idea that [“damn son, where’d you find this”] drop had been out.” This anecdote highlights the organic, almost accidental nature of how the meme spread.
He elaborates on the origins of the drop: “That drop had been cut, it was just ad-libbed in a bunch of crap I sent out to a bunch of people. Once it came out I couldn’t track down who the original client was because back then I wasn’t keeping in my library that I had ever done.” The casual creation and distribution of the drop further emphasizes its unexpected journey to meme status. “He called me and said ‘Hey, did you know that your voice is on this?’ I was like ‘No, what are you talking about?’ He sent me the link and he played it for me. I had no idea. He said ‘this is like, everywhere.’ There are people around here who do know, but the average Joe that talks to me, even the people who listen to me on the radio—they don’t know. It cracks me up a little bit.” This contrast between his local anonymity and global recognition as the “damn son where’d you find this” guy is a humorous irony. The alt text for the image above could be: “T.I. Trap Muzik Album Cover: Read about the history of trap music, a genre that prominently features the ‘damn son where’d you find this’ drop.”
I remember the drops that you did for DJ Ayres and for me, you did a bunch of hilarious adlibs. It was a lot of filthy shit. What kind of nutsack drops you’re giving Timberlake?
The conversation shifts to the playful and often explicit nature of Shadoe’s ad-libs. “I’m actually not doing Justin Timberlake. But it got your attention didn’t it?” This reveals a self-aware humor and marketing savvy.
You just did that to bait them into trying to give you voiceover work?
“I just did that because I knew they’d never reply and it’s funny to me. I also did it for Paris Hilton.” Shadoe’s Twitter antics, targeting celebrities, are exposed as humorous self-promotion.
The drops you gave us had adlibs for DJ Ayres’ Rub radio show like, “Time for a big old giant nutsack! Rub one out with Rub Radio!” And I was wondering what kind of nutsack drops you’re giving Timberlake.
[Laughs] “I’ve got some clients like DJ Rectangle. I don’t know if you know him.”
I know who DJ Rectangle is—he does break records.
“Yeah, I give him that kind of stuff too. It’s funny to me.” This highlights the range of his voice-over work, from mainstream celebrity teases to underground DJ culture.
Since you’ve been involved with underground dance music for a long time, what’s your feeling about trap music?
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Finally, Shadoe shares his perspective on trap music, the genre that propelled his voice to meme status. “There’s a lot of good stuff out there. And then you’ve got that trap stuff—just like any other genre—where you’re just like, ‘No, turn that off.'” He offers a balanced view, acknowledging both the quality and the less appealing aspects of the genre, similar to any musical category.
“You have people who love it—they think it’s the best thing since cereal. Then you’ve got other people going “that’s just a shitty version of dubstep.” Well before that you were calling dubstep a shitty version of something else. You’re just gonna have those negative people out there. If you like it, listen to it, play it. Don’t give a shit what anybody says, man. When I go play a set, man, I’m gonna play whatever the hell I want and you’re either gonna like me and you’re gonna come back or you’re not gonna book me again. I don’t give a shit, that’s up to you.” His passionate defense of personal taste and artistic freedom resonates, regardless of genre preferences.
Do you have a favorite trap artist or record?
“Not really. I know just about enough about trap that I could get by playing a few cuts. If it came on I’d bob my head to it. But if I had to go build a set, I couldn’t. People have been requesting me to play drum and bass and breaks, so that’s where I spend a majority of my free time, of which there is very little.” This reiterates his preference for drum and bass and breaks, genres closer to his artistic heart.
He concludes by explaining his limited time for deep dives into trap music: “I’m a single dad raising a five-year-old daughter and I also own a Taekwondo school. My free time is very little. But with trap, I just don’t have time. There are a lot of people who are awesome that I just haven’t gotten a chance to hear yet.” This humanizes Shadoe, revealing the everyday responsibilities behind the iconic voice. The alt text for the image above can be: “Physical Therapy Breakbeat DJ: Learn about breakbeat music, another genre appreciated by Shadoe Haze, the voice behind ‘damn son where’d you find this’.”
Finding More of Shadoe Haze
For those wanting to experience more of Shadoe Haze’s vocal talents, he directs listeners to awesomevoiceguy.com for voice-over work inquiries. For a taste of his DJing skills, his mixes can be found at soundcloud.com/shadoehaze.
Michael Fichman is a DJ, record producer and writer living in Philadelphia. Follow him on twitter at @djaptone.
Conclusion: The Enduring Legacy of “Damn Son, Where’d You Find This?”
The story of “damn son, where’d you find this” is more than just a meme. It’s a fascinating glimpse into how a simple ad-lib can become a cultural touchstone, bridging genres and connecting with audiences worldwide. Shadoe Haze, the voice behind the drop, embodies a unique intersection of voice-over artistry, underground DJ culture, and unexpected internet fame. His story reminds us that sometimes, the most impactful cultural moments arise from the most unassuming places. The next time you hear that booming voice on a track, you’ll know the story behind the meme and the man who unknowingly soundtracked a generation of mixtapes.
