Big Shaq is a character created and performed by British comedian Michael Dapaah. The character originates in Croydon, United Kingdom, and is active from 1991 to the present. Big Shaq is associated with grime and UK drill, and is presented through Dapaah’s online series #SWIL (Somewhere in London).

Profile

Big Shaq appears as a comic rap persona rather than a conventional recording artist. The character becomes widely known after an appearance on BBC 1Xtra’s Charlie Sloth’s Fire In The Booth. That performance draws attention to the track Man’s Not Hot, a comedic rap that becomes a viral meme. A studio version of the song is then released.

Work and style

The character’s output sits at the point where humour and rap performance overlap, with references to grime and UK drill in the surrounding presentation. Big Shaq is best known for the catchphrase “no ketchup just sauce,” which is associated with the character’s public image.