Rapper Shane Eagle has come a long way since he was eliminated in the top four of hit TV reality music competition The Hustle with his debut album recently reaching over a million streams across digital media platforms.

Shane has carved a successful TV and music career since he left The Hustle and told TshisaLIVE that he was grateful he did not win the competition.

"The biggest blessing to ever happen to me was not winning The Hustle. I was grateful that I was able to participate in the show and get the exposure and in a way I feel like I kind of won the show in that regard. If I had won it I would have been tied to contracts and (record) labels while at this point I am all about being independent and showing kids that there is a way to make it without record labels‚" he said.

While it would have been easy for Shane to be defined by his time on the show‚ the rapper was determined to prove that he was more than just a rapper by scoring a presenting gig on V-Entertainment.

"It is all down to your consistency and work rate. I feel like if I had only done The Hustle‚ people would have remembered me for that. I was blessed to be part of V-Entertainment. I never saw myself as a TV person but the opportunity presented itself and we discussed how we could use it to push the music and my brand. One day when you get to the top‚ people won't remember every step you took to get there‚ only that you are‚" he added.

It took nearly two years for Shane to finally drop his debut album Yellow but the album was well received by fans who have streamed it over a million times.

"We are in the business of the end product and if people have to wait for it then it has to be worth it. I didn't want to rush it and I didn't feel pressured to put it out there. I focused on perfecting the album and got it right‚" he said.

Next month Shane will also fulfill a dream of his to perform at hip-hop concert Maftown Heights in Mafikeng‚ North-West. He had performed at the event in Johannesburg previously but said he had always wanted to perform at the festival in its birth place.

"When I first came off The Hustle‚ the winner was booked and I told him: 'You have to let me be part of the show‚ to feel that stage'. The next year I was part of the show. But I am excited this year because it is going home."