Shad (rapper)
| Shad | |
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | Shadrach Kabango |
| Also known as | Shad K. |
| Born | July 18, 1982 Kenya |
| Origin | London, Ontario, Canada |
| Genres | Canadian hip hop |
| Instruments | Guitar |
| Years active | 2005–present |
| Labels | Black Box, Decon |
| Website | shadk.com |
Shadrach Kabango (born July 18, 1982), credited as Shad or Shad K., is a Canadian hip hop artist.
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[edit] Early life
Born in Kenya, of Rwandan parents, Shad was raised in London, Ontario.[1] His mother worked in London as a hospital lab technician; his father, as a machinist.[2] He attended London Central Secondary School.
[edit] Debut
His debut album When This Is Over (2005) was self-made, financed with the $17,500 he won from 91.5 The Beat's Rhythm of the Future talent competition during his time as an undergraduate student at Wilfrid Laurier University.[3] The album was recognized for Shad's self-deprecating lyrics, which are atypical of the current rap scene[4] and focusing on social causes—for example, the track "I'll Never Understand" examines the Rwandan genocide and includes poetry written by his mother, Bernadette Kabango.[5]
[edit] 2007–present
In 2007, he was signed by Black Box Recordings and released his second album, The Old Prince. In 2008, The Old Prince received a Juno Award nomination for Rap Recording of the Year, and was nominated for the 2008 Polaris Music Prize. The album was also nominated for two MuchMusic Video Awards.[6] Shad released his third album, TSOL, in 2010. TSOL was nominated for the 2010 Polaris Music Prize, a 2011 MuchMusic Video Award, and won the Juno Award for Rap Recording of the Year at the 2011 Juno Awards.[7]
On September 2, 2010 it was announced on MTV News Canada that Shad had been in the studio with City & Colour (Dallas Green) working on an original song to be released as a single (entitled "Live Forever") along with a remix of TSOL's "Listen".
Music critics have compared his style to that of k-os and of Common, and also to a "London (England) sound circa 1990".[1]
Shad has also appeared as a guest musician on songs by Wax Romeo ("Boom Ha"), Grand Analog ("Electric City"), Dirty Circus ("Into the Sun"), Blue Scholars ("The Dawn Song"), Hey Ocean! ("Vagabond"), YouTube sensation Mike Tompkins ("Only Girl"), and Lights ("Everybody Breaks a Glass" and "Flux and Flow").
[edit] Personal life
Shad is bilingual, speaking English and French. He holds a business degree from Wilfrid Laurier University [8] and a master's degree in liberal studies from Simon Fraser University.[9]
[edit] Discography
[edit] Studio albums
- 2005: When This Is Over
- 2007: The Old Prince
- 2010: TSOL
[edit] Mixtapes
- 2007: "La Casette Mixée"
- 2011: "Besides"
[edit] Singles
- "I Don't Like To"
- "Brother (Watching)"
- "The Old Prince Still Lives At Home"
- "Compromise"
- "Yaa I Get It"
- "Rose Garden"
- "We, Myself and I"
- "Keep Shining"
- "A Good Name"
- "Give You All I Can"
[edit] References
- ^ a b Dixon, Guy (2007-10-29). "Echoes of hip hop's heyday". The Globe and Mail. p. R3.
- ^ Kaplan, Ben (2008-01-16). "'He knows who he is': And you should, too: Why Shad K is Canada's best rapper". National Post. p. AL1.
- ^ Perlich, Tim (2006-02-16). "Six-string rap: Canuck hiphop threat Shad sticks with guitar". Now. http://www.nowtoronto.com/music/story.cfm?content=151890&archive=25,25,2006. Retrieved 2011-07-26.
- ^ Juicy Stuff - Articles - Music - Just Being Himself - Shad K
- ^ Quinlan, Thomas (October 2005). "Shad: When This Is Over". Exclaim!. http://www.exclaim.ca/musicreviews/generalreview.aspx?csid1=74&csid2=865&fid1=19050. Retrieved 2008-01-12.
- ^ Patrick, Ryan B. Shad Gets It at Exclaim! June 2009.
- ^ "Shad nips Drake for rap Juno". Toronto Star, March 27, 2011.
- ^ Shad K : Shad K Is Just Beginning In Never Ending Talent : Soul Shine Magazine
- ^ "Arts Convocation includes Juno winner Shad". SFU. http://blogs.sfu.ca/departments/gradstudies/2011/04/shadrach-kabango-juno-award-winner-and-sfu-grad-student/. Retrieved 23 January 2012.
[edit] External links
- Shad
- Shad on Myspace
- Shad at CBC Radio 3
