Shad (rapper)

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For other uses, see Shad (disambiguation).
Shad
ShadrachGorilla.JPG
Background information
Birth name Shadrach Kabango
Also known as Shad K.
Born (1982-07-18) July 18, 1982 (age 30)
Kenya
Origin London, Ontario, Canada
Genres Alternative hip hop
Instruments Vocals, guitar
Years active 2005–present
Labels Black Box Recordings[disambiguation needed], Decon
Website shadk.ca

Shadrach Kabango (born July 18, 1982), credited as Shad or Shad K., is a Canadian hip hop artist.

Contents

Early life[edit]

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. Shad began rapping at the age of 14.[3]

Career[edit]

Debut[edit]

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.[4] The album was recognized for Shad's self-deprecating lyrics, which are atypical of the current rap scene[5] 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.[6]

2007–present[edit]

In 2007, he was signed by Black Box Recordings[disambiguation needed] 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.[7] 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.[8] On beating out Canadian compatriot Drake for the Juno, Shad said in an interview: "I did not think for a second that I would win. Not for one second. He's massive. He's massive in the States, he's massive in Canada."[9]

Beyond this formal recognition, TSOL also garnered a good deal of critical acclaim.[10]

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"), The Procussions ("Today"), and Lights ("Everybody Breaks a Glass" and "Flux and Flow").

In 2010, Aux TV followed Shad for a year, documenting his recording and release of the album TSOL. This coverage was culminated into the documentary Aux Presents: Shad, in 2012.

Shad is working on a new album named Flying Colours that will most likely be released in 2013. On Jan. 16th, 2013, K-os posted on his Facebook page that he had sent a verse to Shad for a new song called "Sersch" [11] In June 2013, Shad released a collaborative EP with Skratch Bastid entitled 'The Spring Up'. [12]

Personal life[edit]

Shad is bilingual, speaking English and French. He holds a business degree from Wilfrid Laurier University [13] and a master's degree in liberal studies from Simon Fraser University.[14]

Discography[edit]

Studio albums[edit]

Mixtapes[edit]

  • 2007: "La Casette Mixée"
  • 2011: "Besides"
  • 2012: "melancholy and the infinite shadness" [sic]
  • 2013: "The Spring Up (with Skratch Bastid)"

Singles[edit]

  • "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"
  • "Give You All I Can"
  • "It Aint Over"

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b Dixon, Guy (2007-10-29). "Echoes of hip hop's heyday". The Globe and Mail. p. R3. 
  2. ^ 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. 
  3. ^ http://www.rapreviews.com/interview/shad2011.html
  4. ^ Perlich, Tim (2006-02-16). "Six-string rap: Canuck hiphop threat Shad sticks with guitar". Now. Retrieved 2011-07-26. 
  5. ^ Juicy Stuff - Articles - Music - Just Being Himself - Shad K
  6. ^ Quinlan, Thomas (October 2005). "Shad: When This Is Over". Exclaim!. Retrieved 2008-01-12. 
  7. ^ Patrick, Ryan B. Shad Gets It at Exclaim! June 2009.
  8. ^ "Shad nips Drake for rap Juno". Toronto Star, March 27, 2011.
  9. ^ http://www.rapreviews.com/interview/shad2011.html
  10. ^ http://www.hiphopdx.com/index/album-reviews/id.1541/title.shad-tsol-us-version
  11. ^ http://potholesinmyblog.com/theres-no-such-thing-as-a-setting-sun-an-interview-with-shad/2/
  12. ^ http://shadk.squarespace.com/blog/2013/6/12/the-spring-up.html
  13. ^ Shad K : Shad K Is Just Beginning In Never Ending Talent : Soul Shine Magazine
  14. ^ "Arts Convocation includes Juno winner Shad". SFU. Retrieved 23 January 2012. 

External links[edit]

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