Shad (rapper)
| Shad | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Background information | |
| Birth name | Shadrach Kabango |
| Also known as | Shad K. |
| Born |
July 18, 1982 Kenya |
| Origin | London, Ontario, Canada |
| Genres | Alternative hip hop |
| Occupations | Rapper |
| Instruments | Vocals, guitar |
| Years active | 2005–present |
| Labels | Black Box Music, Decon |
| Associated acts | Skratch Bastid |
| Website | www.shadk.com |
Shadrach Kabango (born July 18, 1982), better known by his stage name Shad or Shad K., is a Canadian hip hop artist.
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.
Career
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 and focus on social causes—for example, the track "I'll Never Understand" examines the Rwandan genocide and includes poetry written by his mother, Bernadette Kabango.[4]
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.[5] 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.[6] 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."[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".[citation needed]
Music critics have compared his style to that of k-os and of Common, and also to a "London (England) sound circa 1990".[1]
In 2010, AuxTV 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.[citation needed]
On January 16, 2013, K-os posted on his Facebook page that he had sent a verse to Shad for a new song called "Sersch".[8] In June 2013, Shad released a collaborative EP with Skratch Bastid entitled The Spring Up.[9]
Shad's new album, "Flying Colours", was released on October 15, 2013.[10] The album was supported by the singles 'Stylin' and 'Fam Jam (Fe Sum Immigrins)', and 'Remember 2 Remember (featuring Lights)'>
Personal life
Shad is bilingual, speaking English and French. He holds a business degree from Wilfrid Laurier University [11] and a master's degree in liberal studies from Simon Fraser University.[12]
Discography
Studio albums
- When This Is Over (2005)
- The Old Prince (2007)
- TSOL (2010)
- Flying Colours (2013)
Mixtapes
- La Cassette Mixée (2007)
- Besides (2011)
EPs
- Two Songs (2011) with Dallas Green
- The Spring Up (2013) with Skratch Bastid
- Melancholy and the Infinite Shadness (2012)
Singles
- "I Don't Like To" (2008)
- "Brother (Watching)" (2008)
- "The Old Prince Still Lives at Home" (2009)
- "Compromise" (2009)
- "Yaa I Get It" (2010)
- "Rose Garden" (2010)
- "We, Myself and I" (2010)
- "Keep Shining" (2011)
- "Give You All I Can" (2011)
- "It Aint Over" (2012)
- "Stylin'" (2013)
- "Fam Jam (Fe Sum Immigrins)" (2013)
Guest appearances
- Promise - "Shy Guy" from More Than Music (2008)
- Blue Scholars - "The Dawn Song" from Bayani: Redux (2009)
- Hey Ocean! - "Vagabond" (2009)
- Grand Analog - "Electric City" from Metropolis Is Burning (2009)
- Wax Romeo - "Boom Ha" (2010)
- Dirty Circus - "Into the Sun" from Alive and Well (2010)
- Mike Tompkins - "Only Girl" (2010)
- Lights - "Everybody Breaks a Glass" and "Flux and Flow" from Siberia (2011)
- Blitz the Ambassador - "Native Sun" from Native Sun (2011)
- k-os - "Spraying My Pen" from Black on Blonde (2013)
- The Procussions - "Today" from The Procussions (2013)
- Grand Analog - "The Great Rhyme Dropper" from Modern Thunder (2013)
- Said the Whale - "Resolutions" from Hawaiii (2013)
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Dixon, Guy (October 29, 2007). "Echoes of hip hop's heyday". The Globe and Mail. p. R3.
- ↑ Kaplan, Ben (January 16, 2008). "'He knows who he is': And you should, too: Why Shad K is Canada's best rapper". National Post. p. AL1.
- ↑ Perlich, Tim (February 16, 2006). "Six-string rap: Canuck hiphop threat Shad sticks with guitar". Now. Retrieved July 26, 2011.
- ↑ Quinlan, Thomas (October 2005). "Shad: When This Is Over". Exclaim!. Retrieved January 12, 2008.
- ↑ Patrick, Ryan B. (June 2009). "Shad Gets It". Exclaim!.
- ↑ "Shad nips Drake for rap Juno". Toronto Star. March 27, 2011.
- ↑ Bernad, Adam (August 30, 2011). "Shad Interview". RapReviews.com. Retrieved September 1, 2013.
- ↑ Ahmed, Osmon (October 1, 2012). "There's No Such Thing As A Setting Sun: An Interview With Shad". Potholes in My Blog.
- ↑ Aborisade, Femi (July 16, 2013). "Shad & Skratch Bastid – The Spring Up". Potholes in My Blog.
- ↑ Hudson, Alex (July 30, 2013). "Shad Sets Release Date for 'Flying Colours,' Releases New Single". Exclaim!.
- ↑ "Shad K : Shad K Is Just Beginning In Never Ending Talent". Soul Shine Magazine. June 23, 2006.
- ↑ "Arts Convocation includes Juno winner Shad". SFU. Retrieved January 23, 2012.
External links
- Official website
- Shad discography at Discogs
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