Shad (rapper)

Born in Kenya to Rwandan parents, Shad was raised in London, Ontario.{{cite news|last=Dixon|first=Guy|title=Echoes of hip hop's heyday|page=R3|newspaper=The Globe and Mail|date=October 29, 2007}} His mother worked as a lab technologist in a London hospital and his father was a machinist.{{cite news|last=Kaplan|first=Ben|title='He knows who he is': And you should, too: Why Shad K is Canada's best rapper|page=AL1|newspaper=National Post|date=January 16, 2008}} He attended London Central Secondary School.

While an undergraduate student at Wilfrid Laurier University, Shad won $17,500 from 91.5 The Beat's Rhythm of the Future talent competition.{{cite news|url=http://www.nowtoronto.com/music/story.cfm?content=151890&archive=25,25,2006|title=Six-string rap: Canuck hiphop threat Shad sticks with guitar|last=Perlich|first=Tim|date=February 16, 2006|newspaper=Now|access-date=July 26, 2011}} He was entered in the radio contest by his sister.{{Cite web|url=https://www.straight.com/article-425431/vancouver/shad-gives-voice-his-hiphop-generation|title=Shad gives a voice to his hip-hop generation|date=August 17, 2011|website=The Georgia Straight|language=en|access-date=October 14, 2019}} The prize money was used to finance his self-released debut album When This Is Over (2005). The album was recognized for Shad's honest lyrics{{cite news|url=https://montrealgazette.com/entertainment/Shad/3992363/story.html|title=Shad|newspaper=The Gazette|date=December 17, 2010}} 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.{{cite magazine|last=Quinlan|first=Thomas|title=Shad: When This Is Over|magazine=Exclaim!|date=October 2005|url=http://www.exclaim.ca/musicreviews/generalreview.aspx?csid1=74&csid2=865&fid1=19050|access-date=January 12, 2008}}

In 2007, Shad was signed by Black Box Recordings for a three-album deal and released his second album, The Old Prince.{{cite magazine|url=http://exclaim.ca/News/Exclusive_Shad_Preps_New_Studio_Album_for_May_Release|title=Exclusive: Shad Preps New Studio Album for May Release|magazine=Exclaim!|first=Stephen|last=Carlick|date=April 6, 2010}} The album was supported by four singles, most prominently "The Old Prince Still Lives at Home", with its accompanying viral music video.{{Cite web|url=http://exclaim.ca/music/article/shad_gets_it|title=Shad Gets It|website=exclaim.ca|language=en-ca|access-date=October 14, 2019}} In 2008, The Old Prince received a Juno Award nomination for Rap Recording of the Year and was a short-list nominee for the 2008 Polaris Music Prize.{{cite web|url=http://www.ctv.ca/Junos/article/JUNO-nominee-Shads-scholarly-days-coming-to-an-end|title=JUNO nominee Shad's scholarly days coming to an end|publisher=CTV Television Network|first=Tyrone|last=Warner|date=March 17, 2011|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140222053708/http://www.ctv.ca/Junos/article/JUNO-nominee-Shads-scholarly-days-coming-to-an-end|archive-date=February 22, 2014}} The music video for the single "The Old Prince Still Lives at Home" was nominated for two MuchMusic Video Awards in 2008.{{cite magazine|last=Patrick|first=Ryan B.|url=http://www.exclaim.ca/articles/multiarticlesub.aspx?csid1=144&csid2=778&fid1=46697|title=Shad Gets It|magazine=Exclaim!|date=June 2009|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100906040648/http://www.exclaim.ca/articles/multiarticlesub.aspx?csid1=144&csid2=778&fid1=46697|archive-date=September 6, 2010}}

Shad released his third album, TSOL, in 2010. TSOL was a short-list nominee for the 2010 Polaris Music Prize, the video for the song "Rose Garden" received a nomination for a 2011 MuchMusic Video Award, and the album won the Juno Award for Rap Recording of the Year at the 2011 Juno Awards.{{cite news|url=https://www.thestar.com/entertainment/music/junos/article/962333--shad-nips-drake-for-rap-juno|title=Shad nips Drake for rap Juno|newspaper=Toronto Star|date=March 27, 2011}} 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."{{cite web|url=http://www.rapreviews.com/interview/shad2011.html|title=Shad Interview|last=Bernad|first=Adam |work=RapReviews.com|date=August 30, 2011|access-date=September 1, 2013}}

File:Shad (3956490129).jpg

In 2012, Shad released the EP "Melancholy and the Infinite Shadness"{{Cite web|url=https://exclaim.ca/music/article/shad-melancholy_infinite_shadness|title=Shad 'Melancholy and the Infinite Shadness' EP | Exclaim!}} and in June 2013, he released a collaborative EP with Skratch Bastid entitled The Spring Up.{{cite web|url=http://potholesinmyblog.com/album-reviews-shad-skratch-bastid-the-spring-up/|title=Shad & Skratch Bastid – The Spring Up|date=July 16, 2013|first=Femi|last=Aborisade|publisher=Potholes in My Blog}} Shad's fourth album,{{cite magazine|url=http://exclaim.ca/Reviews/HipHop/shad-flying_colours|title=Shad - Flying Colours|magazine=Exclaim!|first=Aaron|last=Matthews|date=October 11, 2013}} Flying Colours, was released on October 15, 2013.{{cite magazine|first=Alex|last=Hudson|url=http://exclaim.ca/News/shad_sets_release_date_for_flying_colours_releases_new_single|title=Shad Sets Release Date for 'Flying Colours,' Releases New Single|magazine=Exclaim!|date=July 30, 2013}} This album was nominated for the Juno Award for Rap Recording of the Year in 2014, and was a short-list nominee for the 2014 Polaris Music Prize.[http://www.ctvnews.ca/entertainment/arcade-fire-drake-shad-make-polaris-music-prize-short-list-1.1914616 "Arcade Fire, Drake, Shad make Polaris Music Prize short list"]. CTV News, July 15, 2014. In December 2014, Shad released a collaborative EP with DJ T. LO entitled "Boarding Pass".{{Cite web|url=https://exclaim.ca/music/article/shad_dj_tlo-boarding_pass_ep|title = Shad & DJ T.LO Boarding Pass EP | Exclaim!}}

In 2016, he released a 90s-influenced soft-rock album, Adult Contempt, under the pseudonym Your Boy Tony Braxton.[http://www.stereogum.com/1887807/stream-your-boy-tony-braxton-adult-contempt-stereogum-premiere/mp3s/ "Stream Your Boy Tony Braxton Adult Contempt"]. Stereogum, July 15, 2016. The alter ego was based on "the idea of a dude named Tony Braxton who likes to sing (but obviously isn't as good as the famous Toni Braxton)."{{Cite web|url=https://nowtoronto.com/api/content/01090d0c-541e-11e6-93b8-12955eaaf839/|title=Your Boy Tony Braxton|last=Ritchie|first=Kevin|date=July 27, 2016|website=NOW Magazine|language=en-us|access-date=January 10, 2020}} Musically, the album was inspired by Michael Penn, Terence Trent D'arby, The Cure, Bryan Adams, and Janet Jackson.{{Cite web|url=http://exclaim.ca/music/article/shad_adopts_your_boy_tony_braxton_moniker_for_adult_contempt_album|title=Shad Becomes Your Boy Tony Braxton for 'Adult Contempt'|website=exclaim.ca|language=en-ca|access-date=January 10, 2020}}

In the same year, Shad collaborated with Tanya Tagaq on "Centre", a track from her album Retribution, and also recorded for Homeboy Sandman, Skratch Bastid, and A Tribe Called Red (on We Are the Halluci Nation).

In July 2018, Shad released the lead single, "The Fool Pt 1 (Get It Got It Good)" from his new album, A Short Story About a War. Two follow-up singles, "The Fool Pt. 3 (Frame of Mind)" and "The Stone Throwers (Gone in a Blink)", were released in prior to the album's release.{{Cite web|url=http://exclaim.ca/music/article/shad_shares_the_stone_throwers_gone_in_a_blink|title=Shad Shares "The Stone Throwers (Gone In a Blink)"|website=exclaim.ca|language=en-ca|access-date=January 11, 2020}} The album was released in October 2018 on Secret City Records and included collaborations with Lido Pimienta, Kaytranada, Ian Kamau, Eternia, and Yukon Blonde. A Short Story About a War is a concept album, which explores the same war from multiple perspectives.{{Cite web|url=https://nowtoronto.com/api/content/533e22d4-fe6b-11e8-b850-120e7ad5cf50/|title=Shad introduces the characters that populate his Short Story About A War|last=Siddiqui|first=Tabassum|date=December 13, 2018|website=NOW Magazine|language=en-us|access-date=January 11, 2020}} The album was short-listed for the 2019 Polaris Music Prize, marking Shad's 4th Polaris short-list nomination.{{Cite web|url=https://toronto.citynews.ca/2019/07/16/quebec-artists-shine-rap-thrives-highlights-from-the-polaris-music-prize-short-list/|title=Quebec artists shine, rap thrives: Highlights from the Polaris Music Prize short list - CityNews Toronto|date=July 16, 2019 }}

In April 2020, Shad indicated he was working on finishing a new album.{{Cite web|title=How Shad Is Coping with Isolation: Old NBA Games and Finishing His New Album|url=http://exclaim.ca/music/article/how_shad_is_coping_with_isolation_old_nba_games_and_finishing_his_new_album|access-date=June 6, 2020|website=exclaim.ca|language=en-ca}} He also was featured on Tobi's "24 (Toronto Remix)" and its corresponding music video, along with Haviah Mighty, Jazz Cartier, and Ejji Smith.{{Cite web|last=Gordon|first=Holly|date=May 15, 2020|title=How TOBi made 'history for the culture' with his star-studded video for '24 (Toronto Remix)'|url=https://www.cbc.ca/music/how-tobi-made-history-for-the-culture-with-his-star-studded-video-for-24-toronto-remix-1.5571472|website=CBC Music}}

In April 2021, Shad released the single "Out of Touch", featuring pHoenix Pagliacci, followed by the single "Work", featuring Skratch Bastid, the next month.{{Cite web|title=Listen: Toronto rapper Shad returns with new track 'Out of Touch (feat. Phoenix Pagliacci)' {{!}} Indie88|date=April 14, 2021 |url=https://indie88.com/listen-toronto-rapper-shad-returns-with-new-track-out-of-touch-feat-phoenix-pagliacci/|access-date=April 14, 2021|language=en-US}}{{Cite web|title=Premiere: Shad Laments "Work" (or Lack Thereof) on New Track|url=https://www.complex.com/music/shad-work|access-date=2021-06-22|website=Complex|language=en}} In June 2021, Shad announced his new album, TAO , would be released October 1, 2021.{{Cite web|title=Shad Announces New Album 'TAO' {{!}} Exclaim!|url=https://exclaim.ca/music/article/shad_announces_new_album_tao|access-date=2021-06-22|website=exclaim.ca|language=en-ca}} He also released the song "Storm", which featured pHoenix Pagliacci and George Elliott Clarke. On July 14, 2022, TAO was short-listed for the 2022 Polaris Music Prize.

In March 2015, it was announced that Shad would replace Jian Ghomeshi as host of CBC Radio One's Q. In August 2016, the CBC announced that he would be replaced by Tom Power.[http://www.cbc.ca/news/arts/shad-q-tom-power-host-1.3721405 "CBC's Q replacing Shad as host"]. CBC News, August 15, 2016.{{Cite news|url=http://www.torontosun.com/2016/08/15/shad-canned-from-cbc-radios-q|title=Shad canned from CBC Radio's 'q'|newspaper=Toronto Sun|publisher=The Canadian Press|access-date=August 16, 2016}}

In the four-part documentary series Hip-Hop Evolution, Shad interviewed multiple noted hip-hop and rap artists to explore the origins of this music genre. This documentary was featured in 2016 Hot Docs Canadian International Documentary Festival and shown on HBO Canada{{cite news|url=http://www.bellmedia.ca/pr/press/original-documentary-series-hip-hop-evolution-explores-the-birth-and-far-reaching-influences-of-hip-hop-september-4-on-hbo-canada/|title=Original Documentary Series HIP-HOP EVOLUTION Explores the Birth and Far-Reaching Influences of Hip-Hop, September 4 on HBO Canada|access-date=October 30, 2016|agency=Bell Canada}} On December 2, 2016 Netflix released the series internationally. The series went on to be one of the 2016 Peabody Award winners{{cite web|title=The Peabody 30: Award Winners for 2016|url=http://www.peabodyawards.com/award-profile/hip-hop-evolution|access-date=October 19, 2017|agency=The Peabody Awards}} and won an International Emmy Award for Best Arts Programming in 2017.{{Cite web|url=https://www.thestar.com/entertainment/television/2017/11/21/canadian-documentary-series-hip-hop-evolution-wins-international-emmy-award.html|title = Canadian documentary series Hip-Hop Evolution wins International Emmy Award| website=Toronto Star |date = November 21, 2017}} On October 19, 2018 Netflix released a second season of the series and a third season was released on September 6, 2019.{{Cite web|url=https://www.tvguide.com/tvshows/hip-hop-evolution/episodes/972552/|title=Hip Hop Evolution}} Hip Hop Evolution's fourth season was released on January 17, 2020.{{Cite web|title=Here's When 'Hip-Hop Evolution' Season 4 Will Premiere|url=http://exclaim.ca/film/article/heres_when_hip-hop_evolution_season_4_will_premiere|access-date=June 10, 2020|website=exclaim.ca|language=en-ca}}

Shad is described as a "conscious" and "reflective" rapper,{{Cite news|url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/arts/a-rapper-about-so-much-more-than-gangstas/article714906/|title=Shad: A rapper about so much more than gangstas|access-date=October 14, 2019}} known for his witty lyrics on heartfelt subjects.{{Cite web|url=https://www.thestar.com/entertainment/music/2010/06/06/shad_the_rappernextdoor.html|title=Shad: The rapper-next-door {{!}} The Star|website=thestar.com|date=June 6, 2010|language=en|access-date=October 14, 2019}} Shad has stated that he was influenced by the artists that he listened to in high school, such as Common, Lauryn Hill, Eminem, The Roots, Notorious B.I.G., and Outkast.{{Cite web|url=https://www.thestar.com/entertainment/2015/03/11/who-is-shad-4-things-to-know-about-the-new-face-of-q.html|title=Who is Shad? 4 things to know about the new face of Q {{!}} The Star|website=thestar.com|date=March 11, 2015|access-date=October 14, 2019}}

File:Shad (rapper) (cropped).jpg

Shad is bilingual, speaking English and French. He holds a business degree from Wilfrid Laurier University{{cite magazine|url=http://www.soulshine.ca/features/featuresarticle.php?fid=205|title=Shad K : Shad K Is Just Beginning In Never Ending Talent|magazine=Soul Shine Magazine|date=June 23, 2006}} and a master's degree in liberal studies from Simon Fraser University.{{cite web|title=Arts Convocation includes Juno winner Shad|url=http://blogs.sfu.ca/departments/gradstudies/2011/04/shadrach-kabango-juno-award-winner-and-sfu-grad-student/|publisher=SFU|access-date=January 23, 2012|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130615032932/http://blogs.sfu.ca/departments/gradstudies/2011/04/shadrach-kabango-juno-award-winner-and-sfu-grad-student/|archive-date=June 15, 2013}} Shad and his wife married in 2016; they have two daughters.{{Cite web|url=https://lfpress.com/entertainment/local-arts/shad-examines-worlds-troubles-in-powerful-new-album|title=Shad examines world's troubles in powerful new album |website=The London Free Press|first=Joe|last=Belanger|date=October 25, 2018|language=en|access-date=October 12, 2019}}

{{div col}}

• When This Is Over (2005)
• The Old Prince (2007)
• TSOL (2010)
• Flying Colours (2013)
• A Short Story About a War (2018)
• TAO (2021)

• Two Songs (2011) (with Dallas Green)
• Melancholy and the Infinite Shadness (2012)
• The Spring Up (2013) (with Skratch Bastid)
• Holy Shad (2014) (with Holy Fuck)
• Boarding Pass (2014) (with DJ T.LO)
• Reel Speakers (2024) (with 14KT)

• "I Don't Like To" (2008)
• "Brother (Watching)" (2008)
• "The Old Prince Still Lives at Home" (2008)
• "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 Ain't Over" (2012)
• "Stylin'" (2013)
• "Fam Jam (Fe Sum Immigrins)" (2013)
• "The Fool Pt 1 (Get it Got it Good)" (2018)
• "The Fool Pt. 3 (Frame of Mind)" (2018)
• "The Stone Throwers (Gone In a Blink)" (2018)
• "Out of Touch" feat. Phoenix Pagliacci (2021)

• Promise – "Shy Guy" from More Than Music (2008)
• Hey Ocean! – "Vagabond" from It's Easier to Be Somebody Else (2008)
• Blue Scholars – "The Dawn Song" from Bayani: Redux (2009)
• Grand Analog – "Electric City" from Metropolis Is Burning (2009)
• Classified – "Loonie" from Self Explanatory (2009)
• Wax Romeo and Smalltown DJs – "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)
• The Slakadeliqs – "Beneath It All" from The Other Side of Tomorrow (2012)
• Lushlife – "Gymnopedie 1.2" from Plateau Vision (2012)
• k-os – "Spraying My Pen" from Black on Blonde (2013)
• Mr. J. Medeiros – "Pale Blue Dot" 20Syl Remix" (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)
• Def3 – "The Truth" from Wildlif3 (2014)
• k-os – "Boyz II Men" from Can't Fly Without Gravity (2015)
• Homeboy Sandman – "Earth, Wind, Fire" from Kindness for Weakness (2016)
• Skratch Bastid – "Limoncello" (2016)
• A Tribe Called Red – "How I Feel" from We Are the Halluci Nation (2016)
• Tanya Tagaq – "Centre" from Retribution (2016)
• Paul Chin – "Take Two" from Full Spectrum (2020)
• Tobi – "24 (Toronto Remix)" from Still+ (2020)
• Haviah Mighty – “Imagine That” (2022)
• Anomalie – “Generations” from “Galleries”
• Snotty Nose Rez Kids – “Red Sky At Night (Remix)” (2022)

{{div col end}}

{{reflist}}

• {{Official website}}
• {{Discogs artist|Shad (5)|Shad}}
• [http://liveatmasseyhall.com/ Shad - Live at Massey Hall - concert film]

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Shad}}

Category:1982 births

Category:21st-century Black Canadian musicians

Category:Canadian male guitarists

Category:Canadian people of Rwandan descent

Category:Canadian male rappers

Category:21st-century Canadian rappers

Category:Hip-hop activists

Category:Kenyan emigrants to Canada

Category:Living people

Category:Musicians from London, Ontario

Category:Simon Fraser University alumni

Category:Wilfrid Laurier University alumni

Category:CBC Radio hosts

Category:Canadian talk radio hosts

Category:Black Canadian broadcasters

Category:21st-century Canadian guitarists

Category:Canadian television personalities

Category:Juno Award for Rap Recording of the Year winners

Category:21st-century Canadian male musicians