Shad (rapper)
Encyclopedia
Shadrach Kabango credited as Shad or Shad K., is a Canadian hip hop
artist.
, of Rwanda
n parents, Shad was raised in London, Ontario
. His mother worked in London as a hospital lab technician; his father, as a machinist. He attended London Central Secondary School
.
(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
. The album was recognized for Shad's self-deprecating lyrics, which are atypical of the current rap scene 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.
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
. 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
.
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 TSOLs "Listen".
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").
and a master's degree in liberal studies from Simon Fraser University
.
and of Common
, and also to a "London (England) sound circa 1990".
Hip hop music
Hip hop music, also called hip-hop, rap music or hip-hop music, is a musical genre consisting of a stylized rhythmic music that commonly accompanies rapping, a rhythmic and rhyming speech that is chanted...
artist.
Early life
Born in KenyaKenya
Kenya , officially known as the Republic of Kenya, is a country in East Africa that lies on the equator, with the Indian Ocean to its south-east...
, of Rwanda
Rwanda
Rwanda or , officially the Republic of Rwanda , is a country in central and eastern Africa with a population of approximately 11.4 million . Rwanda is located a few degrees south of the Equator, and is bordered by Uganda, Tanzania, Burundi and the Democratic Republic of the Congo...
n parents, Shad was raised in London, Ontario
London, Ontario
London is a city in Southwestern Ontario, Canada, situated along the Quebec City – Windsor Corridor. The city has a population of 352,395, and the metropolitan area has a population of 457,720, according to the 2006 Canadian census; the metro population in 2009 was estimated at 489,274. The city...
. His mother worked in London as a hospital lab technician; his father, as a machinist. He attended London Central Secondary School
London Central Secondary School
London Central Secondary School is located at the corner of Dufferin Avenue and Waterloo Street in downtown London, Ontario. It is a member of the Thames Valley District School Board. It has approximately 1000 students in full attendance, ranging from grades nine to twelve...
.
Debut
His debut album When This Is OverWhen This Is Over
When This Is Over is the debut album by Canadian rapper Shad, released in 2005. The album was financed by $17,500 Shad won from 91.5 The Beat's Rhythm of the Future talent competition while completing his final year of undergraduate study at Wilfrid Laurier University.The album features tracks on...
(2005) was self-made, financed with the $17,500 he won from 91.5 The Beat
CKBT-FM
CKBT-FM is a Canadian radio station, broadcasting at 91.5 FM in Kitchener, Ontario from the Global TV tower at 475 Ayr Road, near Paris. The station broadcasts a contemporary hit radio format branded as 91.5 The Beat.-History:...
's Rhythm of the Future talent competition during his time as an undergraduate student at Wilfrid Laurier University
Wilfrid Laurier University
Wilfrid Laurier University is a university located in Waterloo, Ontario, Canada. It also has campuses in Brantford, Ontario, Kitchener, Ontario and Toronto, Ontario and a future proposed campus in Milton, Ontario. It is named in honour of Sir Wilfrid Laurier, the seventh Prime Minister of Canada....
. The album was recognized for Shad's self-deprecating lyrics, which are atypical of the current rap scene and focusing on social causes—for example, the track "I'll Never Understand" examines the Rwandan genocide
Rwandan Genocide
The Rwandan Genocide was the 1994 mass murder of an estimated 800,000 people in the small East African nation of Rwanda. Over the course of approximately 100 days through mid-July, over 500,000 people were killed, according to a Human Rights Watch estimate...
and includes poetry written by his mother, Bernadette Kabango.
2007–present
In 2007, he was signed by Black Box RecordingsBlack Box Recordings
Black Box Recordings may refer to :*Black Box Music, a hip hop label*Blackbox Recordings, a hardcore punk label...
and released his second album, The Old Prince
The Old Prince
The Old Prince is the second album by Canadian rapper Shad, released October 23, 2007 on Black Box Recordings. On June 30, 2009, it was re-released on iTunes on the same label.-Singles:...
. In 2008, The Old Prince received a Juno Award
Juno Award
The Juno Awards are presented annually to Canadian musical artists and bands to acknowledge their artistic and technical achievements in all aspects of music...
nomination for Rap Recording of the Year
Juno Award for Rap Recording of the Year
The Juno Award for Rap Recording of the Year has been awarded since 1991, and is awarded for the best rap album in Canada. It was awarded under the title Best Rap Recording from 1993 to 2002....
, and was nominated for the 2008 Polaris Music Prize
2008 Polaris Music Prize
The 2008 edition of the Canadian Polaris Music Prize was presented on September 30, 2008. The prize was won by Caribou for his album Andorra....
. The album was also nominated for two MuchMusic Video Awards
MuchMusic Video Awards
The MuchMusic Video Awards are annual awards presented by the Canadian music video channel MuchMusic to honour the year's best music videos....
. Shad released his third album, TSOL
TSOL (album)
TSOL is the third album by Canadian rapper Shad, released in Canada on May 25, 2010 and in the United States on October 5, 2010. It is his second album released on Black Box Recordings, and his first album of new material since 2007's Polaris Music Prize-nominated The Old Prince.The album was...
, in 2010. TSOL was nominated for the 2010 Polaris Music Prize
2010 Polaris Music Prize
The 2010 edition of the Canadian Polaris Music Prize was presented on September 20, 2010. The gala presentation was held at Toronto's Masonic Temple, and was hosted by Grant Lawrence of CBC Radio 3 and Sarah Taylor of MuchMusic....
, a 2011 MuchMusic Video Award, and won the Juno Award for Rap Recording of the Year
Juno Award for Rap Recording of the Year
The Juno Award for Rap Recording of the Year has been awarded since 1991, and is awarded for the best rap album in Canada. It was awarded under the title Best Rap Recording from 1993 to 2002....
at the 2011 Juno Awards
Juno Awards of 2011
The Juno Awards of 2011, honours Canadian music industry achievements in the latter part of 2009 and in most of 2010. The awards presented in Toronto, Ontario, Canada during the weekend of 26 and 27 March 2011. A week of related events on 21 March 2011...
.
On September 2, 2010 it was announced on MTV News Canada
MTV News (Canada)
MTV News is a Canadian entertainment and pop culture news program on the Canadian cable specialty channel, MTV.MTV News is hosted by Aliya-Jasmine Sovani "AJ" along with correspondents Johnny Hockin and Sharlene Chiu...
that Shad had been in the studio with City & Colour (Dallas Green
Dallas Green (musician)
Dallas Green is a Canadian musician who releases music as City and Colour. He is also known for his work as the former vocalist, guitarist and songwriter for the post-hardcore band Alexisonfire.-Name:...
) working on an original song to be released as a single (entitled "Live Forever") along with a remix of TSOLs "Listen".
Shad has also appeared as a guest musician on songs by Wax Romeo
Smalltown DJs
The Smalltown DJs are the duo of Pete Emes and Mike Grimes - based in Calgary, AB, Canada. They both began DJing in the mid-90s and together started a weekly called Hai Karate at the Night Gallery Cabaret in August, 1999...
("Boom Ha"), Grand Analog
Grand Analog
Grand Analog is a Canadian hip hop band, formed in 2006 and fronted by Odario Williams. The group was conceived as a project combining R&B, jazz, reggae and rock influences into a hip hop style performed mainly on live instruments instead of digital electronics....
("Electric City"), Dirty Circus
Dirty Circus
Dirty Circus is a Canadian hip hop duo, consisting of Metty the DertMerchant and Mos Eisley of the band Sweatshop Union. Already an established act on the local hip hop scene in their hometown of Vancouver prior to joining Sweatshop Union, they released their first album as a duo, Alive and Well,...
("Into the Sun"), Blue Scholars
Blue Scholars
Blue Scholars is a hip hop duo based in Seattle, Washington, created in 2002 while the members, DJ Sabzi and MC Geologic, were students at the University of Washington....
("The Dawn Song"), Hey Ocean! ("Vagabond"), YouTube sensation Mike Tompkins ("Only Girl"), and Lights ("Everybody Breaks a Glass
Everybody Breaks a Glass
"Everybody Breaks a Glass" is a song by Canadian recording artist Lights. It was released on July 19, 2011 as a promotional single from her second studio album Siberia. It features music by electronica band Holy Fuck and guest vocals from Canadian rapper Shad.-Background:The song features music...
" and "Flux and Flow").
Personal life
Shad is bilingual, speaking English and French. He holds a business degree from Wilfrid Laurier UniversityWilfrid Laurier University
Wilfrid Laurier University is a university located in Waterloo, Ontario, Canada. It also has campuses in Brantford, Ontario, Kitchener, Ontario and Toronto, Ontario and a future proposed campus in Milton, Ontario. It is named in honour of Sir Wilfrid Laurier, the seventh Prime Minister of Canada....
and a master's degree in liberal studies from Simon Fraser University
Simon Fraser University
Simon Fraser University is a Canadian public research university in British Columbia with its main campus on Burnaby Mountain in Burnaby, and satellite campuses in Vancouver and Surrey. The main campus in Burnaby, located from downtown Vancouver, was established in 1965 and has more than 34,000...
.
Style
Music critics have compared his style to that of k-osK-os
Kevin Brereton , better known by his stage name k-os , is a Canadian rapper, singer, songwriter and record producer...
and of Common
Common (rapper)
Lonnie Rashid Lynn, Jr. , better known by his stage name Common , is an American hip-hop artist and actor....
, and also to a "London (England) sound circa 1990".
Studio albums
- 2005: When This Is OverWhen This Is OverWhen This Is Over is the debut album by Canadian rapper Shad, released in 2005. The album was financed by $17,500 Shad won from 91.5 The Beat's Rhythm of the Future talent competition while completing his final year of undergraduate study at Wilfrid Laurier University.The album features tracks on...
- 2007: The Old PrinceThe Old PrinceThe Old Prince is the second album by Canadian rapper Shad, released October 23, 2007 on Black Box Recordings. On June 30, 2009, it was re-released on iTunes on the same label.-Singles:...
- 2010: TSOLTSOL (album)TSOL is the third album by Canadian rapper Shad, released in Canada on May 25, 2010 and in the United States on October 5, 2010. It is his second album released on Black Box Recordings, and his first album of new material since 2007's Polaris Music Prize-nominated The Old Prince.The album was...
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"
External links
- Shad
- Shad at CBC Radio 3CBC Radio 3CBC Radio 3 is a radio station that consists of two parts devoted to Canadian arts and music: a radio service which is available on Sirius Satellite Radio and streaming audio, and several daily and weekly podcasts from the CBC Radio 3 website...