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Shad (rapper)

For other uses, see Shad (disambiguation).

Shadrach Kabango (born July 18, 1982), known professionally as Shad or Shad K, is a Canadian rapper and broadcaster. Beginning his career in 2005, has released seven studio albums and three extended plays. He won a Juno Award for Rap Recording of the Year in 2011 and five of his albums have been shortlisted for the Polaris Music Prize, the most short-list nominations of any artist in the prize's history.[1] In 2013, CBC Music named Shad the second-greatest Canadian rapper of all time.[2][3] Shad hosted Q on CBC Radio One from 2015 to 2016, and hosts the International Emmy and Peabody Award-winning documentary series Hip-Hop Evolution on HBO Canada and Netflix.[4]

Shad
Background information
Birth nameShadrach Kabango
Also known asShad K
Your Boy Tony Braxton
Born (1982-07-18) July 18, 1982 (age 42)
Kenya
OriginLondon, Ontario, Canada
GenresAlternative hip hop
Occupations
  • Rapper
  • songwriter
  • broadcaster
Years active2005–present
Labels
Websiteshadk.com

Early life

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Born in Kenya to Rwandan parents, Shad was raised in London, Ontario.[5] His mother worked as a lab technologist in a London hospital and his father was a machinist.[6] He attended London Central Secondary School.

Music career

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While an undergraduate student at Wilfrid Laurier University, Shad won $17,500 from 91.5 The Beat's Rhythm of the Future talent competition.[7] He was entered in the radio contest by his sister.[8] 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[9] 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.[10]

In 2007, Shad was signed by Black Box Recordings for a three-album deal and released his second album, The Old Prince.[11] The album was supported by four singles, most prominently "The Old Prince Still Lives at Home", with its accompanying viral music video.[12] 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.[13] The music video for the single "The Old Prince Still Lives at Home" was nominated for two MuchMusic Video Awards in 2008.[14]

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.[15] 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."[16]

 
Shad performing in 2009

In 2012, Shad released the EP "Melancholy and the Infinite Shadness"[17] and in June 2013, he released a collaborative EP with Skratch Bastid entitled The Spring Up.[18] Shad's fourth album,[19] Flying Colours, was released on October 15, 2013.[20] 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.[21] In December 2014, Shad released a collaborative EP with DJ T. LO entitled "Boarding Pass".[22]

In 2016, he released a 90s-influenced soft-rock album, Adult Contempt, under the pseudonym Your Boy Tony Braxton.[23] 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)."[24] Musically, the album was inspired by Michael Penn, Terence Trent D'arby, The Cure, Bryan Adams, and Janet Jackson.[25]

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.[26] 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.[27] The album was short-listed for the 2019 Polaris Music Prize, marking Shad's 4th Polaris short-list nomination.[28]

In April 2020, Shad indicated he was working on finishing a new album.[29] He also was featured on Tobi's "24 (Toronto Remix)" and its corresponding music video, along with Haviah Mighty, Jazz Cartier, and Ejji Smith.[30]

In April 2021, Shad released the single "Out of Touch", featuring pHoenix Pagliacci, followed by the single "Work", featuring Skratch Bastid, the next month.[31][32] In June 2021, Shad announced his new album, TAO , would be released October 1, 2021.[33] He also released the song "Storm", which featured pHoenix Pagliacci and George Elliott Clarke.[33] On July 14, 2022, TAO was short-listed for the 2022 Polaris Music Prize.[1]

Television and radio work

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Q (2015–2016)

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In March 2015, it was announced that Shad would replace Jian Ghomeshi as host of CBC Radio One's Q.[4] In August 2016, the CBC announced that he would be replaced by Tom Power.[34][35]

Hip Hop Evolution (2016–present)

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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[36] On December 2, 2016 Netflix released the series internationally. The series went on to be one of the 2016 Peabody Award winners[37] and won an International Emmy Award for Best Arts Programming in 2017.[38] On October 19, 2018 Netflix released a second season of the series and a third season was released on September 6, 2019.[39] Hip Hop Evolution's fourth season was released on January 17, 2020.[40]

Musical style and influences

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Shad is described as a "conscious" and "reflective" rapper,[8][41] known for his witty lyrics on heartfelt subjects.[42] 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.[43][44]

Personal life

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Shad in 2017

Shad is bilingual, speaking English and French. He holds a business degree from Wilfrid Laurier University[44] and a master's degree in liberal studies from Simon Fraser University.[45] Shad and his wife married in 2016; they have two daughters.[46]

Discography

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Studio albums

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EPs

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  • 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)

Singles

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  • "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)

Guest appearances

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References

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  1. ^ a b "Quebec comes in strong, Shad extends his history marking record on Polaris short list". Toronto Star. July 14, 2022.
  2. ^ "Who is Shad? 4 things to know about the new face of Q". thestar.com. March 11, 2015. Retrieved May 28, 2020.
  3. ^ "Shad: Why the thoughtful rapper is at the top of his game". Retrieved May 28, 2020.
  4. ^ a b "Shad named new host of CBC's Q." CBC News. March 10, 2015.
  5. ^ Dixon, Guy (October 29, 2007). "Echoes of hip hop's heyday". The Globe and Mail. p. R3.
  6. ^ 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.
  7. ^ Perlich, Tim (February 16, 2006). "Six-string rap: Canuck hiphop threat Shad sticks with guitar". Now. Retrieved July 26, 2011.
  8. ^ a b "Shad gives a voice to his hip-hop generation". The Georgia Straight. August 17, 2011. Retrieved October 14, 2019.
  9. ^ "Shad". The Gazette. December 17, 2010.
  10. ^ Quinlan, Thomas (October 2005). "Shad: When This Is Over". Exclaim!. Retrieved January 12, 2008.
  11. ^ Carlick, Stephen (April 6, 2010). "Exclusive: Shad Preps New Studio Album for May Release". Exclaim!.
  12. ^ "Shad Gets It". exclaim.ca. Retrieved October 14, 2019.
  13. ^ Warner, Tyrone (March 17, 2011). "JUNO nominee Shad's scholarly days coming to an end". CTV Television Network. Archived from the original on February 22, 2014.
  14. ^ Patrick, Ryan B. (June 2009). "Shad Gets It". Exclaim!. Archived from the original on September 6, 2010.
  15. ^ "Shad nips Drake for rap Juno". Toronto Star. March 27, 2011.
  16. ^ Bernad, Adam (August 30, 2011). "Shad Interview". RapReviews.com. Retrieved September 1, 2013.
  17. ^ "Shad 'Melancholy and the Infinite Shadness' EP | Exclaim!".
  18. ^ Aborisade, Femi (July 16, 2013). "Shad & Skratch Bastid – The Spring Up". Potholes in My Blog.
  19. ^ Matthews, Aaron (October 11, 2013). "Shad - Flying Colours". Exclaim!.
  20. ^ Hudson, Alex (July 30, 2013). "Shad Sets Release Date for 'Flying Colours,' Releases New Single". Exclaim!.
  21. ^ "Arcade Fire, Drake, Shad make Polaris Music Prize short list". CTV News, July 15, 2014.
  22. ^ "Shad & DJ T.LO Boarding Pass EP | Exclaim!".
  23. ^ "Stream Your Boy Tony Braxton Adult Contempt". Stereogum, July 15, 2016.
  24. ^ Ritchie, Kevin (July 27, 2016). "Your Boy Tony Braxton". NOW Magazine. Retrieved January 10, 2020.
  25. ^ "Shad Becomes Your Boy Tony Braxton for 'Adult Contempt'". exclaim.ca. Retrieved January 10, 2020.
  26. ^ "Shad Shares "The Stone Throwers (Gone In a Blink)"". exclaim.ca. Retrieved January 11, 2020.
  27. ^ Siddiqui, Tabassum (December 13, 2018). "Shad introduces the characters that populate his Short Story About A War". NOW Magazine. Retrieved January 11, 2020.
  28. ^ "Quebec artists shine, rap thrives: Highlights from the Polaris Music Prize short list - CityNews Toronto". July 16, 2019.
  29. ^ "How Shad Is Coping with Isolation: Old NBA Games and Finishing His New Album". exclaim.ca. Retrieved June 6, 2020.
  30. ^ Gordon, Holly (May 15, 2020). "How TOBi made 'history for the culture' with his star-studded video for '24 (Toronto Remix)'". CBC Music.
  31. ^ "Listen: Toronto rapper Shad returns with new track 'Out of Touch (feat. Phoenix Pagliacci)' | Indie88". April 14, 2021. Retrieved April 14, 2021.
  32. ^ "Premiere: Shad Laments "Work" (or Lack Thereof) on New Track". Complex. Retrieved June 22, 2021.
  33. ^ a b "Shad Announces New Album 'TAO' | Exclaim!". exclaim.ca. Retrieved June 22, 2021.
  34. ^ "CBC's Q replacing Shad as host". CBC News, August 15, 2016.
  35. ^ "Shad canned from CBC Radio's 'q'". Toronto Sun. The Canadian Press. Retrieved August 16, 2016.
  36. ^ "Original Documentary Series HIP-HOP EVOLUTION Explores the Birth and Far-Reaching Influences of Hip-Hop, September 4 on HBO Canada". Bell Canada. Retrieved October 30, 2016.
  37. ^ "The Peabody 30: Award Winners for 2016". The Peabody Awards. Retrieved October 19, 2017.
  38. ^ "Canadian documentary series Hip-Hop Evolution wins International Emmy Award". Toronto Star. November 21, 2017.
  39. ^ "Hip Hop Evolution".
  40. ^ "Here's When 'Hip-Hop Evolution' Season 4 Will Premiere". exclaim.ca. Retrieved June 10, 2020.
  41. ^ "Shad: A rapper about so much more than gangstas". Retrieved October 14, 2019.
  42. ^ "Shad: The rapper-next-door | The Star". thestar.com. June 6, 2010. Retrieved October 14, 2019.
  43. ^ "Who is Shad? 4 things to know about the new face of Q | The Star". thestar.com. March 11, 2015. Retrieved October 14, 2019.
  44. ^ a b "Shad K : Shad K Is Just Beginning In Never Ending Talent". Soul Shine Magazine. June 23, 2006.
  45. ^ "Arts Convocation includes Juno winner Shad". SFU. Archived from the original on June 15, 2013. Retrieved January 23, 2012.
  46. ^ Belanger, Joe (October 25, 2018). "Shad examines world's troubles in powerful new album". The London Free Press. Retrieved October 12, 2019.
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