Shad (rapper)
Shad | |
---|---|
Background information | |
Birth name | Shadrach Kabango |
Also known as | Shad K. |
Born |
Kenya | July 18, 1982
Genres | Alternative hip hop |
Occupation(s) | Rapper, broadcaster |
Instruments | Vocals, guitar |
Years active | 2005–present |
Labels | Black Box Music, Decon |
Associated acts | Lights, Saukrates, Skratch Bastid, City and Colour |
Website |
www |
Shadrach Kabango (born July 18, 1982), better known by his stage name Shad or Shad K., is a Canadian alternative hip hop recording artist and broadcaster. He was named as the new host of the CBC Radio One program q in March 2015.[1]
Early life
Born in Kenya, of Rwandan parents, Shad was raised in London, Ontario.[2] His mother worked in a London hospital as a medical lab technologist; his father as a machinist.[3] He attended the École secondaire Gabriel-Dumont.
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.[4] The album was recognized for Shad's honest lyrics[5] 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.[6]
2007–present
In 2007, Shad was signed by Black Box Recordings for a three-album deal and released his second album, The Old Prince.[7] In 2008, that album received a Juno Award nomination for Rap Recording of the Year, and was a short-list nominee for the 2008 Polaris Music Prize.[8] The album was also nominated for two MuchMusic Video Awards.[9]
Shad released his third album, TSOL, in 2010. TSOL was a short-list nominee for the 2010 Polaris Music Prize, received a nomination for a 2011 MuchMusic Video Award, and won the Juno Award for Rap Recording of the Year at the 2011 Juno Awards.[10] 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.".[11]
In June 2013, Shad released a collaborative EP with Skratch Bastid entitled The Spring Up.[12] Shad's fourth album,[13] Flying Colours, was released on October 15, 2013.[14] This album was nominated for a Juno Award for Rap Recording of the Year in 2014, and was also a short-list nominee for the 2014 Polaris Music Prize.[15]
In 2016, he released the pop-rock album Adult Contempt under the pseudonym Your Boy Tony Braxton.[16] In the same year he collaborated with Tanya Tagaq on "Centre", a track on her album Retribution.
Radio host
In March 2015, it was announced that Shad would replace Jian Ghomeshi as host of CBC Radio One's Q.[1]
In August 2016, the CBC announced that he would be replaced by Tom Power.[17][18] The CBC said it was in negotiations for Shad to continue with the CBC as host of a different program.[18]
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[19]
Personal life
Shad is bilingual, speaking English and French. He holds a business degree from Wilfrid Laurier University[20] and a master's degree in liberal studies from Simon Fraser University.[21]
Discography
Studio albums
- When This Is Over (2005)
- The Old Prince (2007)
- TSOL (2010)
- Flying Colours (2013)
- Adult Contempt (2016) (as Your Boy Tony Braxton)
Mixtapes
- La Cassette Mixée (2007)
- Besides (2011)
EPs
- 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)
Singles
- "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)
Guest appearances
- 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)
- Wax Romeo - "Boom Ha" (2010)
- Dirty Circus - "Into the Sun" from Alive and Well (2010)
- Pete Lawrie - "All That We Keep (River Kids Remix)" (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)
References
- 1 2 "Shad named new host of CBC's Q.". CBC News. March 10, 2015.
- ↑ 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.
- ↑ "Shad". The Gazette. December 17, 2010.
- ↑ Quinlan, Thomas (October 2005). "Shad: When This Is Over". Exclaim!. Retrieved January 12, 2008.
- ↑ Carlick, Stephen (April 6, 2010). "Exclusive: Shad Preps New Studio Album for May Release". Exclaim!.
- ↑ Warner, Tyrone (March 17, 2011). "JUNO nominee Shad's scholarly days coming to an end". CTV Television Network.
- ↑ 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.
- ↑ Aborisade, Femi (July 16, 2013). "Shad & Skratch Bastid – The Spring Up". Potholes in My Blog.
- ↑ Matthews, Aaron (October 11, 2013). "Shad - Flying Colours". Exclaim!.
- ↑ Hudson, Alex (July 30, 2013). "Shad Sets Release Date for 'Flying Colours,' Releases New Single". Exclaim!.
- ↑ "Arcade Fire, Drake, Shad make Polaris Music Prize short list". CTV News, July 15, 2014.
- ↑ "Stream Your Boy Tony Braxton Adult Contempt". Stereogum, July 15, 2016.
- ↑ "Shad canned from CBC Radio's 'q'". Toronto Sun. The Canadian Press. Retrieved 2016-08-16.
- 1 2 "CBC's Q replacing Shad as host". CBC News, August 15, 2016.
- ↑ "Original Documentary Series HIP-HOP EVOLUTION Explores the Birth and Far-Reaching Influences of Hip-Hop, September 4 on HBO Canada". Bell Canada. Retrieved 30 October 2016.
- ↑ "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
- Shad - Live at Massey Hall - concert film