Shad (rapper) facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Shad
Background information
Birth name	Shadrach Kabango
Also known as	Shad K Your Boy Tony Braxton
Born	(1982-07-18) July 18, 1982 (age 42) Kenya
Origin	London, Ontario, Canada
Genres	Alternative hip hop
Occupation(s)	Rapper songwriter broadcaster
Years active	2005–present
Labels	Black Box Music Decon Duck Down Secret City
Associated acts	Skratch Bastid, Holy ..., Dallas Green, DJ. T. LO

Shadrach Kabango (born July 18, 1982), known as Shad, is a Canadian rapper and broadcaster. He started his career in 2005. Shad has released seven studio albums and three shorter music collections called extended plays (EPs).

He won a Juno Award for Rap Recording of the Year in 2011. Five of his albums have been nominated for the Polaris Music Prize. This is the most nominations for any artist in the prize's history. In 2013, CBC Music called Shad the second-greatest Canadian rapper ever. Shad also hosted the radio show Q on CBC Radio One from 2015 to 2016. He now hosts the award-winning TV show Hip-Hop Evolution on HBO Canada and Netflix.

Shad's Early Life

Shad was born in Kenya. His parents were from Rwanda. He grew up in London, Ontario, Canada. His mother worked in a hospital lab. His father was a machinist. Shad went to London Central Secondary School.

Music Career Highlights

While studying at Wilfrid Laurier University, Shad won $17,500 in a talent contest. His sister entered him in the radio contest. He used the prize money to create his first album. This album was called When This Is Over (2005). People liked the album for its honest lyrics. It also focused on important social topics. For example, one song, "I'll Never Understand," talks about the Rwandan genocide. It even includes poetry written by his mother.

In 2007, Shad signed with Black Box Recordings. He then released his second album, The Old Prince. The album had popular songs like "The Old Prince Still Lives at Home." Its music video became very popular online. In 2008, The Old Prince was nominated for a Juno Award. It was also nominated for the 2008 Polaris Music Prize.

Shad's third album, TSOL, came out in 2010. This album was also nominated for the 2010 Polaris Music Prize. The music video for his song "Rose Garden" was nominated for an award in 2011. TSOL won the Juno Award for Rap Recording of the Year in 2011. Shad even beat out famous Canadian rapper Drake for the award. He said he was very surprised to win.

Shad performing in 2009

In 2012, Shad released an EP called "Melancholy and the Infinite Shadness." In 2013, he released another EP with Skratch Bastid called The Spring Up. Shad's fourth album, Flying Colours, was released in October 2013. This album was nominated for a Juno Award in 2014. It was also nominated for the 2014 Polaris Music Prize.

In 2016, Shad released a soft-rock album called Adult Contempt. He used the name Your Boy Tony Braxton for this project. This name was a playful nod to the famous singer Toni Braxton. The album's music was inspired by artists like Michael Penn and The Cure.

That same year, Shad worked with other artists. He collaborated with Tanya Tagaq on her album Retribution. He also recorded music with Homeboy Sandman, Skratch Bastid, and A Tribe Called Red.

In 2018, Shad released songs from his new album, A Short Story About a War. The album came out in October 2018. It featured other artists like Lido Pimienta and Kaytranada. A Short Story About a War is a concept album. This means all the songs tell one big story. It explores a war from different viewpoints. This album was Shad's fourth nomination for the 2019 Polaris Music Prize.

In 2020, Shad announced he was working on a new album. He also appeared in a music video with Tobi, Haviah Mighty, and Jazz Cartier.

In 2021, Shad released new songs like "Out of Touch" and "Work." In June 2021, he announced his new album, TAO, would be released in October. He also released the song "Storm." In July 2022, TAO was nominated for the 2022 Polaris Music Prize.

Television and Radio Work

Hosting Q (2015–2016)

In March 2015, Shad became the host of CBC Radio One's show Q. He took over from the previous host. In August 2016, the CBC announced that Tom Power would replace him.

Hip Hop Evolution (2016–Present)

Shad hosts the documentary series Hip-Hop Evolution. In this four-part series, Shad interviews many famous hip-hop artists. He explores how this music style began. The show was first shown at a festival in 2016. It then appeared on HBO Canada. On December 2, 2016, Netflix released the series worldwide.

Hip Hop Evolution won a Peabody Award in 2016. It also won an International Emmy Award for Best Arts Programming in 2017. Netflix released a second season in 2018 and a third season in 2019. The fourth season of Hip Hop Evolution came out in January 2020.

Musical Style and Influences

Shad is known as a "conscious" rapper. This means his lyrics are thoughtful and often about important topics. He is also known for his clever and witty words. Shad has said that he was influenced by artists he listened to in high school. These include Common, Lauryn Hill, Eminem, The Roots, Notorious B.I.G., and Outkast.

Personal Life

Shad in 2017

Shad speaks both English and French. He has a business degree from Wilfrid Laurier University. He also has a master's degree from Simon Fraser University. Shad married his wife in 2016. They have two daughters.

Discography