Shad passes with “Flying Colours”

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(File Photo -- Ryan Stewart)
(File Photo — Ryan Stewart)

From hoisting a Juno award to sharing stages with โ€œThrift Shopโ€ super stars Macklemore & Ryan Lewis, Kenyan born and London, ON raised emcee Shadrach โ€œShadโ€ Kabangoโ€™s career has come a long way.

Shad saw his career take off as a BBA student at Wilfrid Laurier University. His first album, When This is Over, was funded through prize money from a contest by Kitchener-Waterloo-based radio station 91.5 The Beat.

Since then Shad has released two more albums, toured internationally, opened a show for Grammy award winning rapper Common and picked up some acclaim of his own this year when the CBC dubbed him one of Canadaโ€™s best rappers.

Shad gave The Cord the low down on his latest release, Flying Colours, that drops October 15.

โ€œI knew I wanted to talk about success and failure,โ€ he said, explaining the concept behind the albumโ€™s title.

He went on to say heโ€™s observed that while we can all be self-critical at times, ultimately many of us are passing the challenges in our lives, as the expression goes, โ€œwith flying colours.โ€

One such success he celebrates in the album is that of the numerous Canadians who, much like him and his family, moved to the country as immigrants with modest means but lofty ambitions.

โ€œFrom donated clothes to caps and gowns. Had the funny accent [but] look whoโ€™s laughing now,โ€ he raps in the song โ€œFam Jam (Fe Sum Immigrims).โ€

The track uses samples from Kanye West and Jay-Zโ€™s โ€œOtisโ€ and an upbeat riff from a West African guitar to acknowledge the triumphs of Canadaโ€™s newcomers.

โ€œI think that most people โ€ฆ start making music start by exploring things like sadnessโ€ he added, explaining the motivation behind โ€˜Fam Jam.โ€™ โ€œItโ€™s a natural place, music, to go to that kind of stuffโ€.

โ€œWe wanted to do something that was meaningful, [but] at the same time celebratory and joyful,โ€ he remarked about the song, which also features Toronto-based DJ Skratch Bastid.

Throughout the album, Shad doesnโ€™t stray too far from his signature use of retro-esque samples and thoughtful wordplay, but even long-time fans will appreciate the versatility of the albumโ€™s collaborations and production.

โ€œItโ€™s always nice when Iโ€™m sitting down and working on an album to be able to bring in some of the people Iโ€™ve been lucky to cross paths and be connected with,โ€ he continued, refering to the collaborations featured on the album.

โ€œIt โ€ฆ feels nice when you can work with talented friends.โ€

Laurierโ€™s 2013 O-Week performer Lights also makes an appearance on the album with a dark but tasteful vocal cameo on โ€œRemember to Remember.โ€

The song kicks the drum machines into high gear to discuss a cocktail of topics ranging from leaving a legacy and non-violence to staying true to oneโ€™s self. Shad also took the time to reminiscence on his time as an under-graduate here at WLU.

โ€œLaurier was when I got into music and โ€ฆ it became a passion of mine.โ€

โ€œThose were really just the beginnings, but a really important formative time for me with music,โ€ he said, recalling the days of practicing playing the guitar in his room at University Place residence and working with local musicians.

A lot of Shadโ€™s current team, from DJ T-Lo, who he tours with to his manager, are contacts from his days at Laurier.

As of 2005, Shad had not only graduated from WLU but also released When This is Over. His second effort,ย ย The Old Prince, went on to receive a nomination for the Polaris Music Award.

โ€œI felt like I had a sense of accomplishment after fourth-year,โ€ he added. โ€œI had a sense of confidence [and] I carry that forwardโ€.


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