
From hoisting a Juno award to sharing stages with โThrift Shopโ super stars Macklemore & Ryan Lewis, Kenyan born and London, ON raised emcee Shadrach โShadโ Kabangoโs 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 Canadaโs best rappers.
Shad gave The Cord the low down on his latest release, Flying Colours, that drops October 15.
โI knew I wanted to talk about success and failure,โ he said, explaining the concept behind the albumโs title.
He went on to say heโs 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, โwith 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.
โFrom donated clothes to caps and gowns. Had the funny accent [but] look whoโs laughing now,โ he raps in the song โFam Jam (Fe Sum Immigrims).โ
The track uses samples from Kanye West and Jay-Zโs โOtisโ and an upbeat riff from a West African guitar to acknowledge the triumphs of Canadaโs newcomers.
โI think that most people โฆ start making music start by exploring things like sadnessโ he added, explaining the motivation behind โFam Jam.โ โItโs a natural place, music, to go to that kind of stuffโ.
โWe 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 doesnโt 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 albumโs collaborations and production.
โItโs always nice when Iโm sitting down and working on an album to be able to bring in some of the people Iโve been lucky to cross paths and be connected with,โ he continued, refering to the collaborations featured on the album.
โIt โฆ feels nice when you can work with talented friends.โ
Laurierโs 2013 O-Week performer Lights also makes an appearance on the album with a dark but tasteful vocal cameo on โRemember 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 oneโs self. Shad also took the time to reminiscence on his time as an under-graduate here at WLU.
โLaurier was when I got into music and โฆ it became a passion of mine.โ
โThose 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 Shadโs 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.
โI felt like I had a sense of accomplishment after fourth-year,โ he added. โI had a sense of confidence [and] I carry that forwardโ.
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