Shad is a Kenyan born, Rwandan hip hop artist, who hails from in London, Ontario, in Canada. With an eclectic sound, that blends musical influences, and a unique lyrical style, Shad made a name for himself in the Canadian hip hop scene, winning a Juno in 2010 for his 3rd album, TSOL. In addition to being an MC, Shad also hosted three seasons of the hip hop documentary series, Hip Hop Evolution, which can be seen on HBO Canada and Netflix.
Shad first broke through the Canadian rap arena with his debut album “When this is Over” in 2006 but he has now taken over the national/international scenes by showcasing his love for music through his expressive, lethal yet socially conscience lyrical ability. In 2014, Shad was ranked by the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC) second on their list of “25 greatest Canadian rappers ever”. Ahead of household names such as K’naan, K-os, Saukrates, Drake among others. With all the success that comes with the enormous demands and expectations of being a leading act in the music industry, Shad has managed to balance his status while remembering his roots.
Shad uses his success to visit and talk to high school kids, raise awareness on social issues that would otherwise be ignored, and, most importantly, he continues to proudly take his role as a role model for African migrant youths in Canada very seriously. A frequent visitor of his native Rwanda, Shad embodies the best of both worlds: a Canadian icon and and a proud son of Africa. As a matter of fact, this JUNO award winning artist latest album “Flying Colours” is very much inspired by Shad’s African roots and traditional West African music.
