Shad is the latest in a string of MCs north of the border to make a splash on the industry. Having been compared to Drake and K’Naan—two of his country counterparts—Shad has also drawn comparisons to Asher Roth and Eminem, for his sharp wit and battle-ready delivery.
The Canadian-born rapper is coming fresh off his nomination at the Juno awards (their equivalent of the Grammy Awards), in response to the fervor over his third commercial release, the impressively eclectic TSOL (Decon).
One song, a la Talib Kweli, addresses women and gives them their positive shining light. Though on “Rose Garden” Shad freely admits that “we need more female MC’s” to tell the tale, because guys can only tell a fraction of the feminine story.
All of this, of course, means one thing: Shad is truly an original. Yeah, he’s the truth.
Shad is touring the record as the opener for another Canadian phenom, K-Os. With songs like “Listen,” where he name drops former Colorado son, J. Mederios, to the first single “Yaa, I Get It,” where he says matter-of -factly, that whether you’re looking for a good high or a tight rhyme, he’s “better than Meth!” you know that this kid’s got the skills that made Detroit’s Great White Hope the darling of the industry.
Well, those hockey-playing Canucks already know the deal. Now it’s time for “the lower 49” to catch on.
Shad tour dates:
10/15 Solana Beach, CA – Belly Up Tavern
10/16 Scottsdale, AZ – Chasers
10/18 Denver, CO – The Bluebird Theater
10/19 Fort Collins, CO – Aggie Theatre
10/21 St. Paul, MN – Turf Club
10/22 Madison, WI – High Noon Saloon
10/23 Chicago, IL – Lincoln Hall
10/24 Detroit, MI – Magic Stick
10/25 Columbus, OH – Skully’s Music Diner
10/26 Baltimore, MD – Sonar
10/28 New York, NY – Highline Ballroom
10/29 Philadelphia, PA – North Star Bar
10/31 Cambridge, MA – Middle East Downstairs
