Hip Hop is (Not) Dead: A Few Words With Shad

By Liem Vu

"Hip Hop is dead."

These are the famous, albeit controversial, words that graced the cover of Nas' 2006 album. In a RWD Magazine interview, Nas was cited as declaring that America is dead. There is no political voice. Music is dead. Our way of thinking is dead, our commerce is dead. It is hard to refute this fact when the stylings of Crunk Hip Hop permeate the airwaves with Soulja Boys and Flo-ridas.

But while America has experienced a resurrection with the likes of Kanye West and Common, Canada's rebuttal to Nas' statements may very well rest in the humble hands and lyrically poignant rhymes of Hip Hop artist Shad.

"I think for the first time it is moving in a positive direction. Guys like Chamillionaire and Lupe Fiasco who don't even curse in their albums are going platinum. And if you look at 2007, the bigger albums are selling a lot. You have Common and Kanye West, who are (two) of the biggest hip hop artists of the year," says Shad.

With no future plans on commercializing or creating some large fragrance conglomerate, Shad has been focusing on his music as he travels across Canada to present his rhymes to a relatively new audience.

"By and large I'm still playing for people who don't know my music. It is always nice to see more and more crowds who are familiar with my tunes and if all goes well, everybody is just having a good time, dancing, head nodding with hands going up," explains Shad.

Born in Kenya but raised up in London Ontario, Shadrach Kabango didn't really consider music as his life focus until he won a local radio contest in 2004. Receiving a $17,500 prize was one step closer to "taking it more serious" as he began to record some songs that he had already written.

Recently his new album, The Old Prince, was released to much acclaim with his meaningful and often narrative rhymes dealing with social relevant issues such as the Rwandan Genocide. His parents play a pivotal role in many of the tracks as they narrate poems and brief stories in the songs. There is an undeniable flavour of his Rwandan heritage in his music, which is commendable considering he moved to Canada as a baby.

"All I know is the way I was brought up with two cultures. I never really made any sort of deliberate decision to appropriate any culture to my music. It is my experience. It is who I am. I am a Canadian and a Rwandan," says Shad.

Never quite consciously trying to incorporate his background to his music, Shad explains that it is just an incorporation of his heritage and his experiences and most of his life.

Shad's music preference range on a broad spectrum as he finds pleasure in rock, pop, indie rock, hip hop, and anything else that has "an interesting rhythm, a good melody, and good lyrics." And while many individuals have compared his music style to Common, Shad believes it is entirely different.

"Most of the artist I love, you probably won't find any of their traits in my music because what they do is so unique and they do it so well. I could never emulate anything in their style even if I tried. For artists I love, I think they make me want to find my own unique voice and style."

Shad has indeed found his muse for composition as he blends in myth, storytelling, experience, and heart. The title of his new album comes from the track "Quest for Glory," where his mother tells the tale of an Old Prince who proves problematic as princes aren't supposed to just grow old, but are supposed to become kings.

"The old prince is the one who has a destiny to be a king but he doesn't get there. It's a metaphor for everybody. We rarely get to that place," Shad clarifies.

On whether or not Shad believes he is a king now, he doesn't think so. But with a 2008 Juno nomination for Rap Recording of the Year, he may just be one step closer to being one. Until then, Hip Hop aficionados can ease their minds as Shad, along with a legion of other hip hop artists proves that Hip Hop is not dead.