Despite two decades in the music business, Shad emphasizes he doesn’t want to preoccupy himself with ego.Justin Broadbent/Supplied
When Shad speaks, he might as well be rapping. The 43-year-old Toronto rapper talks with his hands, accenting poignant statements or conducting a rhythm to a thought he’s articulating with more than just his words. His high-wattage smile complements his takes on music, artistic resilience, parenting and eras of Canadian hip hop.
It’s easy to picture him holding court on stage with the same kind of engaging energy. Performing live comes naturally to the artist, who is celebrating 20 years as one of the country’s most prominent rappers with a winter tour spanning from Calgary to Toronto, which kicked off last week.
“I love making my shows exciting, maybe throw in something unplanned in there, stop the band to have a real moment with fans,” says Shad, adding how he’s using social media to ask for suggestions on which songs he should play at each Canadian stop.
His latest and seventh album, Start Anew, is less about the title’s literal meaning and more about “embracing endings,” he says, his hands dancing in the air again, “and looking at the world and the tensions and conflicts and being curious about getting rid of the old systems of doing things and stepping into the unknown.”
He pauses, then says, “This isn’t about looking at hot-button topics, but rather, on a psychological level, figuring out what we’re all wrestling with and how I can contribute to that conversation.”
Despite being two decades deep in the music business, Shad, who lives in the Bloor and Lansdowne area of Toronto, emphasizes how he doesn’t want to preoccupy himself with ego. He says, “I have a line in the new album where I repeat the words, ‘Don’t listen to this in 40 years, listen to what it inspires.’ I’m not trying to cling to legacy but I want to show how I’m part of this continuum and my job is to pass on inspiration in some way.”
Justin Broadbent/Supplied
Shad, raised in London, Ont., began making music when he was studying at Wilfrid Laurier University, and launched his career with the 2005 album When This Is Over. In later albums, his trademark sense of humour and playfulness cropped up in songs such as The Old Prince Still Lives at Home, for which he starred in a music video mimicking the intro to The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air.
His love of basketball came through in Real Game, and he crafted a catchy chorus and sharp lyrics in Rose Garden. A critical darling, he has been nominated for the Polaris Music Prize five times.
Throughout his career, he’s seen how Canadian hip hop has evolved. “Toronto is one of the first cities, outside of New York City, to have a real hip-hop scene and a lot of people forget that,” he says. “And there is a lot of success stories, such as Drake, but we also have to remember the more indie rappers out there facing a lot of hard times. We had some good years when Drake’s popularity led to more people wanting to know about Canadian music but now I feel it’s tough to really make it.”
Teaching students, from hip-hop lovers to classical music students, has become increasingly attractive to Shad. He’s taught courses on hip hop – on the craft to the industry as a whole – at the University of Toronto, Wilfrid Laurier and the University of Alberta.
“I want to present to students a different way of thinking about music,” he says, “and to let them know about another musical tradition that might inform them in some way or make their lives richer.”
Shad’s own life has been enriched by his daughters, seven and five years old, who have encouraged him to keep a tighter schedule –“I only work nine to five now” – and maintain a nuanced outlook on making music.
“I don’t marathon a studio session like I used to do,” he says with a laugh, sporting that toothy grin. “And I don’t want to be burnt out for them. It’s been demotivating in the loveliest of ways.”