One of the best writers in hip-hop, one of our favorite artists, and one of our best friends, the incomparable Shad, visited Sound Session to speak with J. Moore and I recently. We discussed a variety of topics, exploring what it’s like coming up in Canada making his style of music, winning the Rap Juno Award (Canadian Grammy) over his countryman Drake, and how he chooses to promote himself in the US market. He also spoke about his last album, Flying Colours, and his plans to take the follow up project in a new direction, before running through a lightning round of questions covering 90’s sit-coms, left handed basketball players, his favorite sneakers, and more.
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: Shad represents everything I love about hip-hop and I cosign literally every song/message he’s put out into the world. Very talented, very humble, and very intelligent, I wish more artists would follow in his footsteps.
Shad’s lead single from his upcoming Flying Colours album. I mean…I don’t even have to say anything at this point. Dope beat from Skratch Bastid, smooth hook from Sox, and Shad does what Shad does. That second verse though. Damn.
Similar to my favorite “freestyle” video of all time, Shad went in on the “Grammy Family” beat for about 7 minutes and absolutely murdered it. So many bars, so much knowledge. Best writer in the game, imo. Peep the lyrics here.
Slow day here at the office for my day job, so I figured I’d catch up on some Hyphen emails and then BOOM. I see the new video from my homey SK in the inbox!  Another great one off his old school inspired EP, Melancholy and the Infinite Shadness, which you can download here.
I’ve been meaning to post this up for a bit, but as usual, better late than never. Besides is a collection of Shad’s recent guest appearances and remixes, all seamlessly blended by the one and only DJ T-Lo. The best writer in the game, IMO.
Shout to the homey G for always giving me the heads up on good music from his hometown, Toronto. Why is the T-Dot killing it so much these days?!
Any record using the classic Dilla “Let’s Ride” drums is always going to get my head nodding (shout to my guy Tunji too), and I so desperately need more of this grown, genuine, soulful music in my world.
If you’ve been coming to this blog for a while, you already know all about Shad. Even if you do, this interview actually gets in to some personal topics that you don’t often hear him talk about. And if you’re curious why folks think Shad is so dope, check the rhyme:
Anyone who has visited TAOD before knows that I’m a huge fan of Shad. Not only is he one of the most gifted MC’s around, but he’s also putting his heart and soul into his music and discussing deep, genuine emotions. I’m not sure you can ask for anything more from an artist and I’m elated to see the United States finally starting to catch on to his music.
Fresh of the American release of TSOL, Shad came to Seattle with K-Os for the first stop on their Born To Run tour. It’s only right that we recorded a little something for y’all, though I do apologize for the poor lighting and video quality. Hopefully you still enjoy our discussion covering the tour, the TSOL project, how it compares to his previous work, the intricacies of his lyrics, and more. It’s not often that I get to discuss the finer points of artistic expression/responsibility with our guests, so this was an especially fun interview to conduct. There’s much more that can be said about the issue though, so we’ll have to rekindle it when Shad’s back in town.
In the interim, enjoy the interview and be sure to cop TSOL and The Old Prince ASAP!
Lyrics: (I don’t like to start verses with “I” you know but um…)
v-1
Well theres no I in team
But theres a I in win
And every guy wanna win
So folks is eyein him
The I in pride
They say pride puts the I in sin
Puts self at the centre
“I and I” come in
Cuz I am imperfect
None of us is ron men
Pls be my 3rd eye
When the light gets dim
Even my story’s not mine
Where do I begin?
Not with I, Im reminded
See the I in him – 8
In my enemy especially
Him and I are twins
gotta love him as I love I
Him and I are kin
Take the thing
Out my own eye
Then See if the word is where world
begin
then at the end of the word
Friend is where I end
And all men become I, and I them
So Who am I then?
Just dust in the wind
With a pen and a grin
im goin in
you goin in?
im goin in like yes
chorus-
we all in agreement
if you hear the song and you feel it
put your palms to the ceiling like yes
(x2)
v-2
what can I say for myself?
Where im at aint where I stationed myself
So im grateful I do okay for myself
I wanna do better for yall
Im afraid of myself
God said you trust me
Now have some faith in yourself
when I made my first record
I would say to myself
Im glad to share this
I don’t wanna just play for myself
The thing with rappin is
it helps me get away from myself
And put these thoughts and feelings out
So they don’t stay on the shelf
stay in my soul
cuz I find
The more I stay to myself
the less I find the real me
the more i
stray from myself
and cant to relate to no else
I don’t have to
make a way for myself
but make my thoughts
point away
from myself
and what else…
chorus
v-3
We are
Greater than the sum of us
All greater than some of us
Greater than each piece or part
We are a body
An army
greater than
any single art piece
And love in our hearts
We are who we are
Behind doors
In secret, In our deep depths
And recesses
We arent free yet
We are how we treat
Our sick folks and widows
The rich with broken hearts
The Broke and the crippled
The soul that’s weak
And we arent what we eat
We are what comes out
Of our mouths
When we speak
Most of yall don’t
speak truth
ya cant play me
Playboy
Im no kid
I don’t play wi
we are parents
cherished
Proud and embarrassed
Weve come a long way
but we’re still not there yet
and we don’t always get along
me myself and i
when we do
we in tune like the song singin…
