Vancouver based MC Shad prepares to storm the northern border with his highly acclaimed LP TSOL on October 5, 2010. The album, released earlier this year in his native Canada, will see a US release on Black Box Recordings/Decon and has already garnered wide praise including a nomination for the prophetic Polaris Music Prize. Moving forward, he sets his sights on American audiences, eager to connect with existing fans, and tell his story to virgin ears.
The son of Rwandan immigrants, Shad invested time into his craft while growing up in London. Reared on the sounds of American hip-hop while diligently pursuing an education, his character is an even-keeled amalgam of these influences, glaringly manifested on the introspective, multi-faceted TSOL.
While an initial listen to TSOL will immediately lead one to believe that it’s an immense hip-hop achievement, such sentiments merely scratch the surface. Shad’s third album is a self-effacing commitment to the art of rhyme, as evidenced on the soulful singles “Rose Garden” and “Yaa I Get It.” Later, he culls input from some of Canada’s most talented, notable musicians. Brendan Canning and Lisa Lobsinger of indie-rock mega-conglomerate Broken Social Scene to lend vocals and instruments to “Lucky 1’s” while Canadian hip-hop staple Classified offers up a brash slab of a beat on “A Good Name”.
With TSOL Shad asserts that borders can’t contain artistry of this caliber and will prove it by accompanying K-OS on an 18-stop US tour, bringing his impressive live show to eager audiences all over the country.
“Sharper and wittier flows than Drake and nearly as much social consciousness and indie rock scene appeal as K’naan” – TORONTOIST
“One of the most gifted lyricists-foreign or domestic-Shad’s lines sometimes take two or three rewinds to sink in and stomach.” – RCRD LBL
“Each song on the album is chock full of startling insights, damaging wit, self-referential underdog charm, and sick beats.” – POT HOLES IN MY BLOG
WATCH AN INTERVIEW WITH SHAD ABOUT TSOL
[youtube]0XsP2jGChBw[/youtube]
TSOL TRACKLISTING:
1. Into
2. Rose Garden
3. Keep Shining
4. Lucky 1’s
5. A Good Name
6. We Are The Ones (Reservoir Poetry)
7. Telephone
8. Call Waiting (Interlude)
9. Yaa I Get It
10. Listen
11. At The Same Time
12. We, Myself, and I
13. Outro
14. It’s About Time (bonus track)
SHAD US TOUR DATES:
10/09 Boise, ID – Promenade Music Festival
10/11 Portland, OR – Berbati’s Pan
10/13 San Francisco, CA – Slim’s
10/14 Los Angeles, CA – El Rey Theatre
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
