Shad

Shad (Shadrach Kabango) is a Canadian rapper of Rwandan descent. He is known for blending humour with weighty themes, exploring a range of topics and sounds over the course of his 20-year career. Shad has carved out a distinctive voice in hip-hop, expertly crafting rhymes that tackle themes ranging from identity and faith to politics and personal struggle, all while experimenting with a diverse range of sounds and styles.

A critically acclaimed artist, Shad has earned a number of prestigious accolades. He won the 2011 JUNO Award for Rap Album of the Year, and he is also the only artist to be shortlisted five times for the Polaris Music Prize for Canadian Album of the Year, more than any other artist in the award’s history, underscoring his consistent artistic excellence and national impact.