Today’s post is about music. Everybody knows music has the ability to instantaneously elevate moods. You not only hear music, but often FEEL IT on an intrinsic level.
So without further ado, I present you Shad aka the “Canadian rap sensation” (see “Yaa I Get It” below to “get it”).
You probably haven’t even heard of him, but “if you don’t know, now you know…”
Listening to Shad always puts a smile on my face. Wielding a masterful combination of technical rapping prowess, witty punchlines, uncanny wordplay, positivity, music with a message, and relatable subject matter; Shad’s whole aura is a breathe of fresh (Canadian) air.
My favorite thing about Shad is that it always sounds like he’s smiling while rapping. A half-laughing, euphoric permasmirk. That kind of smile when you’re all giggly with infatuation around a newly intimate partner. Shad’s girl is hip-hop, and he’s having a grand ole time with her.
Some quotables from Shad (plus the songs they’re in):
- “I’d rather live with these ups and downs than flat-line” -Wild
- “Brainwashed, I’m still learning how to be me, worth millions, I’d rather be free” -Rock to It
- “We’re breaking up, can’t hear what she’s saying but I get the tone” -Telephone
- “I use to want to find the love of my life, now I’m trying to live a life of love, it’s not just a husband and wife” -Keep Shining
- “You can’t be everything to everyone, so let me be anything to anyone” -Keep Shining
- “If they treat you like a substitute teacher it’s probably because you’ve got no class” -Out of Love
- “Know who the staff you roll with is, your staff can turn to snakes like Moses’ “-Now a Daze
- “Ya’ll cowards couldn’t (w)rap this dope with a zig zag” -I Don’t Like To (now THAT’S a punchline)
And that’s just the tip of the iceberg. He drops gems left and right. I’ll leave some for you to discover for yourself.
Must-watch videos: (Enjoy!)
Rose Garden (possibly my favorite video of all-time)
I Don’t Like To
Brother (Watching)
Yaa I Get It
And, in conclusion…
TSOL Outro (lyrics below, because it’s that good)
Lyrics:
“Yeah beautiful
Dangerous season the fall of youth
Souls wither like gold diggers we follow suit
The booth is starting to feel small
I should feel appalled
Instead I feel it all and can’t call it
My heroes have the heart to lose the life I wanna live
In the end I’m hoping that I take less than I give
We go through stages I ain’t talkin’ bout gigs
And I ain’t talkin bout famous when I talk about big
Prophetic poetics connect my life to my words
Some cause play-back pain right to the nerves
For me it’s hard to hear (that you’re hard of hearing)
Didn’t believe I was def till some checks started clearin
Now thats a different kind of clarity
And love for your brother
That’s a different kind of charity
Ya I rap fearlessly
But I act carelessly
When I’m busy on my grizzly
I’m a quarter bi-polar bear with me
The rarest breed
Naw I’m just a parakeet
I talk what I hear
I do as they do
And I hate what I fear you see
A simple animal sin is sincerity
But when I get carried away
You carry me, TSOL”
^Now that’s some put-a-smile-on-your-face kind of lyrical dexterity. And a good note to end on.
Keep shining.
-Stevie P
