Vancouver, B.C. – Shad is more than just another intelligent emcee. He uses simple language to convey complex ideas. You can watch YouTube videos where he freestyles endlessly with solid narrative that is free of verbal clutter and dirty old cliches. When he isn’t making music, Shad is running circles around academics. He has an honours degree in Business and he is currently completing a Masters degree in Liberal Arts at Simon Fraser University.

Shad’s originality surfaced in the industry, through his independent persistence. His first album was financed with money he won from a radio contest. As his first album caught on, he was eventually signed by Black Box Recordings. Presently, Shad is selling out shows and touring with K’naan.

The Early Risers Collective was recently given the opportunity to interview Shad. This collective consists of teenagers from Vancouver B.C., who are learning how to create their own media, business, apparel, and events. Throughout the Summer, they studied t-shirt design and learned about creative business from local artists.

Shad is an artist that the Early Risers admire immensely. It was exciting for these students to meet with him and ask him questions directly. The format of this interview is all about giving space for youth to have a voice. The involved adults completely stepped back to let that voice be heard clearly: the more that we listen to younger audience members, the more interesting our culture can become.

Interview conducted by Early Risers for HipHopCanada
Words by Christabel Shaler for HipHopCanada
Video filming and editing by Mista Hindz for HipHopCanada
Photography by Amalia Judith for HipHopCanada