By: Krista Hessey –
Shad. (Photo: Dale Benvenuto/Aesthetic Magazine Toronto)
Shad made it clear in Toronto last night that he still has a lot to say. After a three-year hiatus since his last album, TSOL, which earned him a Juno for Best Rap Recording of the Year, the London, ON native proved what time, reflection, and a serious boost of confidence can do for an artist. His latest album, Flying Colours, is thoughtful, politically soaked, and rich with pop culture references. On stage he was more vibrant than ever, educating a nearly sold out crowd at the Danforth Music Hall with old-school beats and clever rhymes.
Jason Newman, better known by his stage name Brother Ali, began the night with swift, quick-witted verses drenched with an ‘80s hip-hop feel. Through his music, Brother Ali music assumed an educators stance focusing on themes of faith, love, politics, and acceptance. His passionate deliverance and energy was well received by the rapidly amassing crowd.
The crowd was a mixed bunch. Enthralled youthful faces and older steadfast fans meshed to create an enthusiastic crowd eager to welcome Shad back home after an extensive year of touring. Shad, backed by a DJ and keyboard/guitarist, incited a surge of screams as he began to recite “Stylin”, the first single released from Flying Colours. While the bass at The Danforth was overly loud, it did not overpower Shad who at many points reworked some of his songs to include a cappella breaks and extended verses.
For someone who is quite open about being reluctant to collaborations, he featured three different guests during his performance. Canadian rapper Saukrates joined Shad on stage during “Stylin” and “Eternia”, another Canadian MC, performed a lively rendition of “Love Means”. Though it was Shad himself that provided the night’s highlights. After warming up the crowd with recent hits from TSOL and Flying Colours, Shad thrilled the crowd with older tracks “Compromise” and “The Old Prince Still Lives at Home” from his second album The Old Prince.
“I still got it,” Shad said proudly as he paced back and forth across the stage before jumping into “We, Myself and I”, fervently repeating “put your palms to the ceiling.” People happily responded in kind. Throughout the show, Shad maintained the energy at a peak high; Shad kept the audience engaged and avidly awaiting his next track. For his finalsong, he played arguably the most popular song from Flying Colours to date, “Remember to Remember”, which featureselectropop artist Lights. The track’s irregular drum pattern and layered synths translated well on stage as Shad spit hard and fast that led to a breakneck conclusion of his performance.
Shad has remained true to his old school influences while embracing the “new school” of hip hop that has emerged over the past few years that innovative rappers like Kendrick Lamar, Danny Brown, and Chance the Rapper represent. His music has matured in its complexity and thoughtfulness, while his lyrical style remains consistent. “I feel like I learned a lot and grew a lot over the last couple years working on this album,” Shad wrote on his blog on the day Flying Colourswas released.
In a passionate encore, Shad begun by reciting the first half of “Thank You” before the music cut and he shocked fans with an impressive five-minute freestyle. From Obama to sports, Drake and Rob Ford, Shad proved that his strength lies in his poetic talent, rightfully resuming his place in the industry as a musical talent on the cusp of greatness.
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Shad
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Brother Ali
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