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Hip-Hop as of recently has been getting pretty limited on musical and lyrical content. For a music that has been hailed as "the black CNN," it's gone to the depths of bling and no message.Canadian MC Shadrach Kabango, better known as Shad, this year won the Juno(Canada's Grammy) for the 2010 Best Rap Album, beating out fellow Canadian and international rapper Drake. Shad's disc, "TSOL," has garnered lots of praise and acclaim due to his music forward presence as well as going against the grain in hip-hop's negative and senseless phase that has been dumped the masses.

Shad has been compared to the Fresh Prince a.k.a Will Smith, but his music is much more deeper than at. The first time I heard the MC, I thought of more the lines of Speech from Arrested Development and Common. Songs like "Rose Garden," which he candidly talks about perseverance. Shad lyrically uses references ranging from super heros to biblical quotes. Not once in his music does he use profanity nor degrade or elders or women. That's why he's built his career on presenting music that uplifts and encourages listeners, something that's been missing in hip-hop for quite awhile.

Born in Kenya, Shad was raised in London, Ontario to Rwandan parents. He's the middle of three kids where his parents know from an early age he was musically inclined. Upon graduation, he attended Wilfried Laurier University here he majored in business administration. While in college, he won $17,000 during a radio competition thus recording his 2005 debut disc "When This Is Over." Shad's second release "The Old Prince," was the disc that generated a tiny buzz here in the states.

Currently, Shad is building his American base heavily on the strength of "TSOL's" success. He's on tour and is about to hit the spring and summer festivals and major venues. For upcoming tour dates, please visit him on the web at shadk.com.