Born in Kenya, of Rwandan parents, Shad was raised in London, Ontario. His mother worked in London as a hospital lab technician; his father, as a machinist. He attended London Central Secondary School.
His debut album When This Is Over (2005) was self-made, financed with the $17,500 he won from 91.5 The Beat's Rhythm of the Future talent competition during his time as an undergraduate student at Wilfrid Laurier University. The album is recognized for Shad's self-deprecating lyrics which is often atypical of the current rap scene and focusing on social causes—for example, the track I'll Never Understand examines the Rwandan genocide and includes poetry written by his mother, Bernadette Kabango.
In 2007, he was signed by Black Box Recordings and released his second album, The Old Prince. In 2008, The Old Prince received a Juno Award nomination for Rap Recording of the Year, and was nominated for the 2008 Polaris Music Prize. The Album also nominated him for two MMVA Awards and won him a 2009 Indie Award.
In May of 2010, Shad released his third album, TSOL, to excellent reviews and a wider reception than any of his work to date. TSOL was a short-list nominee for the 2010 Polaris Music Prize, the video for the song "Rose Garden" received a nomination for a 2011 MuchMusic Video Award, and the album won the Juno Award for Rap Recording of the Year at the 2011 Juno Awards.
Shad's fourth album, Flying Colours, was released on October 15, 2013. This album was nominated for the Juno Award for Rap Recording of the Year in 2014, and was a short-list nominee for the 2014 Polaris Music Prize. In 2016, he released a 90s-influenced soft-rock album, Adult Contempt, under the pseudonym Your Boy Tony Braxton.
His sixth album, A Short Story About a War, was released in October 2018 on Secret City Records and included collaborations with Lido Pimienta, Kaytranada, Ian Kamau, Eternia, and Yukon Blonde. The album was short-listed for the 2019 Polaris Music Prize, marking Shad's 4th Polaris short-list nomination. In June 2021, Shad announced his new album, TAO, would be released October 1, 2021. TAO was short-listed for the 2022 Polaris Music Prize.
Shad is bilingual, speaking English and French. He holds a business degree from Wilfrid Laurier University, and a master's degree in liberal studies from Simon Fraser University.
Out Of Love
Shad Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
A student of the dollar, a proven scholar in the school of commerce.
A dude who's smooth and styled but whom never loses calm,
or drool and slobber like a fool and fall for a doll like Julia Roberts.
But still they get to me like Destiny's Child,
Don't drive me wild intellectually they fresh to see.
I guess I'm being a misogynist and I acknowledge this,
The problem is I just don't see all girls as goddesses.
Why's this silly pseudo pimp pressed against your pink dress?
When he drinks Ex does his stink breath impress,
'Cause he has no genuine interest, the only thing's sex.
Not your heart, soul, or IQ and why do I know this,
Well miss I try boo , but I'm a guy too,
And so I'm qualified to say,
That what a lot of guys display are just some hollow lies devised to get play.
But I won't apologize cause most of y'all ain't slow chicks,
With no wits so when a pro approaches you should know this,
Its easy decodin' the motives of these horny guys.
You're roses but the thorns you expose keep me torn inside,
And keep me writin poems devoted to my corny side,
So prob'ly still be home with my folks when I'm 45.
So I'm not quick to give props to cute chicks though they're hot,
'Cause dude the awful truth is when it comes to love they don't got us a clue.
Like how does Pretty Woman constitute a romance?
Some old man that's got some loot knockin' boots with a prostitute.
So homey don't be led astray in any way,
When women say they want a man they mean a wallet and a wedding day.
Still them girls with extensions in their hair and pretentious inner wear,
That leaves me all defenseless in their stares.
But they don't care for my attention which is senseless,
'Cause i swear that there's no need to mention good intentioned men are scarce.
I want a Clair Huxtable, I want a Clair Huxtable y'all,
See if I had a Clair Huxtable I'd tell her shyly,
I'm like the letter Q, nowhere without U beside me.
Nah, I won't make this any cheesier.
Maybe I don't hate 'cause they're sleazier,
But simply 'cause that way it's easier.
I'm scared to fail so,
even if the chick has got a halo and a fat tail,
Like J-lo I'll still lay low.
This frail soul has only got his pride to protect him,
So I'll deny a connection instead of vie for affection.
Plus we find it soothing to mock the short skirts,
'Cause that length tends to mirror our sense of self worth sometimes.
Instead of being free from these confines,
its safer to stay disgruntled and just pummel dumb minds with punchlines.
Without discretion or respect to give 'em,
'Cause a good offense is the best defense mechanism.
So I don't feel like tellin' y'all to throw your hands in the air,
And wave 'em all around cause I just don't care.
I'm a sharp jerk who leaves his heart's hurt
Buried deep beneath the smart smirk and in parts of my darker artwork.
My partners out there but we ain't together still,
So I better build with someone 'cause I doubt that we ever will.
And if I never feel love at least I'll never cry,
If only fools fall guess I'm a pretty clever guy.
For never trying and just voluntarily staying solitaire,
'Cause in all sincerity who wants to marry me?
I'm callous and cold and I've grown distant,
'Cause most sisters only talk to me when their man wont listen.
The worlds a stage but not everyone acts right,
At the club I'm seein' more tricks than a half-pipe.
Now I'd never diss a sister or call one a slut or whore,
But some honies is hard headed like Mount Rushmore.
I'm sorry I swore I won't bash,
But if they treat you like a substitute teacher,
Its probably cause you've got no class.
Now hold fast every woman's a queen,
If you're as lost as I am then you know what I mean,
I'm out of love, I'm out of love,
This is out of love.
The song 'Out of Love' by Shad is a poignant commentary on modern-day relationships that are rife with superficiality and insincerity. In the song, Shad talks about how he struggles to fit into the stereotypical alpha-male image that is expected of men in today's world, where money, power, and material possessions are valued over genuine emotions and human connections. He laments how he finds it difficult to connect with most women because they seem more interested in a man's wallet rather than his heart or soul. Shad also talks about the pressure he feels to conform to societal norms and how it has made him distant and callous, preventing him from forming meaningful relationships with others.
The song is a courageous and honest exploration of the struggles and complexities of modern-day dating, and it touches upon themes that are relatable to people of all ages and backgrounds. The lyrics are cleverly crafted, and Shad's delivery is powerful and emotive, making 'Out of Love' an unforgettable musical experience.
Line by Line Meaning
Yo, now I'm s'posed to be cool under the collar,
I am expected to remain calm and composed in any situation.
A student of the dollar, a proven scholar in the school of commerce.
I am well-versed in business and finance.
A dude who's smooth and styled but whom never loses calm,
I am a suave and stylish person who always maintains his composure.
or drool and slobber like a fool and fall for a doll like Julia Roberts.
I will not be easily swayed by charm or physical attraction.
But still they get to me like Destiny's Child,
Despite my efforts, I still find myself affected by women's actions and words.
Don't drive me wild intellectually they fresh to see.
Some women can impress me intellectually and their freshness appeals to me.
I guess I'm being a misogynist and I acknowledge this,
I recognize that my views of women may not be fair or appropriate.
The problem is I just don't see all girls as goddesses.
I do not hold all women in high regard.
'Cause a lot of them I think less, like princess,
I view some women as not deserving of high regard, similar to princesses who are often viewed negatively.
Why's this silly pseudo pimp pressed against your pink dress?
Why are some men who pretend to be pimps trying to get close to women wearing revealing clothing?
When he drinks Ex does his stink breath impress,
Does this man's bad breath impress you when he is drunk?
'Cause he has no genuine interest, the only thing's sex.
This man is not actually interested in you beyond sex.
Not your heart, soul, or IQ and why do I know this,
This man is not interested in your personality, intelligence, or personal qualities, and I know this from my own experience as a man.
Well miss I try boo, but I'm a guy too,
I have attempted to understand women's experiences, but ultimately I am still a man with different experiences and perspectives.
And keep me writin poems devoted to my corny side,
My experiences with women inspire me to write poetry that some may find cheesy or uncool.
So prob'ly still be home with my folks when I'm 45.
I may still be living with my parents well into middle age due to my difficulties with relationships.
So I'm not quick to give props to cute chicks though they're hot,
I am not easily impressed by women's appearances, even if they are physically attractive.
'Cause dude the awful truth is when it comes to love they don't got us a clue.
In my opinion, women do not understand how to love properly.
Some old man that's got some loot knockin' boots with a prostitute.
The movie 'Pretty Woman' involves a wealthy man having a romantic relationship with a sex worker.
When women say they want a man they mean a wallet and a wedding day.
Many women are only interested in men for their financial security and the prospect of marriage.
But they don't care for my attention which is senseless,
Despite my attempts to garner their attention, some women are indifferent to me, which I find frustrating and pointless.
I want a Clair Huxtable, I want a Clair Huxtable y'all,
I desire a partner like the character of Clair Huxtable from 'The Cosby Show', who is intelligent, competent, and loving.
Nah, I won't make this any cheesier.
I will not make my desire for a partner any more cliche or corny than it already is.
This frail soul has only got his pride to protect him,
My self-esteem and ego are the only things I have to protect myself from rejection and heartbreak.
So I'll deny a connection instead of vie for affection.
Rather than risk being vulnerable and rejected, I will avoid pursuing romantic connections.
Its probably cause you've got no class.
If you are being treated poorly by others, it may be because you do not have enough social status or sophistication.
Now hold fast every woman's a queen,
All women deserve respect and admiration.
If you're as lost as I am then you know what I mean,
If you are struggling with relationships and romantic connections like I am, then you can relate to my perspective.
I'm out of love, I'm out of love,
I am currently devoid of any romantic feelings or connections.
This is out of love.
This song deals with my experiences and emotions regarding love and relationships.
Contributed by Dominic R. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
JosephO75
sad to say i have only heard of him until 30 minutes ago and after checking out 5+ songs by him he keeps showing me why and why he is my new favorite. wow. i havent gotten this feeling from music in a long time :)
Bastido
this moment when you discover a new song and you realize that it will probably always stay one of you favorite tunes. at least of the ones I discovered in 2013. what a flow!!
Christian
Had the honour of meeting Shad at R&B a few years ago; he is this music. Chillest guy I have even had the pleasure of meeting. Get into this music people.
McStump
i cant get enough of that sample....sooooooooo bomb
Kaiji
This will always be my favourite song. I relate to the lyrics so hard.
Ferguson-AGR
I love this guy. he's like the perfect emcee. Beautifully formed rhymes, vast vocabulary, awareness of the world, meaningful lyrics. He's fucking insane.
The Timeless History of Hip-Hop
He was the right guy to do Hip Hop Evolution
Realove
These lyrics are mind blowing. How does he do it.
Eren Murtaugh
This is one of the few hip hop songs I actually genuinely like. ^_^
ezboy500
Yes yes, y'all. I'm going to find this. AWESOME. Sick flow and lyrics.