When Shad joined his dj onstage to Outkast’s “Rosa Parks,” then offered Talib Kweli’s “Get By” while mouthing the lyrics back to the shouting crowd, I thought the concert might have peaked too early. Knowing this, Shad dropped into the lounge infused track “Compromise,” cutting through the knowing head bobs and making the night his. He pushed us into a moment of nostalgia, then brought the carpet out for a tightly delivered set that showcased his effervescent personality and wit-tempered lyrics.
Shad straddles the border of fluff-hop and consciousness. His self-effacing presence--seen at its zenith in the video for “The Old Prince Still Lives At Home” with Will Smith grin beaming--is a warm invitation to listen and dance. The Russell Simmons outfit, polo shirt and nondescript ball cap, belies a more serious rapper--a rapper who proudly reminds us that his Canadian Government name, Shadrach Kabango, is a good name, launching into a 3-minute history lesson filled with Hebrew slaves, Babylonian dictators and Rwandan hillsides. The mixture is best defined on his latest album TSOL, as Shad declares himself to be “True School rapper/with middle school humor,” right after reminding us how “boobies” can be spelled on a calculator. Banal and brainy, Shad makes music that puts a smile on your face.
But back to the show. The lyrics came clear, the beats crisp and unmuddied by bass effects, and it was Halloween, so it was one big party. Many took the holiday spirit into the club with extravagant costumes that offered a strange backdrop for a hip-hop show. While Shad took it in stride, not even mentioning the strange sight of wizards and ghouls in the front row, I was sufficiently surprised at every turn. Nothing breaks you from taking notes like being elbowed by a flailing guy with a cigarette holder. Wait. That’s Hunter, I mean, Raoul Duke and a shaggy Dr. Gonzo to his left. Now, what’d Shad say?
Shad, for technical reasons, dropped the beat to close two songs. Technical, since something acted up with the turntables, technical since it showed how his voice and a mic sufficed to move the crowd. They gladly lifted arms, beat out claps for a backing track, and gave hearty approval to Shad’s in-the-crowd rhyme delivery. One other highlight was his use of the Cure’s “Close to Me,” asking the crowd if we liked '80s beats and claiming that's all they have in Canada. For the Cantabrigians who had ventured out on a frightful night for some good ol’ Canadian hip hop, Shad delivered a solid set that was a strong closing to this North American tour in support of KOS.
