Shad is dominating. The Kenya born, London Ontario raised, Rwandan Canadian rapper is on a high. He is currently in the middle of a Canadian summer tour and the new album, TSOL, has been short listed for the 2010 Polaris Music Prize. I wrote a post about the man and his new album just before his show at the Biltmore in June (which was amazing).

Each track feels like a conversation; like you're waxing poetic with a friend and confidant as he tells you what's on his mind. He's the kind of dude you genuinely want to have a conversation with, and he puts on a good show to boot.

Lucky for me, I recently had a chance to catch up with him, and pick his brain about his upbringing, his music, and his life in general. Check out what he had to say below!

You've lived in a lot of places, and may be associated with a number of identities. When people ask you where you are from, what do you tell them? How do your surroundings and self perception shape your work?

Well, I tell people I grew up in London, Ontario and that my family is originally from Rwanda. That feels pretty accurate to me. I live in Vancouver now but I still have ties there to some great friends and great people in London. My sister and a lot of my friends live in Toronto and I find myself there fairly often so I definitely feel at home there too, and my parents and little brother live in Rwanda now so I feel comfortable when I'm there as well. It's hard for me to comment on how all that affects my music; it's the only life I know so I'm sure it affects how I see things and express them but it's hard for me analyze exactly how if that makes sense.
 
Well, I tell people I grew up in London, Ontario and that my family is originally from Rwanda. That feels pretty accurate to me.

You seem to have a huge level of respect for your elders, and your peers, both musically and in life. Could you speak on that?

I think that history has always just interested me. Musical history, stories of different people and places... I think I'm just kind of fascinated by all the differences and parallels and lessons that can be extracted from looking at the past.

 
What's one of the most valuable lessons that your parents have taught you? Were they always supportive of your rap related ambitions?

My parents were never big worriers. I think that's a big thing they tried to pass on to us: To trust God, care for others, do your best, and then not to sweat it from there... you can't control the future so might as well relax and enjoy life... They were very cool with whatever I wanted to do career-wise. They're happy I found something I like and find meaning in.
 
You can't control the future so might as well relax and enjoy life.

How would you describe your music to someone who has never heard it before? What drew you this this particular form of self expression?

 I would say it's pretty much traditional sort of hip hop with a bit of my own spin on it. I try to inject my personality and experiences into it to make it something personal and unique to me.
 
When I picked up the new album at HMV the other day, I noticed that it said "alternative/conscious" in brackets beside your name in the rap section. Labels like these have followed you around your entire career. What do they mean to you?

 I'm not that bothered when people label me, but as someone that cares about hip hop, I just think those prefixes can be divisive and restrictive for the culture sometimes. So I'm not a huge fan of them.

What was the point of reference or framework that went into making the new album? Is there a story or concept behind it?

It's not as conceptual as the last one for sure. My approach to this one was more just about making songs that I felt were compelling on a couple different levels. I felt like I had this opportunity to make another album and I was just happy about that and wanted to work hard to make something fun and meaningful out of that opportunity.
 
My approach to this one was more just about making songs that I felt were compelling on a couple different levels.

Your show at the Biltmore was incredible. What goes through your mind when you not only sell out the venue, but the audience knows the words to every song? Why do you think people relate so deeply with your subject matter?

Well it makes the show a lot easier for one thing! It's also just a great feeling. It gives me that much more energy and makes me put that much more life into the songs when I perform them. It's a lot of fun and sometimes it's a real high... As for why people relate to what I'm doing, I can't really say. I try to consider my audience when I write and talk to them in a way that's honest and engaging. Beyond that, who knows? There's a lot of variables I don't control when it comes to how people relate to my music.
 
I try to consider my audience when I write and talk to them in a way that's honest and engaging.

Your music seems to draw influences from every aspect of your life, interests, and opinions. What are you reading, watching, or listening to at the moment?

I've been watching a show called Eli Stone lately. The premise is definitely hokey but I feel it!
 
After the summer tour is through, what's next on the agenda?

Back to Van to relax a bit in August then hit the road again in the fall - opening a tour for K'naan in Canada and for K-OS in the states.