It's been over a year since Shad indicated that a new album was on the way. The host of Netflix's Hip-Hop Evolution has maintained a presence in Canada's rap scene with his appearance on TOBI's "24 (Remix)" which included a slew of Canada's best rap talent. Slowly but surely, he's unveiled new singles over the past few months to build anticipation for his next body of work.
This week, the rapper returned with his latest sixth studio album, TAO. Laced with 12 songs in total, and appearances from Skratch Bastid, Yung Tone, Mah Moud, and more. The rapper explained how this project was largely inspired by the intent to bring hope to people following the tumultuous year we've had.
"That's what I feel like I can contribute as an artist," Shad told Exclaim! "I like to make people think but also laugh. I like to provide a spark of some kind of joy."
CHeck out the project below.
About The Author
Aron A. is a features editor for HotNewHipHop. Beginning his tenure at HotNewHipHop in July 2017, he has comprehensively documented the biggest stories in the culture over the past few years.
Throughout his time, Aron’s helped introduce a number of buzzing up-and-coming artists to our audience, identifying regional trends and highlighting hip-hop from across the globe. As a Canadian-based music journalist, he has also made a concerted effort to put spotlights on artists hailing from North of the border as part of Rise & Grind, the weekly interview series that he created and launched in 2021.
Aron also broke a number of stories through his extensive interviews with beloved figures in the culture. These include industry vets (Quality Control co-founder Kevin "Coach K" Lee, Wayno Clark), definitive producers (DJ Paul, Hit-Boy, Zaytoven), cultural disruptors (Soulja Boy), lyrical heavyweights (Pusha T, Styles P, Danny Brown), cultural pioneers (Dapper Dan, Big Daddy Kane), and the next generation of stars (Lil Durk, Latto, Fivio Foreign, Denzel Curry). Aron also penned cover stories with the likes of Rick Ross, Central Cee, Moneybagg Yo, Vince Staples, and Bobby Shmurda.
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