Though there has been much speculation about the meaning behind the title of his newest album TSOL, in a recent interview with Exclaim! Magazine, Shad explained that TSOL “doesn’t stand for any one thing.”  By leaving it open to interpretation, Shad allows the listener to determine their own meaning of the title; and whether intentional or not, this definitely helped to build the hype surrounding TSOL.  Since he released his Juno and Polaris prize-nominated The Old Prince nearly 3 years ago, Shad has quickly become the poster child for independent Canadian hip hop.  Whether it is difficult break-ups, the confused state of hip-hop or even the origins of his name, Shad is seemingly comfortable exploring a range of topics on TSOL, and this versatility is what separates him from so many other one-trick ponies.

When the first single “Yaa I get It” leaked, I admit I wasn’t really feeling the (somewhat) repetitive beat, though after a few more listens, and upon watching the video, it grew on me.  On the second single “Rose Garden,” Shad effortlessly flows over a classic vocal sample, while in the video he pays homage to Pharcyde video “Drop.”  Though it is not an official single (yet), after allowing the album to digest, the standout track for me is definitely “Telephone.”   DJ TLO’s production is beautiful and moody, as Shad vents his frustrations with digital communication (“She’s so off the hook, but when I’m letting go of the telephone, she goes off the wall like a hella old centerfold/Shoulda left the cell at home/We’re breaking up, can’t hear what she’s saying but I get the tone.”)

TSOL is full of the impressive wordplay, clever rhyme schemes and flawless delivery that I have come to expect with Shad. And with a number of contributing producers, the tracks easily appeal to a wide range of listeners.  Perhaps the most impressive thing to me about Shad, however, is the fact that he actually freestyles at his shows (and not in the Drake/Blackberry/Funkmaster Flex/Hot 97 meaning of the word), and he does it well.  If you missed his recent tour stop at Amigos, you have plenty of time to fully digest the album before he returns.

Kent Ness
Third Verse
Wednesday Night, 9-10:30pm