Shad is notorious for his sharp, well-contextualized approach to rap politics that could certainly be described as academic. Fittingly, the graduate of Waterloo, ON's Wilfrid Laurier University will now be adding "adjunct professor" to his lengthy resumé, returning to his alma mater to teach a course during the fall 2024 semester.
Following the success of his 2023 turn as Hip-Hop Artist in Residence, the artist born Shadrach Kabango will present "Hip-Hop to the World" — a special course open to both music and non-music students beyond their first year. As per a press release, the class will delve into "the unique approaches to poetry, performance, and production found in hip-hop music," exploring the genre's rich history and cultural impact through "listening, reading, practice, and dialogue."
When sharing the news on Instagram, Shad added that he'll also be co-teaching a Multidisciplinary Urban Graduate Seminar at the University of Toronto alongside Dr. Kofi Hope. Masters and PhD students outside of the school's Faculty of Music can apply to take part in the "Hip-Hop and the City" seminar, which explores historical urban issues through the lens of music and culture.
Shad's most recent record remains his Polaris Prize short-listed LP, TAO, which Exclaim! named one of the Best Albums of 2021.