NOW Toronto - The Old Prince - Critic's Pick - 5N’s
Shadrach Kabango is one of the wittiest lyricists in hiphop, and his sophomore LP is a concept album of the highest order. He consistently expresses fresh ideas, from "I rap dope like Zig Zags" to "This world is so sick / like Ne-Yo's hit, or folks with no OHIP."
Metaphors with multiple interpretations, sharp similes, insightful social commentary, wordplay that tickles the mind to contemplate… there's nary a weak or wack line or moment on The Old Prince.
DJ T-Lo cuts up Now A Daze with A-Trak/Kanye-like succinctness. On What We All Want, Shad and Relic the Oddity tackle the magnetism of desire, and Kamau, who also provides a typically amazing outro, offers his humble confessions.
The melodic, mellow production provides a Native Tongues-in-their-prime-like backdrop for Shad's smooth-as-butter flow. And his unpredictable mix of cleverness, cuteness and modern cultural consciousness doesn't once fail to impress.
Shad is joined by Grand Analog at the Mod Club Wednesday (October 24).
Addi Stewart
NOW | OCTOBER 18 - 24, 2007 | VOL. 27 NO. 7
Thursday, October 18, 2007