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Canadian emcee Shad finally lifts the curtains and steps out onto the stage modestly so that he bears the resemblance of the everyman rapper; yet still with a slight tinge of extravagance that makes him nothing less than a marvel. Giving listeners small doses of music here and there over the past few years, time has come to enjoy a full-length LP from this unexampled rapper. Flying Colours offers listeners yet another satisfying construction of imagery, sound and poetry by this fruitful artist.

Shad starts the album where he left off with 2010’s Tsol by presenting a dreamlike-sounding intro deemed “Intro: Lost” (Tsol is lost spelled backwards), which features fellow canadian emcee k-os, as well as Lisa Lobsinger and Ian Kamau. Loud, machinery production forms a grandiose entrance to the production of Flying Colours. Flowing into track two, Shad keeps with the theme of return by crafting “Y’all Know Me.”

For the most part, Shad keeps with his traditional lyrical styles in regards to both delivery and content. Still, though, despite traversing familiar grounds, Shad spurs some continually interesting material when spitting bars and composing ideas. Lax flows and microphone presence invites listeners in a warm welcoming way that is contrary to the elevated egos of many rap songs being made today. Shad stands out unobtrusively (save for his braggadocious intro track) among rappers going hard over fast-paced hats and trap beats.

Deviating a bit from routine production styles (as compared to previous albums), Shad takes a dip away from his alternative hip-hop style to grace the field of more sonically challenging instrumentals. From trancey electronica-infused instrumentals to straight folky hip-hop on “Fam Jam (Fe Sum Immigrins),” Shad shows he can kick a rhyme over a multitude of beat styles. This fact adds to the depth of creative exploration this album features as Shad roams around different soundscapes, always finding his way home on a beat.

k-os and Eternia both lend incredible features on this project, especially the latter as she rhymes about love lost on “Love Means.” The few features on Flying Colours all add a hint of something extra to the tracks they feature on, Shad essentially handles this album on his own which is something any fan of the rapper is familiar and most certainly content with.

Whether rhyming a story in the third person or speaking from personal experience, Shad does it all. Flying Colours boasts a slightly different set of sounds not heard on previous Shad records. There’s always a bit of familiarity with his music as Shad seems to be quite the consistent rapper, but as the cover may infer, many colors – or sounds – are explored, blended and melted into an gloriously amalgamate mixture of textures, emotions and vibes. Shad does his work on Flying Colours and with it, we should certainly be left entertained in full until the next album arrives.

9/10

Tracklisting:

1) Intro: Lost (feat. Lisa Lobsinger, Kamau & K-Os)

2) Y’all Know Me (feat. Ebrahim)

3) Fam Jam (Fe Sum Immigrins)

4) He Say She Say

5) Dreams

6) Grace (Interlude)

7) Stylin’ (feat. Saukrates)

8) Progress (Part 1 American Pie, Part 2 The Future Is Here)

9) Remember to Remember (feat. Lights)

10) Love Means (feat. Eternia)

11) Thank You

12) Epilogue: Long Jawn

***Notable Mentions:

Black Milk: No Poison No Paradise

Dom Kennedy: Get Home Safely

Devin The Dude: One For The Road

Boldy James & The Alchemist: My 1st Chemistry Set

Tags : Eterniak-osShad
Stone

The author Stone

Stone is a hip-hop enthusiast residing in NJ/PA. As an aspiring hip-hop producer, Stone studies communications and shares his passion for music by letting the world in on the wonderful world of hip-hop.