Balancing Act: An Interview With Shad

Popshifter: I really liked the Fugees cover [of “Nappy Heads (Mona Lisa)”] you did to “Out of Love, Pt. II.” It fit really well. Something I wanted to ask you was, because you have “Out of Love” parts one and two, is “Telephone” [off TSOL] “Out of Love” part three?

Shad: It’s sort of “Out of Love” part three, yeah. I guess. I thought about doing an “Out of Love” part three full-on, but I don’t know if there’s much more I can do on it. “Telephone” really started like a song on my DJ’s album [DJ TLO’s Rough Waters].

He had the song—he put it out like a year or so ago—and I was always like, “This is a cool idea. I know exactly what to say. I’ll do something with this.” After awhile, I was like, “I got it. I got this song working.” The verses, the chorus was kind of like he had it, with all the samples and stuff. So that’s sorta what the idea was behind that song.

(interruption by basketball teammate)

Shad: Haha, I won the three point shootout. I was the highlight.

Popshifter: At what?

Shad: Charity basketball tournament on the weekend. That was the highlight of my basketball life.

Popshifter: Just from your lyrics I can tell you’re a basketball fan. I can’t remember the title, but I really liked the black vs. white basketball player song you had on your first album.

Shad: Ah! “The Real Game,” “The Real Game.”

Popshifter: Especially with TSOL, you’re collaborating with a lot more people. Like the female singer on “Rose Garden”—

Shad: Lisa Lobsinger.

Popshifter: Yeah, she’s from Broken Social Scene—she has a couple other things out. I looked her up. [Also] Ian Kamau on “Lucky 1’s.” I recognized his voice from a couple Swollen Members songs.

Shad: I wouldn’t be surprised. He’s done work with K-OS, too; really talented guy. Like, his album’s going to drop pretty soon, and it’s pretty mind-blowing.

Popshifter: As you collaborate with more and more people, and get more press . . . you were saying you don’t like going out and just enjoy staying in—how do you balance people wanting a piece of Shad now?

Shad: For me it’s weird, because when someone tells you that they like your music, you want to reciprocate that appreciation. And that’s really important to me, because people could look at a million different anythings, and for people to be like, “I’ve listened to your albums,” I appreciate that a lot. You have to do that.

So I don’t mind that at all. I don’t mind after the show, saying, “What’s up” to as many fans as I can. So that’s never been too hard for me.

But when I’m home I like to be home. Genuinely, I find people are pretty respectful; I mean, if they tell you that they like your music, they understand, and go on with their day, and you go on with yours.

Pages: 1 2 3 4