Juno-award winner Shad has gone from being one of Canada’s most respected hip-hop artists to hosting one of the country’s most prominent radio shows, Q.
“It’s been a real special couple days,”; the Kenyan-born personality told ET Canada shortly after the announcement that he was a newly-minted personality at the CBC. “It’s also been the profound realization that my life is about to change.”;
The position came to him after he impressed the show’s executive producers earlier this year, while guest-hosting in the wake of the Jian Ghomeshi scandal. Shad said it was easy to recognize an incredible opportunity when he saw one.
“I’ve never been a particularly… competitive guy or even a particularly ambitious guy – so that’s what drives me, when I’m like “This is amazing, this is inspiring’,”; he reveals.
Despite Q experiencing a terrible ordeal with its previous host, Shad came on board to find a staff that was energized by the change.
“I don’t know exactly what they’ve been through, it’s very individual, right? But I’m sure they’ve been through a lot,”; he continues. “And the week I came in to guest host, they were full of energy and very passionate.”;
During his time as guest gig, the artist fell in love with broadcasting at the CBC: “I just really came to enjoy the work…it was exciting, and it was meaningful and so it went by fast, it was a whirlwind. It was a lot of fun.”;
Fans of the rapper won’t have to worry about him quitting his other job. He intends to continue making music throughout his tenure at the show.
“That’s my hope, it’s actually the CBCs hope too,”; Shad says. “It’s going to be pushing my limits and the limits of the 24-hour clock but hopefully we’ll be able to do it.”;
Watch more with Shad below.
– Jason Richards
