Shad: Keep Shining

I first heard this song on the Georgia State Radio while driving around in Atlanta. I was immediately drawn in by the lyrics. I am not an avid listener of a lot of rap, but good, smart lyrics always really get me.

SHAD is a artist born in Kenya to Rwandan parents and raised in London, Ontario. His style has been compared to that of K-os and Common.

CONTENT

This song is upbeat and catchy. The overall tone is positive, as is the message.

The message of the song is about respecting women and creating a society where women are encouraged to respect themselves. He talks about the rap industry and how the unbalanced nature of male vs. female rappers leads to a skewed perspective. SHAD takes the initiative to point this out and address the problem. There are not many women rappers and in many areas of our culture, women are still not fully represented or respected. This song is a good example of art pointing out and placing attention on issues within society and calling for a change.

Verse 1: I roll with clever broads

With goals like Federov

Seeking better jobs

instead of running scams like

Set It Off

Some aren't the smartest

but they know what they stand for

They don't let jams disrespect 'em on the dance floor

And though they never hit

College like the Danforth

For damn sure they got each other's back like a Jansport

Girls in a league of their own like Geena Davis

Nina Simone ladies, Tina Fey chicks

Christina Applegates and Bonita Applebums

That don't mask and say, "nothing" when you ask what's wrong

That's what's up, they can laugh it up

And they don't pass the buck

Nothin's for certain, we all have to trust

Someone I used to want to find the love of my life

Now I'm tryin' to live a life of love

It's not just a husband and wife thing

It's something that Christ brings

True beauty doesn't run from the light

Keep shining

Verse 2: And I've been known to talk about women on a track or two

I talk to women, I just can't talk for women

That's for you

We need women for that

More women in rap

Even tracks like Kwali's Four Women

That's still only half the view of the world

There's no girls rappin' so we're only hearin' half the truth

What we have to lose? Too much

Half our youth aren't represented, the better halves of dudes

So we don't hear about your brain, just your brains

How you rock a fella, Stacey Dash dames

We just need your voice like an a capella

Something in the music's gotta change

A lot of things

It's funny how words like, "consciousness" and "positive music"

Can somehow start to feel hollow, it's

Become synonymous with polishing soft collagen lips

On the face of race politics

Well you can't be everything to everyone

So let me be anything to anyone

The world turns and there's clouds sometimes

But there's no such thing as a setting sun

It always keeps shining

Verse 3: My mom taught me where to keep my heart

My aunts taught me how to sing two parts

My sis taught me how to parallel park

Tried to teach me math but she's way too smart

My grandma in her 80′s is still sharp

My girl cousin's an activism at art

They taught me there's no curls too tight

No mind to bright

No skin too dark to

Keep shining