TSOL (album)
| TSOL | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Studio album by Shad | ||||
| Released |
May 25, 2010 (Canada) October 5, 2010 (U.S.) | |||
| Genre | Canadian hip hop | |||
| Label | Black Box, Decon | |||
| Shad chronology | ||||
| ||||
TSOL is the third album by Canadian rapper Shad, released in Canada on May 25, 2010[1] and in the United States on October 5, 2010.[2] It is his second album released on Black Box Recordings, and his first album of new material since 2007's Polaris Music Prize-nominated The Old Prince.
The album was supported with a cross-Canada tour, featuring opening acts Grand Analog in Western Canada and D-Sisive in Ontario.[3]
The first single, "Yaa I Get It", was released in April 2010. A music video was released on April 20.[4][5]
The album was a shortlisted nominee for the 2010 Polaris Music Prize.[6] The album won Rap Recording of the Year at the 2011 Juno Awards.
Reception
| Professional ratings | |
|---|---|
| Review scores | |
| Source | Rating |
| AbsolutePunk | (95%) [7] |
| HipHopDX |   [8] |
| Pitchfork Media | (7.2/10.0) [9] |
| Robert Christgau | (A-) [10] |
| RapReviews | (8.5/10) [11] |
TSOL received critical acclaim, and was ranked number two in Exclaim!'s 2010 hip-hop rankings. Praised for the quality of production and writing, Shad's seamless album is said to be leading the way to a bright future for Canadian hip-hop. "[Shad is] the rare MC who conveys wisdom without being preachy. More than anything, he's versatile, able to seamlessly switch from fierce, hilarious battle raps on "Yaa I Get It" to heartfelt reflection over the contemplative piano and guitars of "At the Same Time" without seeming contradictory."[12]
Track listing
| # | Title | Producer(s) | Featured guest(s) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Intro" | DJ T Lo and I.K. Koiter | |
| 2. | "Rose Garden" | DJ T Lo | Lisa Lobsinger |
| 3. | "Keep Shining" | Ric Notes | Lady Londa |
| 4. | "Lucky 1's" | me&john | Ian Kamau, Brendan Canning, Lisa Lobsinger |
| 5. | "A Good Name" | Classified | |
| 6. | "We Are the Ones (Reservoir Poetry)" | Relic the Oddity | Relic the Oddity |
| 7. | "Telephone" | DJ T Lo | Lisa Lobsinger |
| 8. | "Call Waiting (Interlude)" | Ric Notes | |
| 9. | "Yaa I Get It" | EOM (re-worked by Me&John) | |
| 10. | "Listen" | Rich Kidd | Brett Fliesser |
| 11. | "At the Same Time" | Heights | Justin Nozuka |
| 12. | "We, Myself and I" | Me&John | |
| 13. | "Outro" | ||
| 14. | "It's About Time (Bonus Track)" | Promise |
Charts
| Chart (2010) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Canadian Albums Chart[13] | 24 |
References
- ↑ "Exclusive: Shad Preps New Studio Album for May Release". Exclaim!, April 6, 2010.
- ↑ Rap Release Dates: Atmosphere, Trae Tha Truth, AZ, Vado, Nas, Redman. HipHopDX, September 21, 2010.
- ↑ "Shad Announces Canadian Tour with Grand Analog and D-Sisive". Exclaim!, April 7, 2010.
- ↑ Shad - New Album: "TSOL" x Tracklist x Tour Dates x "Yaa I Get It" Teaser. Beats and Bombs, April 8, 2010.
- ↑ Shad - "Yaa I Get It" (video) Exclaim!, May 19, 2010.
- ↑ Thompson, Ciaran (September 20, 2010). "Karkwa win 2010 Polaris Music Prize". Aux. Retrieved September 21, 2010.
- ↑ AbsolutePunk.net review
- ↑ HipHopDX review
- ↑ Pitchfork Media review
- ↑ Robert Christgau review
- ↑ RapReviews review
- ↑ Exclaim! 2010 Hip-Hop year in review
- ↑ "Shad : Chart History". Billboard.com. Retrieved 2013-07-26.