A “do-over” can take many shapes, but when discussing his soon-to-be-released album, Start Anew, legendary Toronto hip-hop and rap artist Shad says the words “soulful, simple, and superb” best define the project that mirrors two decades of creative and transformative work, along with a highly anticipated return to the big stage.
For nearly two decades, the JUNO Award-winning rapper has maintained an authentic, sharp, witty, earnest, and socially-conscious storytelling voice, solidifying himself as one of the city’s most consistent, thought-provoking lyricists and sought after artists.
Now, after a few quiet years and an in-depth dive into the fruits of personal reflection and introspection, the songwriter and radio host is gearing up for the release of his seventh studio album, Start Anew, on Oct. 31, and a 2026 Canadian headline tour inviting listeners to lean into a reality they know intimately — their own humanity.
“‘Starting anew’ means having the courage to continue to challenge myself, even if that means shedding whatever idea I have of myself,” Shad told Now Toronto earlier this month. “At this age and stage, it means having the courage to say sorry, charting a new course, personally, musically, whatever that may be.”
For Shad, the thematic rebirth and resonant creation of Start Anew were inspired by a keen observation of the state of the world today and the various challenges that exist within it.
What stood out among those challenges was a common thread: the difficulty found in the human experience of starting anew, of changing course, and of accepting the end of something that was once held dearly.
“We only know how to do things a certain way, and it’s hard to change. Even though we all recognize, I think, that that’s what it is. There’s this underlying human challenge of changing course, which is starting anew, which is letting the old way reach its logical conclusion, and allowing that ending to unfold.”
The London, Ont.-grown artist says courage is the album’s greatest takeaway, as it is the main ingredient necessary for forward movement and growth. However, he adds that hope, humility, and optimism are also essential for leaning into the good things that often lie on the other side, and he hopes listeners will hang onto that, too.
“There’s something good on the other side of taking that step into the unknown. That’s the feeling, that’s the sense. I hope people come away from this album with.”
CREATING AN ALBUM AND RETURNING TO THE STAGE
With a cross-country tour scheduled for Jan. 2026, and at this stage in his career, Shad says the creative Crock-Pot boils down to finding an idea that feels compelling, inspiring, weighty, and aligned with his unique talents and offerings. Once he feels he has seen and sensed enough, his album-crafting energy is reclaimed and recharged.
“[Creating and crafting an album] is a lot of work, a lot of hard work, and requires a lot of focus and discipline, and more than anything requires energy.”
While the journey toward record creation carries its own positive weight, sharing and performing the final product is where the truest joys and pleasures are found for the musician — a bidirectional give-and-take, which takes its humblest form on stage.
“It’s what I love to do, and it’s what I do most easily is connecting in a live setting with people…and that’s where I get to get something back and feel if what I’ve made has resonated with people, and kind of get that energy and conversation back in a tangible way.”
The subsequent tour for Start Anew celebrates 20 years of artistic musical creation, personal evolution and the concept of success, and those who have remained seated and supportive during the two-decade ride.
It also marks a full-circle moment drenched in the richness of returning home — to self, to novelty, and to the community.
“I mean, it’s just a privilege to get to visit all these places and all these people. It’s such a rich experience. It’s my joy to get to play these shows and play these towns that I’ve played so many times. It’s one of my favorite things.”
To prepare for the plush event, Shad has encouraged his fans to DM or email their song requests, along with any between-set conversation starters to create something newer: an intimate and distinctive experience.
“Each show will be a little bit different and tailored to whoever’s going to be in the room, because I do want it to be a celebration of this relationship that I’ve been so fortunate to enjoy with so many incredible people through my music.”
Shad says that one of his roles is to be an “encourager” for newer artists, noting that he places utmost emphasis on the admiration, support, and respect he holds for those who are next to come, noting the difficulty that can arise from taking a step into the deepest unknowns of the industry.
“I just think that that’s important, at my stage, having done this for a couple decades, to know for the next generation, that I’m in their corner and I don’t view them as competition,” he said. “I don’t view them as a threat. I view them as, you know, my siblings in hip hop that I love and I see what they’re doing, and I want to encourage them to continue to do what they’re doing.”
If Shad could offer any advice to himself all that time ago, he would say that creating is doing exactly what you are meant to, because “making it is making it.” It is an insightful and wisdom-based saying that he says was offered to him by a key figure in his life.
Shad says that turning a concept into something tangible is where the greatest success is found, noting that refining and honing in on the craft is a great and deeply fulfilling reward, a note he now uses to define what success means to him.
“What I mean by that is creating. The thing that you want to create is making it. If you really are a creative person, if you really are someone that’s compelled to conceive of ideas and then bring them into some kind of tangible reality, then simply doing that is going to bring you so much satisfaction joy, and nothing can stand in the way of you doing so just do it. You might have to scale it back a little bit,” Shad said.
“It might have to look a little bit different than what you had in your brain. But there’s something you can make that you want to make, and when you make it, you’re going to feel so enormously satisfied.”
And after 20 years of conceiving, creating, and bringing to life, success is now found in that very same concept.
“It’s about making the thing that I’ve committed to make, because there’s integrity in that when you set out to do something, and then you do it, you persevere, and you build your character and your integrity. So that is success, to me, it always has been, and it stays.”
With a new album and a Canadian headline tour on the horizon, what’s next for Shad?
Well, he does not quite know — just yet.
“I never know what’s next. From the beginning it’s always been about committing to making something, and then making it and seeing what comes next. This album feels great, having a tour feels great. I look forward to connecting with people in the live setting, and then from there, we’ll see.”
Start Anew is out on all platforms on Oct. 31. The Canadian headline tour begins Jan. 17, 2026, with its first stop in Vancouver.
To pre-order and learn more about Start Anew, and to grab your tickets, click here.
