Pay Day

Shah

Toronto rapper Shah takes his teachings from the likes of Tupac, Gandhi, and Malcolm X. This is evident in his music which uniquely draws attention to social inequalities such as the gender wage gap, police-brutality, and ISIS, but also in the way Shah has shunned lucrative mainstream opportunities in order to make music that genuinely touches his fans. Shah’s independent nature makes the success he’s experienced since his May 2016 debut all the more impressive. Despite lacking any sort of promotion, Shah's lead single Don’t Do It Mandela's video amassed six figure views at a viral rate. His July release of Ridin Shotty With God, was streamed by an even larger audience, which was unexpected given the song's lyrical complexity and political content. Shah’s summer momentum led to being ranked one of Toronto's top new artists of 2016 by publications such as Emerging Indie Band's Top 6 From The 6ix as well as international acclaim, being ranked one of the World’s Top 10 Desi Rappers. Already possessing a dedicated fanbase in Asia, the UK, and the Caribbean, he is poised to become one of rap’s first internationally recognized independent stars. Shah has garnered a loyal following of fellow artists and collaborators, attracted to his music but also his cinematic Day of Shah music video series, which has brought together some of the most prominent young producers, filmmakers, and fine artists from Toronto, New York, and Los Angeles. When asked about his reasons for rebuffing the major label attention his early success has attracted, Shah has stated his unwillingness to compromise his art. While Shah is viewed as a mainstream artist who has rapidly drawn a broad fanbase, his lyrics and his visuals are filled with subtle social and political commentary. For example, Shah’s fourth single, Pay Day 71, refers to the inequality women face, earning on average only 71 cents to the dollar a man earns. His ability to artistically delivery his message so a

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