Background and career
Shane Bunting (born October 21, 1975), better known by his stage name Madchild, is a Canadian rapper. He is the founder of the Vancouver-based record label Battle Axe Records, and hip-hop group Swollen Members with Prevail.
Bunting was born in Surrey, British Columbia, but was raised in North Vancouver. He attended Carson Graham and Sutherland secondary schools. He moved to San Francisco when he was 20 years old and returned to British Columbia in the mid-1990s. Since 2014, he has resided in West Hollywood, California.
In 1993, he was named a member of the Rock Steady Crew. Also in 1993, he released the album What the Hell with Flipout. In 1996, he founded the record label Battle Axe Records, and the hip-hop group Swollen Members with Prevail. The group has released eight studio albums, three compilation albums, two greatest hits albums, and one live album. They are the best-selling Canadian hip-hop group in Canada of all time and won the Juno Award four times. In 2009, he released a solo EP titled The Madchild EP. In August 2011, he took part in a rap battle for King of the Dot, an Ontario–based battle league. He went up against Dirtbag Dan and won on a three to two decision. He was scheduled to return to King of the Dot in August 2012 to battle with the Australian rapper 360, however, the battle was postponed, as 360 was scheduled to receive ocular surgery at the time of the event. In 2012, he released his first solo album, titled Dope Sick followed by Lawn Mower Man in 2013, Switched On EP in 2014 and Silver Tongue Devil in 2015. In April of 2015, Madchild competed against rapper Daylyt in KOTD's Blackout5. The Darkest Hour, produced by Evidence, was released in 2017. In 2020, he released the album Killing the Neighbors with Tom MacDonald.
Bunting was addicted to the painkillers Oxycodone and Percocet and heavily abused alcohol from 2006 to 2009. He has often spoken about its negative impact on his life and career.
In 2006, he lost his distribution deal with Nettwerk due to his affiliation with the Hells Angels. In early 2011, it was reported that Bunting was banned from entering the United States, due to his affiliation with the Hells Angels. Bunting said he was detained at an American airport for approximately eight hours before being told he could not enter the country. He worked with a lawyer in San Diego, California, to rectify the situation. In July 2013, it was announced that Bunting was once again allowed to enter the United States.
In October of 2015, Madchild, Kyle Kraft, Rocco Dipopolo and Suburban Noize Records founder Kevin Zinger were sued by David Waltho. In 2010 Madchild created the "Battle Axe Warriors" fan club, which Waltho placed an initial investment of $5,000. He also loaned Madchild $6,500 for a Harley-Davidson motorcycle, $8,500 for a 1969 Ford Mustang and $5,000 for "food, gas, cigarettes, housing and artwork." In addition to not paying back the debts, Madchild allegedly ran the operation with alternate partners not included in the initial agreement, Kyle Kraft, Rocco Dipopolo and Kevin Zinger.
Sources
Net-worth figure: Celebrity Net Worth (October 2026), in USD. Biography and career facts: the person's Wikipedia article and linked reporting. Snapshot date for all StarWorth figures: 28 October 2026.
