Roland Pemberton (Cadence Weapon)

Mr. Pemberton, aka Cadence Weapon, continues to firmly establish his legacy as a pioneer in a passionate crusade to push the rap and electronic music envelope. At 23, he is internationally recognized as an innovative and accomplished writer, producer, rapper, touring artist … and now Edmonton’s Poet Laureate.

In the course from his debut album Breaking Kayfabe to his sophomore record Afterparty Babies, he came of age. While most young people were struggling to focus on a sneaker brand for more than a week, the young (and underage) Cadence would slip into clubs to play shows with Spank Rock, Lady Sovereign, Jurassic 5, TTC, New Pornographers, Final Fantasy, and De La Soul. All before he was barely legal, he rocked guest performances with The Klaxons, Hot Chip, and Islands; he remixed Lady Sovereign, Kid Sister, Disco D, Busdriver, Rick Ross/Simian Mobile Disco; he was featured on tracks with Buck 65, Anti MC, A-Trak, Shout Out Out Out Out and Shuttle; he inked deals with legendary labels, Epitaph USA and Big Dada for the UK and Europe.

His explosive debut was an impossibly accomplished hip-hop album stacked with clever writing and impressive rhymes, paired with the electro-tones of UK grime and West Coast hip-hop. The album yielded instant praise and notoriety, culminating in nominations from the Polaris Music Prize, the Canadian Indie Awards, “Best Rap Album of 2006” at the Plug Independent Music Awards, and won the CBC Radio 3’s Bucky Award. Breaking Kayfabe garnered fans from Pitchforkmedia.com, Urb Magazine, XLR8R, CMJ, Q Magazine, Exclaim, Plan B, CBC Radio 3, Uncut, Drowned In Sound, amoung others. Afterparty Babies, released last spring, closed the year at the top of an impressive pile of “Best of 2008” lists, and lead to his second nomination for the Polaris Music Prize.

After another year of engaging performances at festivals and clubs across North America, UK, and Europe, he returned home to released 2009’s Separation Anxiety, a collection of exclusive tracks, remixes, and collaborations, including: the Mixmag exclusive with Hervé and A-Trak “Roll With The Winners," remixes of label-mates The Cansecos and Roots Manuva, and, arguably the showstopper, a remix of The DB Buxton Revue’s “Sex With My Ex." The album is available only at cadenceweaponmusic.com (for whatever price you deem worthy).

When he emerged from his icy Edmonton lair this spring, he also brought with him his most accomplished work yet, Roquentin – a highly referential look at the nature of existence. (A Roquentin is defined as a 17th century text, originally meaning a poem or composition that is made up out of other compositions with abrupt changes along the way.) His usual recording process has been one of seclusion, with the occasional guest appearance, but Roquentin was recorded in Edmonton, Toronto, and Montreal during the summer of 2009 with collaborators like: Junior Boys, Shout Out Out Out Out, The Cansecos, Arcade Fire, A Tribe Called Quest, Holy Fuck, DVAS, Megasoid, Ghislain Poirier, Woodhands, and Buck 65.

On July 1st, he assumed his newest role as Edmonton’s Poet Laureate for a two-year term. The role of a Poet Laureate, as an ambassador for the literary arts, is to reflect the life of a city through poetry, and incorporate poetry into a range of official and informal city activities. The creation of this position confirms a city's support for the arts in general, and for the literary arts in particular. Those who follow his music know it's already steeped in references to Edmonton and its people. So, the distinguished role of literary ambassador for the City of Edmonton seems a natural appointment.

Photo by Angus Rowe MacPherson