Edmonton rapper Rollie Pemberton’s new record features new focus on collaboration
Roland “Rollie” Pemberton grew up in Edmonton in the late ’90s and early aughts, a time when widespread use of the Internet was only beginning to influence human communication. So when Pemberton, better known as Cadence Weapon, describes how he learned to rap, parts of the story seem timeless, while other parts seem more dissonant.
“I would just be in math class with my friend, and we would just be writing raps on pieces of paper, showing them to each other,” said Pemberton over the phone from SXSW in Austin, Texas, before adding: “I would also battle people online, on some early Internet-type shit. We’d be sending files back and forth — rapping over an instrumental dissing somebody.” Pemberton laughed. “It’s kind of funny to think back now.”
That very contemporary contrast — between physical presence and digital relationships — haunts much of Pemberton’s music. He’s always made hip hop that stresses the importance of place, especially his hometown of Edmonton, but he’s always done it alone, producing all his own beats, often using abrasive, electronic tones.
The new Cadence Weapon record, which is self-titled, feels different. That’s largely because, for the first time, Pemberton called on friends and contemporaries like Kaytranada, FrancisGotHeat, Blue Hawaii, and Deradoorian for beats and hooks. Having so many collaborators on board freed Pemberton to focus on his love of songwriting, and throw his voice into what he calls “weird stories from other people’s perspectives.” Although the new record isn’t 100 per cent Cadence Weapon, Pemberton has never felt more himself. “This focus on how all the songs are written has allowed me to really fully embrace what it means to be Cadence Weapon on this album,” said Pemberton.
This focus on collaboration and connection reflects Pemberton’s personal concerns — he struggles with smartphone addiction, memorably detailed on “Infinity Pool.” “I live with my girlfriend,” he said, laughing, “And you don’t want to wake up and look at your phone before you look at each other.”
It also has a political import following the 2016 American election, when people are in desperate need of solidarity. “[The election] was just a seismic event,” said Pemberton. “[It’s] made people more politically engaged than they ever have been, at least since, I don’t know, the ’60s.”
Pemberton is glad to be more engaged than ever: “It’s important to do things that remind you that you’re human,” he said. Cadence Weapon does just that.
Cadence Weapon plays the UC Courtyard on Wednesday, March 28.
Feature photo courtesy of Mark Sommerfeld