Wrote about the first great album of 2026: Roc Marciano’s rap clinic 656. I also delve into the Kanye documentary, the incredible Articles Of Interest Gear series and more in the January edition of my monthly recommendation post!

Wrote a tutorial on my methods for finding music using a mix of streaming apps, online marketplaces and good ol’ Discogs. It’s part of a content library that I’m building called the Pemberton Academy. Hope you find it helpful!

Wrote about the new ASAP Rocky album Don’t Be Dumb, a return to form that firmly finds him digging his heels in as a Tumblr millennial in a TikTok world full of rage rappers

I wrote a guide on my Substack for how to prepare for a DJ set, one of the most underrated aspects of getting behind the decks. I talk about file management, how to decide how much music you need and how to plan for an all-vinyl set

Class segregation in Hamilton is insane. Look at how many snow plows are out in this blizzard right now in the west side of town vs the east side where I live #HamOnt @nrindernann.bsky.social

Allow me to reintroduce myself since I don't post here often: I’m Rollie Pemberton a.k.a Cadence Weapon. I wrote rap reviews at Pitchfork as a teenager and put out my debut album Breaking Kayfabe right after. I became poet laureate of Edmonton and won the Polaris Prize for my album Parallel World

This NYT recipe comment I just came across is an all-timer

Last year I filmed a few episodes of a talk show. This is the first episode with Debby Friday. We discussed winning the Polaris Prize, growing up in (and growing out of) the club scene and what’s next for her career.

25 percent off everything at my online store with the code STEPOUT until Monday night: cadenceweapononlinemerch.myshopify.com/collections/all Anyone who gets something with the promo code is entered into a raffle for a one-on-one virtual hang with me 👋🏽

The Breaking Kayfabe 20th anniversary tour starts tomorrow in Toronto at the Garrison! We will also have these exclusive limited edition commemorative shirts that will only be at the shows. Get your tickets here: cadenceweapon.net/shows-1

I desperately need this Moritz Reichelt duck synthesizer painting from the Florian Schneider auction

My new single "Step Out" is out today! I wrote a newsletter telling the story of how the song was made, including voice notes and in-progress videos to share a bit of my process. Hope you appreciate the look behind the curtain. Read here: cadenceweapon.substack.com/p/step-out

Breaking Kayfabe 20th anniversary tour is in two weeks! Performing my debut in its entirety for the first + last time: Nov. 20 - Toronto - The Garrison Nov. 21 - Montreal - Bar Le Ritz PDB Nov. 22 - Ottawa - National Arts Centre Dec. 27 - Edmonton - Starlite Room Tix here cadenceweapon.net/shows-1

Step Out featuring @dijahsb.bsky.social and Junia-T is on the way! The fashion show starts November 5th. Pre-save here: sixshooterrecords.lnk.to/StepOut

My debut Breaking Kayfabe came out 20 years ago (!) so I'm playing a few shows to celebrate: Nov. 20 - Toronto - The Garrison Nov. 21 - Montreal - Bar Le Ritz PDB Nov. 22 - Ottawa - National Arts Centre Dec. 27 - Edmonton - Temple @ Starlite Room Get your 🎟️ here: cadenceweapon.net/shows-1

I’m probably the only person streaming the Blue Jays game on their phone at the Yung Lean show right now

I'm really excited to be DJing again more this year! Here's what I have on deck for the coming days. Would love to see some Bluesky peeps out there: I'm playing at Sounds Good in Toronto this Friday Oct 17, it's going to be all UK music: UK garage, funky, jungle, etc. ra.co/events/2268222

I'm absolutely stunned. RIP to the legend D'Angelo. Bar none, one of the greatest musicians of this generation

I wrote about how thrifting across the continent and putting on vintage pop-up events unexpectedly brought me back to the classic hip-hop of my youth and inspired my upcoming music

“It’s not just [blank] — it’s [blank]” needs to be retired from all human writing now that it’s become the go-to sentence structure for AI bots. This isn’t about the em-dash, I think we can save that. This style of comparison now makes me actively angry whenever I see it.

Tonight at Sounds Good in Toronto! UK garage, breakbeat, jungle, drum and bass, grime and more from the hardcore continuum 📡 🎟️: ra.co/events/2177261

Wrote a primer on the UK hardcore continuum, a group of connected British music genres including UK garage, jungle and grime. I will be celebrating these sounds this Saturday June 28th at Sounds Good in Toronto 📡

In his latest Mind in Bloom column, @cadenceweapon.bsky.social writes about Playboi Carti: hazlitt.net/feature/part...

What does music say about who we are? @spaikin.bsky.social talks politics, power, and protest with musicians @sarahharmer.bsky.social, Tom Wilson, and @cadenceweapon.bsky.social at TVO Today Live from Hamilton’s Music Hall.

"The thing I would tell artists in Canada is just be yourself and don't rely on the States." — @cadenceweapon.bsky.social in conversation with @spaikin.bsky.social on TVO Today Live: Why Music Matters, tonight at 9pm with @sarahharmer.bsky.social and Tom Wilson www.tvo.org/tvo-today-live

I'm currently listening to songs that users have made with Suno AI as part of my research for a book I'm writing. This has been by far the hardest part of the whole project. Woof.

Wow, what an honour! Couldn't be happier to be nominated for a Digital Publishing Award for my @hazlitt.bsky.social column

From anthems to protest songs, music captures the spirit of the times. We're coming to Hamilton on Sat. May 10, at 7pm for a conversation with @sarahharmer.bsky.social, @cadenceweapon.bsky.social & Tom Wilson. Free tickets here: www.eventbrite.ca/e/tvo-today-...

Decided to put out some autographed green Rollercoaster vinyl today. Each record comes with a lyric sheet from the album handwritten, signed and dated by me ✍🏽 Only 30 available and then they're gone 🟢 cadenceweapon.bandcamp.com/album/rollercoaster

IMO, both acts released what I think is their best project so far. One is @cadenceweapon.bsky.social's Rollercoaster and another is Dawn Richard and Spencer Zahn's Quiet in a World Full of Noise. Both released their first solo project 20 years ago.

Hey #Hamilton & everybody else too! Steeltown's own @spaikin.bsky.social will be in town May 10, 7pm for a live event talking music & democracy with stellar musicians @sarahharmer.bsky.social, @cadenceweapon.bsky.social weapon and Tom Wilson tehohåhake. Get comp tickets here:

I’m mostly happy about the election results but I’m sad that instead of Matthew Green, a tireless community advocate who cared deeply about Hamilton, people have elected Aslam Rana, a TMU professor who lives in Mississauga and plans to move here “first thing.”

DJing today for the final day of ISO Radio before they close forever! End of an era. Tune in at iso.fm at 1 pm ET

Hey, petitions work! Councillor Moise moves to WITHDRAW his motion requesting a change to the AGCO process for issuing non-profit special occasion permits. The withdrawal carries. No change will be requested. secure.toronto.ca/council/agen...

For all the rhetoric about Toronto trying to be a world class city, I couldn’t think of a more destructive motion for that goal than the one Chris Moise is planning to bring to City Council on April 23rd. Please sign the Save Our Raves TO petition: forms.gle/XQLai5qfQXuK...

Tonight!!! Starts at 8

Pictured: Therme showing Doug Ford where their other spas are located

Come out and dance Thursday night. Friday is a holiday. One of the great artists in this country is playing a DJ set. It's a free show. Don't say I don't love you; come out!!

Staggering reporting by @saramojtehedz.bsky.social

HARD TO SAY out now on all platforms 🌺

I’m starting a DJ residency in Hamilton at Mills Hardware. I wrote a bit about the concept of the event and where it comes from in my newsletter. The first edition is Thursday April 17 at 8 pm and I’m playing all ‘60s, ‘70s and ‘80s bangers 🪩

As a regular Newshour viewer it was very cool to see my guy @cadenceweapon.bsky.social on there spitting facts about the harm streaming is doing to musicians. As he says at the end, divest from these streaming platforms and buy artists’ records and attend their shows youtu.be/hk0A_ZWGVew?...

cameoed on @pbs.org @pbsnews.org last night in support of @umaw.bsky.social living wage for musicians act & to back up brilliant comrades/colleagues @dadadrummer.bsky.social @lizpelly.bsky.social & @cadenceweapon.bsky.social in their research & revelations against spotify

If you catch pbs newshour tonight you’ll see me & @lizpelly.bsky.social & @sad13.horse & @cadenceweapon.bsky.social giving Spotify the business @umaw.bsky.social

Montreal tonight at Casa Del Popolo, I’m on at 9 pm 🏔️

@cadenceweapon.bsky.social at NAC Fourth Stage #ottawa #photography #music #canada #bluesky photogmusic.com/cadenceweapo...

I’ve deleted the other app so let’s see if I can talk about music on here: I’m going on tour tomorrow and I hope that you’ll join me. It all starts in Halifax. I’m doing a talk about unlocking creativity at 5 pm at the Khyber Centre for the Arts and then the show is at the Seahorse Tavern 🦭

I covered “Ungirthed” by Purity Ring for the 20th anniversary of Last Gang Records with the homie Dan Only ✨ Out now on all platforms 💫 lg20.ffm.to/ungirthed

My Super Bowl halftime predictions: Kendrick will perform “Not Like Us” with a New Orleans second line brass band. Funeral march. He will also perform an excerpt of “Poetic Justice,” bringing out Janet Jackson to sing the sample.

If you’re in Toronto and you’re looking for plans tonight, I’m playing at the Garrison with myst milano and Breeze. My last show of the year, should be an absolute blast!