RAPPER COMES HOME
Weapon’s tune now an issue
It’s been a few years since rapper Cadence Weapon (a.k.a. Rollie Pemberton) has called Edmonton his home, but he still keeps up on matters in the city of his birth.
Like the debate that began in late August when an online petition circulated calling for the removal of turn-of-the-century politician and journalist Frank Oliver’s name from the Edmonton neighbourhood that bears it. This was of interest to Pemberton, who had opened his 2005 debut album Breaking Kayfabe with a song celebrating the area he lived in, Oliver Square. It’s a great tune, and an always popular number to play when he’s in town, but the name now tastes sour in Pemberton’s mouth, given Oliver’s racist actions in regards to First Nations people and African-Canadians.
“I’m still trying to figure out how to do the song without hyping the guy,” sighs Pemberton over the phone from Toronto. “At the time I wrote it, I had no idea, of course, but now I need to address this. I’m currently thinking of a new way to do it without actually mentioning his name.”
Pemberton (who served as Edmonton’s poet laureate from 2009 to 2011) is aware that this throws him in the middle of the great debate about monuments and place names, but he’s fine with choosing a side. “I know some people will say that it’s history, but that’s all that we have to go by. If we normalize people like (Oliver), then they become the standard in society. I’d rather support people who have made positive contributions.”
Heavy topic for a homecoming, but Pemberton has plenty of other reasons to talk. First up is the series of singles he’s been dropping over 2017, Don’t Talk to Me (overseen by Drake producer FrancisGotHeat) and My Crew (Woooo), which showed up on an episode of HBO’s Ballers.
There’s also his homage to Oilers superstar Connor McDavid, which seemed to hit everywhere as the team began its playoff run last spring, with McDavid himself giving the thumbs-up. Plus, there’s a new album coming out in the next few months on E1 Records, his first in five years. We spoke to Pemberton about his new album, finding a place to live in Toronto and the perils of selfies on mountaintops.
Q Things seem to be getting busy for you again after something of a dry spell.
A It’s funny, because while it seems like a long time to others, it really hasn’t been for me, because I’ve been there the whole time, working. I’ve been doing voice acting for TV shows (like Viceland’s Payday) and making music the whole time.
Q You must have quite the backlog of material.
A I do, and I’m excited to see what people think, because I’ll be playing a lot of new songs at this show. In the last five years, I’ve recorded several albums, probably around 80 songs, and I’ve gone through various mental shifts and stylistic changes. I think the songs I picked for the album cover all of the different moods and perspectives I’ve had in that time.
Q Like?
A Well, like this track I wrote about the condo boom in Toronto. It’s a sardonic club/electronic house music track about condos, because when I moved to Toronto, it was hard to find a place to live, and it got to this point where I wondered whether my girlfriend and I would have to move into one. It’s a city album, with themes of technological despair and self-empowerment songs about drinking responsibly.
Q A club jam about drinking responsibly?
A Yeah. It seems like a banger, and it sounds like one, but it’s actually about moderation.
That’s real voice of a generation stuff, Rollie.
A We laugh, but it’s actually a serious issue, and something I’ve dealt with on tour as a DJ playing late-night parties. As you get older, the hangovers get worse. It’s about changing your perspective on drinking before your entire life is one big hangover. That being said, the music is still suitable for playing at your next mixer.
Q You’re doing a lyrical baitand-switch, promising the usual good times and party lyrics, but instead serving up thoughtful themes clothed in killer production.
A I love de-centring the mood of a song with the lyrics, and I love twists and turns so that there’s something interesting there. I pushed myself lyrically on this album, trying to be as creative as possible. Talking about things like conspicuous consumption; why am I buying all of this crap? I love sneakers, and I feel great when I buy a new pair, but when I put them on I think, OK, where’s the next pair? I’m buying them so that I can have this feeling.
Q People often use technology for the same reason.
A A while back, I was ordained to be a minister so I could marry some friends in L.A. The wedding was in Topango Canyon, so I was standing on this mountain looking at this amazing view when I decided to pull out my phone
and do a 360 view of it. While I was doing that I almost fell down the mountain. It was extremely irresponsible of me. There’s a technology metaphor for you; I almost killed myself while taking a selfie.
Q You got a lot of attention for your tribute to Connor McDavid. It’s a bit of a novelty song, so do you ever fear that you’ll be trapped into playing it long after you’ve grown sick of it?
A No, because it came from a very organic place, and I love it. Plus, it’s not really a novelty; it’s got another layer to it that will always keep it fresh. On purely face value it’s about McDavid, but it’s also a metaphor about myself. That’s the underlying theme, if you really listen.