Earlier this year, Toronto-based rapper Cadence Weapon (aka Rollie Pemberton) released his “boundary shattering” (All Music) album ROLLERCOASTER, and on September 10, Pemberton announced the album’s deluxe edition, out October 3rd via MNRK Music. With five new tracks, including a Joe Goddard remix of “My Computer,” ROLLERCOASTER (Deluxe) expands upon the original album’s “fluent rhymes and insights” (Billboard Canada) from “one of rap’s most naturally gifted emcees” (FLOOD).
“These songs further expand upon my exploration of various elements of technology,” Pemberton explains on the new ROLLERCOASTER additions.
“I worked on ‘Surreal’ with Raf and Joe from The 2 Bears at Hot Chip’s studio in Shoreditch. It was the first song that pointed towards following a larger concept for my album and I’m stoked for people to finally hear it. Joe [Goddard] also contributed a heavy remix of ‘My Computer.’ The other songs show different sides of me that aren’t really present on the original album. ‘Scam Likely’ is unlike anything I’ve ever made before. Tropical vibes. ‘Clickbait’ is some of the hardest trap music I’ve ever done. I hope these songs add more depth to the project for everyone who listens.”
To coincide with the announcement, Pemberton shares the new single, “Wormhole” (featuring Nick Hook and Salva). The new project is available now to pre-save.
“I recorded ‘Wormhole’ with Nick Hook at his studio in Brooklyn. I wrote about an incident back in Hamilton where my friend Kojo Damptey’s campaign posters were covered with racist stickers. I wanted to examine the thought process of people who have been radicalized online,” Pemberton says.
Click here to listen to “Wormhole”.
Cadence Weapon – Toronto Residency
In addition, Pemberton is thrilled to announce his new residency, The Entertainer with Cadence Weapon, taking place over four weeks in October at Standard Time in Toronto. Presented by SiriusXM Canada, The Entertainer with Cadence Weapon will feature a lineup of prolific entertainers in the contemporary music industry specifically curated by Pemberton along with conversations and live performances from Debby Friday, Jacques Greene, Owen Pallett, and Lido Pimienta. Then Cadence Weapon will close the night out DJing with special guest DJ performances by Brendan Canning, Jacques Greene, Jeremy Greenspan, and Automaticamore.
As Pemberton puts it, “It’s always entertaining when you’re hanging out with entertainers.”
The Entertainer with Cadence Weapon tickets available HERE
To support ROLLERCOASTER (Deluxe), Pemberton will hit the road in November for a series of live shows, including a performance in Los Angeles on November 16. More information can be found below, with tickets on sale now.
Having emerged as an artist who gave voice to issues of systemic inequality and racial disparity, particularly among Canada’s Black communities, with his 2021 Polaris Prize-winning fifth album Parallel World, Cadence Weapon returned with an urgency this year on ROLLERCOASTER, addressing the dizzying contradictions of modern culture and technology with both precision and irreverence.
The hyperpop and electro-inspired production of ROLLERCOASTER is intended to replicate the internet’s “sensory overload.” With credits including the likes of Jacques Greene, Grandtheft, Bartees Strange, Machinedrum, Cecile Believe, Martyn Bootyspoon, Loraine James, Taydex, Wesley Singerman, myst milano, and Harrison, Pemberton organized a combination of tried-and-true Canadian collaborators and “fellow Black weirdos,” as Pemberton put it, to execute his vision.
Despite its bleak portrait of today’s digital attention economy, ROLLERCOASTER fits into a long lineage of music by Black electronic artists forging Black futures and goes hand-in-hand with his work outside of music, as he frequently uses his platform to shed light on musicians’ rights and financial realities. By illuminating the current issues of the world, Pemberton inspires others to join him in the fight for a better one.
Cadence Weapon Tour Dates:
- Fri. Sep. 20 – Hamburg, DE @ Reeperbahn Showcase
- Thu. Oct. 3 – Toronto, ON @ Standard Time (w/ Debby Friday) *
- Thu. Oct. 10 – Toronto, ON @ Standard Time (w/ Jacques Greene) *
- Thu. Oct. 17 – Toronto, ON @ Standard Time (w/ Owen Pallett) *
- Thu. Oct. 24 – Toronto, ON @ Standard Time (w/ Lido Pimienta) *
- Wed. Nov. 6 – Winnipeg, MB @ Sidestage %
- Thu. Nov. 7 – Regina, SK @ The Exchange %
- Fri. Nov. 8 – Saskatoon, SK @ Amigos %
- Sat. Nov. 9 – Edmonton, AB @ The Starlite Room %
- Sun. Nov. 10 – Calgary, AB @ Commonwealth %
- Tue. Nov. 12 – Vancouver, BC @ Fox Cabaret %
- Sat. Nov. 16 – Los Angeles, CA @ Genghis Cohen
* The Entertainer with Cadence Weapon Residency
% w/ Super Duty Tough Work
