The recent Kanye/Fiddy sales showdown has once again illustrated an inalienable truth about hip hop. More than any other musical form, it’s adversarial and there’s always a side to be on. This can make life slightly uncomfortable for anyone who carves out a distinct niche for themselves.
Twenty one-year-old Rollie Pemberton, aka Cadence Weapon is one such individual. He’s already remixed artists as varied as Lil’ Wayne, DFA 1979 and Lady Sovereign. He’s an indie kid who’s way too in love with the ongoing possibilities of beats and breaks to take the college rock route. His rhymes are far more likely to wrestle with commodification and the ethics of consumption than they are to engage in empty, meaningless braggadocio.
Overly worthy hip hop often feels a little dry, but Cadence Weapon is no wholemeal hip-hopper. This debut album crackles with energy, assurance and musical invention. ‘Fathom”s murderous, almost industrial, rhythm track could loosen the fillings in your teeth. The skittering electro-inflected likes of ‘Sharks’ and ‘Oliver Square’ suggest a more baleful, less booty-obsessed Spank Rock. For the most part, it’s virtuosic stuff. If you don’t belong in anyone’s gang, you get to write your own rulebook.
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