iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Cadence Weapon @cadenceweapon.bsky.social · 14/08/2026

The thing about the whole Fenix Flexin AI controversy that trips me out is when people compare “RUBBERZ” to the Smiths, the band revered for their memorable, complex riffs and timeless, literate lyrics. “RUBBERZ” sounds like Microsoft Songsmith. Be for real.

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Mark Medley @markmedley.bsky.social · 16/07/2026

"My years of experience as a rapper have somehow turned me into an attractive potential political candidate today." @cadenceweapon.bsky.social on the wave of rappers-turned- politicians, and what it says about hip hop: www.theglobeandmail.com/opinion/arti...

theglobeandmail.com

Opinion: How did electing former rappers become politics as usual?

As hip-hop becomes more enmeshed in mainstream culture, rappers are becoming viable political candidates. What does that say about the state of hip-hop, and us?

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Stuart Berman @stuberman.bsky.social · 29/06/2026

This past weekend in the @thestar.com, I wrote about Rush, Martha & the Muffins, Cadence Weapon, The Hidden Cameras, and Maestro Fresh Wes for their list of the greatest Toronto songs of all time: www.thestar.com/entertainmen...

thestar.com

The 25 greatest Toronto songs of all time, featuring Drake, Joni Mitchell, Rush and more

We rank the best tunes about the city, from Drake, Rush, Joni Mitchell, the Barenaked Ladies and more.

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Cadence Weapon @cadenceweapon.bsky.social · 17/06/2026

My 2.5 year old son’s favourite Cleaners From Venus songs are: “You Should Have Called” “Crane Driver” “The Jangling Man” He also refers to his pull ups with planets on them as his “Cleaners from Venus diapers”

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Cadence Weapon @cadenceweapon.bsky.social · 11/06/2026

So many people undervalued OG when he got traded to the Knicks. This is who he is. I’m so happy for him that he got to have this moment.

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Cadence Weapon @cadenceweapon.bsky.social · 09/06/2026

I wrote about my involvement in the successful protest of an AI data centre in my community and how the research I did for my book Ways of Listening helped in that fight.

cadenceweapon.substack.com

An Air of Inevitability

How writing my book prepared me for a battle against an AI data centre

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Cadence Weapon @cadenceweapon.bsky.social · 08/06/2026

Low ticket alert! Only nine tix left for my show at Cameron House in Toronto on June 23rd. Performing with the full eight piece band from my album Forager for one night only! Get yours while you still can: www.tickettailor.com/events/caden...

tickettailor.com

Buy Tickets – Forager Live at Cameron House – Cameron House

Forager Live at Cameron House – Cameron House, Tue 23 Jun 2026 - Cadence Weapon and the Forager Band One Night Only at Cameron House June 23, 2026 Doors at 9PM Presented by Cadence Weapon and Six Sho...

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Cadence Weapon @cadenceweapon.bsky.social · 02/06/2026

I wrote about why I’ve made the rare decision to put on my own live show in Toronto without a promoter. The experience has been very enlightening and empowering so far.

cadenceweapon.substack.com

No Gatekeepers

Why I'm putting on my own show this month without a promoter

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Stuart Berman @stuberman.bsky.social · 29/05/2026

If you couldn't make it out to my Q+A with Rollie Pemberton (@cadenceweapon.bsky.social) at Epic Books in #hamont last night, you're in luck! This week's stübermania newsletter features our complete convo about going DIY in the age of Spotify and AI: stubermania.substack.com/p/a-conversa...

stubermania.substack.com

A conversation with Rollie Pemberton (a.k.a. Cadence Weapon) from last night

At the Hamilton stop of his current book tour, I hosted a Q&A with the rapper/writer where we talked about the need to keep it DIY in the age of AI

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Cadence Weapon @cadenceweapon.bsky.social · 29/05/2026

Shout out to @thewalrus.ca for publishing an excerpt from my book Ways of Listening. This essay is about the strange phenomenon of online commenters cosplaying as record execs by citing sales numbers when arguing for their favourite artists.

thewalrus.ca

You Don’t Listen to Music with a Calculator. But Numbers Are Dictating Taste | The Walrus

How sales and streaming figures are inflaming fandoms

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Stuart Berman @stuberman.bsky.social · 26/05/2026

Hey hey #hamont: I'll be hosting the local launch event for Rollie Pemberton's (@cadenceweapon.bsky.social) new book 'Ways of Listening' this Thursday (7pm) at Epic Books. There will be Qs, and As!

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Cadence Weapon @cadenceweapon.bsky.social · 26/05/2026

My new book Ways of Listening is out today!!! Come see me chat about it in person: May 26 - Toronto - Type Books Junction with @elamin.bsky.social May 28 - Hamilton - Epic Books with @stuberman.bsky.social June 2 - Montreal - Librairie Drawn & Quarterly with @hualihuali.bsky.social

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Cadence Weapon @cadenceweapon.bsky.social · 21/05/2026

This is why I’m putting on my upcoming Toronto show without a promoter. To learn more, comment CAMERON and I’ll send you a message.

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Cadence Weapon @cadenceweapon.bsky.social · 13/05/2026

Playing a free in-store performance at Sonic Boom in Toronto at 6 pm tonight! Sook-Yin Lee took this photo!

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Cadence Weapon @cadenceweapon.bsky.social · 12/05/2026

Inspired by Brad Mehldau's piece about Jon Caramanica’s comments re. Billy Joel, I wrote about the value of traditional music criticism in the age of video podcasts, what exactly made writers like Greg Tate so well-respected and whether or not we even need a New York Times music critic in 2026

cadenceweapon.substack.com

The End of the Coastal Elite Music Critic

Jon Caramanica, Billy Joel and why a writer's area code shouldn't matter in 2026

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Cadence Weapon @cadenceweapon.bsky.social · 09/05/2026

Selling vintage and records today at Orange Hall in Edmonton until 5 pm!

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josh o'kane @joshokane.bsky.social · 08/05/2026

I went thrifting with @cadenceweapon.bsky.social, who's become one of Canadian culture's chief curators of sound & style. We talked about his new album Forager—languid, funny, a tribute to hip-hop paragons—& his new book, about finding meaning in the algorithm www.theglobeandmail.com/culture/musi...

theglobeandmail.com

Digging for gold with Cadence Weapon, Canada’s curious curator of sound and style

The award-winning musician and author, who goes by Rollie Pemberton off-stage, uses new works to share an evolving worldview that shuns algorithms in favour of something more authentic

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Cadence Weapon @cadenceweapon.bsky.social · 07/05/2026

Montreal tonight and Toronto tomorrow with @mike-eagle.bsky.social and Rhys Langston 🛍️

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Diana Chan McNally @dianachanmcnally.bsky.social · 05/05/2026

Community care is more than a slogan. I’ve DJ'd grassroots fundraisers, cooked thousands of meals, and built coalitions to push back against legislation that fuels homelessness. Let’s keep building a Parkdale—High Park and Toronto that works for everyone: www.dianachanmcnally.ca

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Cadence Weapon @cadenceweapon.bsky.social · 03/05/2026

I was asked to send in a ballot for the New York Times’s 30 Greatest Living American Songwriters list. My picks are below. The biggest snub for me was Joanna Newsom. Her discography is basically flawless and has stood the test of time so far. Nice to see Young Thug make it on the final list.

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Cadence Weapon @cadenceweapon.bsky.social · 01/05/2026

I missed it initially, but I guess Suno acquired Songkick when they partnered with WMG. Now they have access to artist touring data and behavioural data from fans. They’ll be adding a paid tier and are planning to use AI to “deepen the artist-fan connection.” Who asked for this? No one.

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Peter Nowak @peternowak.bsky.social · 28/04/2026

Musicians are afraid to speak out against Live Nation, says Rollie Pemberton aka @cadenceweapon.bsky.social. The award-winning rapper and former poet laureate discusses music biz problems and his new album Forager on this week's Do Not Pass Go podcast: www.donotpassgo.ca/p/theyre-try...

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open mike eagle @mike-eagle.bsky.social · 28/04/2026

one week til east coast raps with @rhyslangston.bsky.social including Brooklyn with Elucid and Montreal with @cadenceweapon.bsky.social neighborhood gods international. mikeeaglestinks.tumblr.com/post/8966612...

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Cadence Weapon @cadenceweapon.bsky.social · 26/04/2026

I’m putting on a vintage market today at Standard Time in Toronto to celebrate the release of my new album Forager! There will be vintage clothing, Buck 65 will be selling records, Lo Fi Bagels will be there, it’s gonna be a blast. It’s all starting at 11 am!

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Cadence Weapon @cadenceweapon.bsky.social · 24/04/2026

My seventh album Forager is out today! It's produced by Junia-T. All live instrumentation. Influenced by classic hip-hop and vintage fashion. Equally inspired by D'Angelo, MF DOOM and Ralph Lauren. I hope you'll give it a listen.

sixshooterrecords.lnk.to

Cadence Weapon, Junia-T - Forager

Listen to Forager by Cadence Weapon, Junia-T.

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vish khanna @vishkhanna.bsky.social · 23/04/2026

1088! @cadenceweapon.bsky.social / Rollie Pemberton hear Kreative Kontrol ⬇️ 🍎: podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/e... 💰: www.patreon.com/posts/ep-108... ☁️: overcast.fm/+AA3_nusCZSE vk: bit.ly/48NmMUY 🌲: linktr.ee/vishkhanna @sixshooterrecords.bsky.social @penguinrandomhouse.bsky.social

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Cadence Weapon @cadenceweapon.bsky.social · 21/04/2026

I lived in Montreal in the 2010s and was part of the Mile End music scene that launched Grimes and Mac DeMarco to stardom. After watching Mile End Kicks, I wrote about how trippy it was to see a funhouse mirror version of those years depicted on the silver screen.

cadenceweapon.substack.com

Main Character Syndrome

On Mile End Kicks and seeing one's life depicted on the big screen

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Cadence Weapon @cadenceweapon.bsky.social · 16/04/2026

Tonight at 8 pm ET I will be sharing my new album Forager for the first time ever during a free private virtual listening party! I'll be breaking down each track one-by-one. Might play some unreleased demos and other stuff too. You can sign up for the stream here: tinyurl.com/cwforager

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liz pelly @lizpelly.bsky.social · 15/04/2026

I read the geese piece in wired & what I have to contribute is that undisclosed advertising campaigns, in addition to probably being literally illegal (like FMC points out in my LRT), are extremely harmful to media integrity. this includes not just paid UGC campaigns but unlabeled spon-con (1/2)

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Cadence Weapon @cadenceweapon.bsky.social · 07/04/2026

I wrote about digital music marketing agency Chaotic Good Projects. Musician Eliza McLamb uncovered that they used hundreds of fake accounts to artificially generate buzz for bands like Geese, Mk.gee and Dijon. The co-founders call it "trend simulation."

cadenceweapon.substack.com

The Trend Simulation Era

Your favourite band made it big with the help of hundreds of fake accounts. Does it matter?

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open mike eagle @mike-eagle.bsky.social · 28/03/2026

happy to announce that Canadian legend Cadence Weapon is joining us in Montreal and Toronto and underground icon lt. headtrip is rocking with us in Cleveland less than six weeks away. get tickets while you can mikeeaglestinks.tumblr.com/post/8966612...

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Cadence Weapon @cadenceweapon.bsky.social · 27/03/2026

I performed most of my upcoming album on CBC with a full live band. I even managed to fit a costume change in there. You can watch the whole thing here.

youtube.com

Cadence Weapon: Live Concert | CBC Music Live

YouTube video by CBC Music

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Cadence Weapon @cadenceweapon.bsky.social · 24/03/2026

Posting on Twitter was something that I felt I still needed to do to stay relevant as a musician and a writer. But the blowback from a viral tweet I made last week has led me to finally leave the app for good. This is my elegy for X.

cadenceweapon.substack.com

Farewell to X

A final goodbye to Twitter and thoughts on how our time might be better spent

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Polaris Music Prize @polarismusicprize.bsky.social · 20/03/2026

Past champ @cadenceweapon.bsky.social's new song "Raghouse." www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wusu...

youtube.com

Cadence Weapon, Junia-T, Ariel - Raghouse (Official Video)

YouTube video by Cadence Weapon

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Cadence Weapon @cadenceweapon.bsky.social · 20/03/2026

I wrote about how scoping out ‘90s Calvin Klein ads and digging for vintage clothes at a textile recycling facility informed my new single “Raghouse.”

cadenceweapon.substack.com

Into the Raghouse

How the shadowy world of textile recycling inspired my new single

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Cadence Weapon @cadenceweapon.bsky.social · 19/03/2026

The test pressings for Forager just arrived and they sound insane! So stoked for people to hear this album next month. Pre-order the vinyl here: cadenceweapon.bandcamp.com/album/forager

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Cadence Weapon @cadenceweapon.bsky.social · 18/03/2026

I wrote this Ticketmaster / Live Nation villain origin story in response to the settlement of their US DOJ antitrust lawsuit, somehow managing to invoke the door price policies of ancient Greek theatres in the process.

cadenceweapon.substack.com

The Problem Solvers

My take on the Live Nation / Ticketmaster DOJ settlement

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Eric Harvey @ericdharvey.com · 11/03/2026

there was a time during my teens where Del was basically Nas + Biggie in my rap pantheon, Rollie does well explaining how beloved he was among a certain subset of rap dorks

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Cadence Weapon @cadenceweapon.bsky.social · 11/03/2026

I wrote a career retrospective on @delhiero.bsky.social in light of his return to the limelight at SNL over the weekend, including a playlist and my observations from performing with him twice over the years 👽

cadenceweapon.substack.com

In Praise of Del the Funky Homosapien

A primer on one of the greatest underground rappers ever

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Cadence Weapon @cadenceweapon.bsky.social · 06/03/2026

Doing a lil' sale today 20% off everything with the code 'forager' That includes pre-ordering Forager vinyl Run it up: cadenceweapon.bandcamp.com/merch

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Cadence Weapon @cadenceweapon.bsky.social · 05/03/2026

My first piece for @thewalrus.ca is about one of the most recognizable clothing items in Canadian history and how to reckon with a beloved design with a checkered past.

thewalrus.ca

Is It Offensive to Wear the Hudson’s Bay Point Coat? | The Walrus

The vintage garment commands big prices. But it’s tied to an ugly history

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Cadence Weapon @cadenceweapon.bsky.social · 03/03/2026

I wrote about how my process for making music has changed over the past twenty years and six albums in my newsletter. It's pretty wild to look back and examine my quirky methodology from back in the day. cadenceweapon.substack.com/p/notes-on-p...

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Cadence Weapon @cadenceweapon.bsky.social · 21/02/2026

Just had my 40th birthday lunch. I was enjoying the food so much that the owner of the restaurant came up to our table in tears because she noticed how much I was relishing it 😂

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Cadence Weapon @cadenceweapon.bsky.social · 20/02/2026

I wrote a guide on how to dig for vinyl records in the wild. Including how to prepare a list, scouting in advance, using your discernment and more tips, it’s a resource for the novice and a reminder for the seasoned cratedigger.

cadenceweapon.substack.com

PA 4: How to dig for records

My IRL methods for finding vinyl gems

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Cadence Weapon @cadenceweapon.bsky.social · 20/02/2026

This Baby Keem record is excellent. Really nice balance. I think people forgot what a great producer he is. Can't think of any young artists as complete as him. He's shown lots of growth here. "$ex Appeal" with Too Short is one of the nastiest beats I've heard in a long time 🔥

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