Born and raised in Edmonton, Alberta, his father was Teddy Pemberton, a pioneering hip hop DJ on CJSR-FM. He began rapping at 13, and following high school he briefly attended journalism school, dropping out soon afterward to concentrate on music. He released the underground mix tape Cadence Weapon is the Black Hand in 2005, and his full-length debut Breaking Kayfabe at the end of the year. Breaking Kayfabe has garnered strong reviews in Canadian, American and British media, and Cadence has toured extensively to support the disc, including concerts across Canada and three shows in Austin, Texas at the 2006 South by Southwest festival.

Chart magazine named Cadence Weapon one of the 15 Canadian artists to watch in 2006. In addition to his own recordings, Cadence Weapon has also remixed tracks for Lady Sovereign, Ciara and Super Extra Bonus Party, and has written hiphop reviews for Stylus and Pitchfork.

Cadence Weapon was nominated for the 2006 Polaris Music Prize which awards $20,000 for the Canadian album of the year. However, he lost to Final Fantasy’s He Poos Clouds. Coincidentally, the Toronto alternative newspaper Eye weekly‘s cover photograph the Thursday before the award was presented featured both Cadence Weapon and Final Fantasy’s Owen Pallett adopting a mock confrontational pose. The accompanying article, in fact, revealed that Cadence and Pallett had become friends and both really admired each other’s records. Cadence and Pallett also performed together on the CBC Radio concert series Fuse in April 2007.

On February 21, 2007, Pemberton announced that he signed an American record deal with Epitaph Records, a move that will give him greater exposure in the United States. As a part of his new deal, Breaking Kayfabe was released in the US on March 13, 2007. In the fall of 2007, Big Dada became Cadence Weapon’s representative label in Europe.

Cadence Weapon’s second LP, Afterparty Babies was released by Anti-/Epitaph on March 4, 2008.

Check out his video for Sharks:

JJ Freddy

HERO: A legendary figure endowed with great strength or ability who commits an act of remarkable bravery or who has shown an admirable quality such as great courage or strength of character, the central figures of a movement. The movement in this case is to push the boundaries of the music HERO knows and loves.

HERO gives us two such legendary figures. Introducing artist/producer extraordinaire Darp Malone and the incredible word-smith E-Dot (who has previously worked with Mr. Complex, The Chapter, Loer Velocity and released singles on Ill Bill’s Uncle Howie Records). These two long time collaborators have finally combined their efforts on a full-fledged scale to create a sound that is nothing short of amazing. HERO’s music is honest and passionate, so wonderfully sincere and effortless.

They have no capes or pantyhose, just soulful ballads and aggressive compositions. Somehow HERO manages to easily combine substance and intricate wordplay with moving melodies and catchy refrains.
Together as HERO, E-Dot and Darp Malone’s music utterly transcends time without the abuse of trends and propaganda. Upon first listen one comes to realize that the future is upon us. The time is now, and they are here. Embrace them, witness the conquest; and don’t take them for granted.

Check out this video for single: Mogadishu

JJ Freddy – Writer

Music is at it’s best when it invokes uncertainty, excitement and surprise. It is to this end that artist/producer Suspence devotes his musical aspirations, crafting intelligent lyrics about life’s struggles over rugged, in your face grooves.

Suspence, also known as ‘Diamond Boy Wonder’, was born in Southern Africa. Due to his family moving overseas, Spence grew up in Toronto, Canada where he absorbed the rich musical mosaic. His influences include Kanye West, Will.i.am, Wyclef Jean and Outkast. This eclectic artist sings, raps, writes and produces all of his own original material. He defines his musical style as “electro-hiprock” which he describes as a “funky fusion of electro, hip hop and rock.”

Suspence has also formed an independent hip hop label Hot Jewlz Entertainment which is dedicated to promoting good honest music. “Hip hop has been held captive by too many fantasy tales and unattainable lifestyles. I’ve always tried to be honest with my music.” Suspence launched the “Keep it Honest” music campaign in 2007 with his hilarious satirical music video “Ballin’ on a Budget”.

This artist is a prolific and personal songwriter. “No matter how many times you’ve been knocked down, you’ve got to get up and try again, and that also sums up why I do what I do, it’s music therapy.” The theme of music as therapy is interwoven in his music, as he often shows a sense of vulnerability, allowing the listener to access his innermost thoughts and feelings. Love lost, career disappointments, hopes, politics, and community involvement are all topics that Suspence addresses with humilty and humour.

Suspence has also been active in the community, volunteering at festivals and special community concerts like the East Africa Famine Relief Concert. “I always try to address issues such as AIDS and poverty that are close to my heart. I have an internationaI music focus, and I want to give back through my art and time.”

Currently Suspence is in studio producing new recordings, and working towards a publishing contract. He is also preparing for a “Life Skill: Music and Sport” tour throughout UK and South African schools in 2009. “We hope to provide some music and life skill training, while tackling issues that affect us all.”

JJ Freddy 

Grand Analog is unbalanced and dirty; never clean. Grand Analog is fuzzy with three coats of dust and reads like an old manual no longer in use. The music is a beautiful mess of rap’n'roll dub and soul; a hip hop slop shop of times good and bad.

Only a year old, Grand Analog have already impressed crowds at the Western Canadian Music Festival in Winnipeg, JunoFest and SXSW in Austin, Texas. The live show lends a hypnotic blend of poetics and experimentation of hip hop sound that is enjoyable and refreshing to any ear.

The Grand Analog Project is fronted by Odario G. Williams. Members include Darcy Ataman, Damon Mitchell, Ofield K. Williams, Alister Johnson and Arun Chaturvedi. As Cyril Cordor (All Music Guide) states, “Grand Analog is an acclaimed reggae/dub-driven hip-hop project that has served as a conduit for Williams’ more eclectic inclinations.” The group released the album “Calligraffiti” on UrbNet Records in July 2007.

The first single, I’ll Walk Alone, is a fresh hip hop sound that blends dub and soul without missing a beat. The b-side single Get Live and Go has a sly blend of old school hip hop with rock’n'roll; this track deals with the underworld of immigration within the western world. Other singles include Around This Town and Touch Your Toes. Front man Odario Williams is also a member of Canadian rap group Mood Ruff.

JJ Freddy