Cadence Weapon Announces New Book 'Ways of Listening'

Edmonton-born, Hamilton-based rapper, producer and writer Cadence Weapon (a.k.a Rollie Pemberton) is writing his second book. Ways Of Listening is a book of essays that follows Pemberton’s 2021 memoir Bedroom Rapper.

While the release date for the second book hasn’t been announced, the Polaris Music Prize-winning artist says via X that the collection of essays will explore “the joys of obscurity, the power of nostalgia, race’s role in sound quality, what we’re really searching for when we dig for records and more.”

Pemberton’s second book also delves into the “obsession with the “mysterious artist” archetype” and the “racial disparity in the remastering of music." Ways Of Listening’s publishing rights have been sold to McClelland & Stewart, a branch of Penguin Random House Canada.

Pemberton's previous book, Bedroom Rapper, is an autobiography, but it also meditates on certain themes: how a music scene forms, the evolution of music journalism and exploitative record label deals. So Ways Of Listening should delve deeper into explorations of music topics in a more explicit way.

Pemberton is known for being vocal when it comes to issues in the music industry. Previously, the artist launched a campaign to help artists keep their merchandise profits. He is also the first Atkinson Artist, collaborating with the Atkinson Foundation to explore making art within the context of the decent work movement.