Uploaded September 2021 | Updated September 2026, 3 days ago
Rollie Pemberton, aka Cadence Weapon, is a socially-conscious rapper whose work invites a lyrical reckoning with community displacement, encampment removals, the gentrification of Little Jamaica, and other forces that control or displace Black Communities. Join Rollie in conversation with urbanist Cheryll Case on his new album, Parallel World, and raising awareness about social issues through music.
This video is part of The Word On The Street Toronto’s ongoing City Imagines programming, a wide-ranging series of free online discussions that consider urban spaces and the people who live and create in them.
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Resources
To order Parallel World, visit cadenceweapon.bandcamp.com
For more musical discoveries and observations from Cadence Weapon, check out cadenceweapon.substack.com
We encourage you to visit https://native-land.ca to learn more about the land you live on, wherever you’re tuning in from.
Connect with WOTS!
Website: toronto.thewordonthestreet.ca
Twitter: twitter.com/torontoWOTS
Instagram: instagram.com/torontowots
TikTok: tiktok.com/@torontowots
Facebook: facebook.com/torontoWOTS
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Timestamps
00:00 Intro & Meet the Panelists
6:45 The Tone of Cadence Weapon’s Music
8:21 Themes of Black Communities and Displacement
12:00 The Influence of Construction on Parallel World
14:15 Governments Ignoring Civic Engagement
16:52 Goals for the Album & Preserving Black Canadian History
19:13 Cadence Weapon’s Influences
20:33 Writing and Production Process for Parallel World
27:18 Getting Into Music & About Cadence Weapon’s Book
30:27 Rise of Hip-Hop in Canada
32:35 Cadence Weapon’s Tour Schedule
34:32 Writing an Album vs. Writing a Book
36:18 Artists Cadence Weapon Recommends
38:25 Topics in Cadence Weapon’s Book
41:50 Transitioning from Album to Book
45:11 Cadence Weapon’s Passion Projects
50:00 Process from Idea to Execution
54:26 Connect with Cadence Weapon
55:46 Final Thoughts & Thank You
Rollie Pemberton, aka Cadence Weapon, is a socially-conscious rapper whose work invites a lyrical reckoning with community displacement, encampment removals, the gentrification of Little Jamaica, and other forces that control or displace Black Communities. Join Rollie in conversation with urbanist Cheryll Case on his new album, Parallel World, and raising awareness about social issues through music.
This video is part of The Word On The Street Toronto’s ongoing City Imagines programming, a wide-ranging series of free online discussions that consider urban spaces and the people who live and create in them.
---
Resources
To order Parallel World, visit cadenceweapon.bandcamp.com
For more musical discoveries and observations from Cadence Weapon, check out cadenceweapon.substack.com
We encourage you to visit https://native-land.ca to learn more about the land you live on, wherever you’re tuning in from.
Connect with WOTS!
Website: toronto.thewordonthestreet.ca
Twitter: twitter.com/torontoWOTS
Instagram: instagram.com/torontowots
TikTok: tiktok.com/@torontowots
Facebook: facebook.com/torontoWOTS
---
Timestamps
00:00 Intro & Meet the Panelists
6:45 The Tone of Cadence Weapon’s Music
8:21 Themes of Black Communities and Displacement
12:00 The Influence of Construction on Parallel World
14:15 Governments Ignoring Civic Engagement
16:52 Goals for the Album & Preserving Black Canadian History
19:13 Cadence Weapon’s Influences
20:33 Writing and Production Process for Parallel World
27:18 Getting Into Music & About Cadence Weapon’s Book
30:27 Rise of Hip-Hop in Canada
32:35 Cadence Weapon’s Tour Schedule
34:32 Writing an Album vs. Writing a Book
36:18 Artists Cadence Weapon Recommends
38:25 Topics in Cadence Weapon’s Book
41:50 Transitioning from Album to Book
45:11 Cadence Weapon’s Passion Projects
50:00 Process from Idea to Execution
54:26 Connect with Cadence Weapon
55:46 Final Thoughts & Thank You
