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Bedroom Rapper: Cadence Weapon on Hip-Hop, Resistance and Surviving the Music Industry
Bedroom Rapper is a book for obsessive music fans who are looking for the definitive take on what's happened in the last two decades of hip hop, from Cadence Weapon, aka Rollie Pemberton: Pitchfork critic, award-winning musician, producer, DJ, and poet laureate.
Tracing his roots from recording beats in his mom's attic in Edmonton to performing with some of the most recognizable names in rap and electronic music--De La Soul, Public Enemy, Mos Def, Questlove, Diplo, and more--Rollie captures the joy in finding yourself, and how a sense of place and purpose entwines inextricably with a music scene.
From competitive basement family karaoke to touring Europe, from fights with an exploitative label to finding his creative voice, from protesting against gentrification to using his music to centre political change, Rollie charts his own development alongside a shifting musical landscape. As Rollie finds his feet, the bottom falls out of the industry, and Rollie captures the way so many artists were able to make a nimble name for themselves while labels floundered.
The book also captures a wide-ranging and crucial history of hip hop, with an international perspective that's often missing from rap music journalism. Rollie integrates the gestation of American hip hop with UK grime and niche scenes from the Canadian prairies, tracking the influence of the genre. Bringing his obsessive knowledge of hip hop to bear on his subject, he's created a definitive history here.
Rollie takes us into New York in the '70s, Edmonton in the '90s, the legendary Montreal DIY loft scene of the 2000s, and traces the ups and downs of trusting your gut and following your passion, obsessively. Music fans and creators alike will relate to the dedication to craft, obsessive passion for what came before, and desire to shift the future that is embodied in every creative project Rollie takes on.
Tracing his roots from recording beats in his mom's attic in Edmonton to performing with some of the most recognizable names in rap and electronic music--De La Soul, Public Enemy, Mos Def, Questlove, Diplo, and more--Rollie captures the joy in finding yourself, and how a sense of place and purpose entwines inextricably with a music scene.
From competitive basement family karaoke to touring Europe, from fights with an exploitative label to finding his creative voice, from protesting against gentrification to using his music to centre political change, Rollie charts his own development alongside a shifting musical landscape. As Rollie finds his feet, the bottom falls out of the industry, and Rollie captures the way so many artists were able to make a nimble name for themselves while labels floundered.
The book also captures a wide-ranging and crucial history of hip hop, with an international perspective that's often missing from rap music journalism. Rollie integrates the gestation of American hip hop with UK grime and niche scenes from the Canadian prairies, tracking the influence of the genre. Bringing his obsessive knowledge of hip hop to bear on his subject, he's created a definitive history here.
Rollie takes us into New York in the '70s, Edmonton in the '90s, the legendary Montreal DIY loft scene of the 2000s, and traces the ups and downs of trusting your gut and following your passion, obsessively. Music fans and creators alike will relate to the dedication to craft, obsessive passion for what came before, and desire to shift the future that is embodied in every creative project Rollie takes on.
304 pages, Hardcover
First published May 31, 2022
10 people are currently reading
247 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 29 of 29 reviews
June 14, 2022
What strikes me the most about this book is the effusive love, hope, and appreciation Rollie conveys throughout. He easily could have focused on how his Upper Class exploited him and lamented how this set back and impeded his career. While he certainly addresses this aspect of his time in the music industry, the crux of the book is shining a light on those who have been instrumental in inspiring, supporting, and collaborating with him throughout his career.
Having lived in Edmonton during the years Rollie recounts during the book, "Bedroom Rapper" is a deeply nostalgic trip for me - bringing me back to places like The Black Dog, Halo, Rum Jungle and more and infusing them with an extra level narrative depth. It is superlative the way that Rollie is able to craft a story so distinctly his own, while connecting to the broader scope of music and social history around him.
A must read, whether you're a hip hop head or not.
Having lived in Edmonton during the years Rollie recounts during the book, "Bedroom Rapper" is a deeply nostalgic trip for me - bringing me back to places like The Black Dog, Halo, Rum Jungle and more and infusing them with an extra level narrative depth. It is superlative the way that Rollie is able to craft a story so distinctly his own, while connecting to the broader scope of music and social history around him.
A must read, whether you're a hip hop head or not.
December 27, 2022
I devoured this in just a few days. Rollie and I crossed paths in Montreal about a decade ago and honestly I was always a bit starstruck even though he's a down to earth guy. My mind was blown after seeing the music video for his song "Sharks" when I was in highschool and subsequently after devouring his earlier tracks. It was incredible reading more about his incredible journey, unique perspective, and process behind his music and other projects. Highly recommend this to anyone really, but especially creative weirdos who don't feel like they have a seat at the table. Spoiler alert - you do, and the world needs your brilliance!
July 1, 2022
“The prairies got something to say!”
November 6, 2022
A fascinating profile of the Canadian music scene from the early 2000s on as told by the thoughtful, self-aware, and Edmonton-proud Rollie Pemberton.
I enjoyed following Pemberton’s journey to becoming a hip hop maverick: from a childhood steeped in familial influences and self-guided music lessons in the Limewire era; to a growing but fiercely free thinking hip hop star in a city/province/country that didn’t know what to do with him; to a Polaris Prize-winning artist in a breakout year, still waiting on folks to catch up with him.
I respect Rollie immensely for his dedication to his music and love for the people, places and circumstances that made him. Without compromising himself, he’s made coming from, picking apart, and improving upon this place something “cool” and to be proud of - we should all be so proud. Thank you for your work.
I enjoyed following Pemberton’s journey to becoming a hip hop maverick: from a childhood steeped in familial influences and self-guided music lessons in the Limewire era; to a growing but fiercely free thinking hip hop star in a city/province/country that didn’t know what to do with him; to a Polaris Prize-winning artist in a breakout year, still waiting on folks to catch up with him.
I respect Rollie immensely for his dedication to his music and love for the people, places and circumstances that made him. Without compromising himself, he’s made coming from, picking apart, and improving upon this place something “cool” and to be proud of - we should all be so proud. Thank you for your work.
January 29, 2025
I do think that this book could have benefited from some more editing (e.g., there were several sentences that were repeated pages later and felt awkward to me) and some sections read more like an archival, a list of names and places.
But there was a lot I did enjoy! As an Edmontonian, I loved reading all the names and places of ‘00s Edmonton. In that sense, I actually liked the archival feel to the book: Some of these names and places would be lost with time should someone like Rollie not write them down. My journal, I think, has forever been changed after reading this book as I’ve started to add more names, to “write regionally.”
More than the nostalgia and familiarity factor, I also just really appreciated the love and appreciation Rollie showed for Edmonton. Reading this book made me proud to be from Edmonton.
Finally, I also learned a lot about the music industry and the history of rap that I didn’t know. This book significantly departed from memoir into history lessons at times, but the two stories (the story of Rollie and the story of rap) were clearly inextricably interwoven.
But there was a lot I did enjoy! As an Edmontonian, I loved reading all the names and places of ‘00s Edmonton. In that sense, I actually liked the archival feel to the book: Some of these names and places would be lost with time should someone like Rollie not write them down. My journal, I think, has forever been changed after reading this book as I’ve started to add more names, to “write regionally.”
More than the nostalgia and familiarity factor, I also just really appreciated the love and appreciation Rollie showed for Edmonton. Reading this book made me proud to be from Edmonton.
Finally, I also learned a lot about the music industry and the history of rap that I didn’t know. This book significantly departed from memoir into history lessons at times, but the two stories (the story of Rollie and the story of rap) were clearly inextricably interwoven.
January 4, 2023
This book wasn’t what I expected. It’s a biography but it’s also music journalism and discography. I love, teach, and have studied music for much of my life. And still, Pemberton taught me about so many music scenes and genres that I somehow overlooked and missed. It so makes sense, the evolution of his career into rapper-DJ-music journalist. His uncle is a saxophonist and plays in a band. His dad is a hiphop deejay. I love Pemberton’s insights on the UK Grime, Montreal scene, and being from Edmonton, Alberta. Don’t be ashamed of writing regionally. You don’t need to pretend to be from somewhere else. I enjoyed this audioread from the author.
June 12, 2022
Great book. Eloquent writer, as one should be as Edmonton’s poet laureate. Rollie captured the prairies and the Canadian experience. A vivid picture of his struggles in a number of familiar backdrops.
I spent my 20s living in the Whyte avenue area, this memoir contained an amount of unexpected nostalgia.
Thank you.
I spent my 20s living in the Whyte avenue area, this memoir contained an amount of unexpected nostalgia.
Thank you.
June 9, 2022
Freaking loved it! This is a vital piece of Canadian music history. The details are lovingly recalled and really resonated with me as a Montreal-based musician. I will come back to it many times, I'm sure!
February 14, 2023
I'm not the target market for this, but I loved it! Cadence Weapon is now in my playlist rotation.
Rollie is a fabulous writer, and tells of his journey through the music scene with thoughtfulness and grace. He weaves his own story with the history of rap & hip-hop music in Canada. I was fascinated by his time writing music critiques for Pitchfork, and his (now) feelings about how music reviews can make or break a new artist, and how ashamed he is of many of the reviews he wrote.
Fun to listen to in audio. You hear Rollie chuckle at certain memories, pause at hard moments. He was a phenomenal narrator.
"The prairies got something to say!”
Rollie is a fabulous writer, and tells of his journey through the music scene with thoughtfulness and grace. He weaves his own story with the history of rap & hip-hop music in Canada. I was fascinated by his time writing music critiques for Pitchfork, and his (now) feelings about how music reviews can make or break a new artist, and how ashamed he is of many of the reviews he wrote.
Fun to listen to in audio. You hear Rollie chuckle at certain memories, pause at hard moments. He was a phenomenal narrator.
"The prairies got something to say!”
December 6, 2022
This starts out as a combination love letter to hip-hop discovery and the internet, and then turns into a pretty standard memoir with very little major drama. Well, besides the usual self reflection/regrets and record company shadiness. All in all it was an enjoyable listen on Audiobook but not quite the meta perspective I was hoping for. Rollie is self-aware (in hindsight) so its fun to hear him talk about mistakes and personality conflicts. However, it really is just a musician memoir that branches out a little into hip-hop history and the Canadian music scene in general. Good if you find those things interesting.
January 12, 2024
might be the coolest book of the year and it's only jan 12th
July 18, 2022
It was great to spend time with Rollie. I found his music when Hope in Dirt City came out so I really enjoyed learning about his journey. Thanks for doing Edmonton proud!
June 16, 2022
This is much more than a memoir, weaving Pemberton’s personal history — from his upbringing in “Dirt City” Edmonton to spinning his first tracks on his dad’s radio show to being exploited by a music industry rife with greed, racism and mismanagement — with studied accounting of the hip hop scene through Canada’s biggest cities, the South, the UK and beyond. Seeing the world through Pemberton’s careful, socially conscious gaze was an education, while his no-nonsense tone made it a pleasure to read. Highly recommend for lovers of music, cities and watching the good guys win.
March 28, 2023
Encapsulates a personal history, a scene (edmonton) history, and a history of hip-hop in a well told memoire.
Brought back a lot of memories from playing the side-track open mics to having drinks while Rollie was first starting to learn to mix. We never ran in the same circles outside both of our scenes, and maybe that makes it a whole lot more relatable.
An excellent read, and the only reason it isn’t 5 stars is so that Rollie can tell us about the next 15 years down the road and have the space to do so.
Brought back a lot of memories from playing the side-track open mics to having drinks while Rollie was first starting to learn to mix. We never ran in the same circles outside both of our scenes, and maybe that makes it a whole lot more relatable.
An excellent read, and the only reason it isn’t 5 stars is so that Rollie can tell us about the next 15 years down the road and have the space to do so.
June 15, 2022
An interesting and nostalgic look at Edmonton at a very particular moment in time.
July 4, 2022
4.5 stars.
May 27, 2025
Sooo many feels with this one. First, it’s a great Canadian music memoir that perfectly encapsulates the millennial experience in the 00s and 2010s - both in the ways it was weird and wonderful, and deeply white, male, exclusionary and pretentious. This memoir was so honest. Rollie’s depth of understanding, passion and appreciation for music of all kinds is obvious throughout.
On a second level, while Rollie isn’t a friend, there’s one degree separating us, and we are only a year a part in age. This memoir has me reliving my youth in the most beautiful way. Halo, KHz, the side track cafe, Wundy, spending my weeknights and the Black Dog or the strat and going to see artists like Shout Out, Gobble Gobble, DB Buxton! So many more! What a throwback. Punk rock bingo at Likwid Lounge! New city! My heart.
As someone who has come and gone from Edmonton many times to bigger, shinier places (Toronto for four years, London, UK for three, Montreal for a summer, Calgary for two years) but always ended up back here either by circumstance or by choice, I appreciate the love Rollie has for our weird, special little city. The juxtaposition of being a city no one thinks about, that on the surface is a wholesome, boring hockey town, actually being a creative hotbed with so much texture and grit - is celebrated in Bedroom Rapper. Some really big millennial artists have come from Edmonton - Mac Demarco, Homeshake, cadence weapon, sean Nicholas savage, purity ring. A reminder that some of the best, weirdest art and creators takes place and is made outside big, famous urban centres.
Thanks, Rollie 💖
On a second level, while Rollie isn’t a friend, there’s one degree separating us, and we are only a year a part in age. This memoir has me reliving my youth in the most beautiful way. Halo, KHz, the side track cafe, Wundy, spending my weeknights and the Black Dog or the strat and going to see artists like Shout Out, Gobble Gobble, DB Buxton! So many more! What a throwback. Punk rock bingo at Likwid Lounge! New city! My heart.
As someone who has come and gone from Edmonton many times to bigger, shinier places (Toronto for four years, London, UK for three, Montreal for a summer, Calgary for two years) but always ended up back here either by circumstance or by choice, I appreciate the love Rollie has for our weird, special little city. The juxtaposition of being a city no one thinks about, that on the surface is a wholesome, boring hockey town, actually being a creative hotbed with so much texture and grit - is celebrated in Bedroom Rapper. Some really big millennial artists have come from Edmonton - Mac Demarco, Homeshake, cadence weapon, sean Nicholas savage, purity ring. A reminder that some of the best, weirdest art and creators takes place and is made outside big, famous urban centres.
Thanks, Rollie 💖
July 25, 2022
I enjoyed this book a lot. I thought there were some parts that worked really well, and most of it included the parts where Rollie was speaking about himself in the context of what was going on. The stories around his record label, his stories about his life in Montreal and in Edmonton were the most touching to me. How he made those albums and where his head was it when they were made. I loved his social commentary when he spoke about those personal issues as well. The nitpicks I have are when he started talking about music history in more of a "God view" or when he's not situated in the story. His chapters about Grime and Trap music were informative, but really a shift from where the story was at, and it felt like the flow was off. I would've loved for him to situate himself in that history rather than for him to seem like a bystander, or a historian of it. That's what it seemed to me.
Overall though, I highly recommend it just for the perspectives of a rapper in Canada in the 2000's, which there are not a lot of.
Overall though, I highly recommend it just for the perspectives of a rapper in Canada in the 2000's, which there are not a lot of.
November 29, 2025
I would have given this book a perfect score if it weren’t for a couple chapters that I felt disrupted the narrative flow. I understand why the chapters about UK grime and trap music are in there, but I didn’t really connect with them and they felt out of place. Aside from that, this is a very strong memoir. I have pre-ordered Rollie’s next book “Ways of Listening” and I’m looking forward to checking out some of the books and albums he cites as influential in Bedroom Rapper.
He has a lot to say about the state of music journalism/criticism and the impact it can have on an artist’s career, having written for Pitchfork. I myself wanted to be a music critic as a teenager and used to write a music blog (don’t look for it, it’s awful,) so I really connected with this part of the book. Like Rollie, I sadly took a perspective towards music during my aspiring critic phase that was snobby/elitist at best and really immature at worst, and I’m glad I have developed a better outlook now that I’m older and wiser, as Rollie also has.
He has a lot to say about the state of music journalism/criticism and the impact it can have on an artist’s career, having written for Pitchfork. I myself wanted to be a music critic as a teenager and used to write a music blog (don’t look for it, it’s awful,) so I really connected with this part of the book. Like Rollie, I sadly took a perspective towards music during my aspiring critic phase that was snobby/elitist at best and really immature at worst, and I’m glad I have developed a better outlook now that I’m older and wiser, as Rollie also has.
April 22, 2023
I heard Rollie Pemberton talk about this book with Shelagh Rogers on The Next Chapter. He was captivating.
Bedroom Rapper is a detailed history of hip-hop alongside Pemberton's experiences in Edmonton, Montreal, and Toronto. Along with highs like being the Poet Laureate of Edmonton, there were lows like how his record label didn't pay him for a decade and eventually ghosted him. Brutal.
I loved his perfect description of West Edmonton Mall (it reminded me of exactly why I had my first manic episode there). I also appreciated his explanations of cultural appropriation and how he felt seeing white boys with braids at a Montreal concert.
Along with being informative, this book is above all inspirational, despite the shady contracts and greedy music execs.
Bedroom Rapper is a detailed history of hip-hop alongside Pemberton's experiences in Edmonton, Montreal, and Toronto. Along with highs like being the Poet Laureate of Edmonton, there were lows like how his record label didn't pay him for a decade and eventually ghosted him. Brutal.
I loved his perfect description of West Edmonton Mall (it reminded me of exactly why I had my first manic episode there). I also appreciated his explanations of cultural appropriation and how he felt seeing white boys with braids at a Montreal concert.
Along with being informative, this book is above all inspirational, despite the shady contracts and greedy music execs.
February 20, 2024
DNF 50%
A boring play-by-play of Pemberton's life. I love celebrity musician memoirs, and will read ones even by artists I've never heard of (Cadence Weapon included). But Bedroom Rapper was mind numbingly boring. The way I see musician memoirs, you can go either way: be a huge star with a crazy story to tell, or you have a strong writing voice and beautiful prose. Pemberton does not have a crazy musician story (or at least he didn't by the time I gave up on page 135), and the book was just endless paragraphs recounting moments and dates as if simply writing in a diary.
A boring play-by-play of Pemberton's life. I love celebrity musician memoirs, and will read ones even by artists I've never heard of (Cadence Weapon included). But Bedroom Rapper was mind numbingly boring. The way I see musician memoirs, you can go either way: be a huge star with a crazy story to tell, or you have a strong writing voice and beautiful prose. Pemberton does not have a crazy musician story (or at least he didn't by the time I gave up on page 135), and the book was just endless paragraphs recounting moments and dates as if simply writing in a diary.
September 20, 2022
I'm a fan of Cadence Weapon's music and was interested in learning more about his entry into rap and career progression through all its ups and downs. While it was also interesting to learn more about how different genres of hip hop became trendy over the years, I do feel like this book could have used a tighter edit to be a bit more cohesive, as it felt a bit tangential and disjointed at times. 3.5 Stars.
January 31, 2023
Audiobook- This was a great audiobook. Read by the author, he discusses his childhood, lifetime in the music industry (complete with ups and downs), triumphs, and troubles. There's also a lot of analysis here, and a lot of time devoted to hip hop. I learned a bit about different styles of hip hop. Also loved the Edmonton connection and stories.
Great book.
Great book.
June 25, 2023
As someone who grew up and still resides in Edmonton, Rollie has earmarked the true experience of the culture shift from the early 2000's. From the white redneckery to the promising hope of dirt city, Rollie captured the heart of art and the soul of his experience extremely well within these pages.
June 15, 2022
I enjoyed hearing this musician's (rap artist / DJ) reflections on the Canadian music industry. I have next to zero experience in the genre so it was almost all new to me. I think someone in the know would like it even more.
November 17, 2022
This is an immediate classic Canadian music book. Similarly to “On A Cold Road” and “Perfect Youth”, Bedroom Rapper paints a great picture of the Canadian underground but with Rollie & his unique voice as the guide. Loved seeing some of the great characters of our scene mentioned.
January 8, 2023
Very interesting look into the world of hip-hop in Edmonton Toronto Montreal in the 2000s.
Loved the parts about Montreal.
Also tells you how scummy record labels are.
Loved the parts about Montreal.
Also tells you how scummy record labels are.
January 19, 2024
the prairies got something to say!! I was so astounded by the author’s encyclopedic knowledge of music, it was awesome to listen to!!
January 19, 2024
A fun and insightful trip through the curious, catholic mind of an artist.
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