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16 reviews for:
Bedroom Rapper: Cadence Weapon on Hip-Hop, Resistance and Surviving the Music Industry
Rollie Pemberton
4.1 AVERAGE
16 reviews for:
Bedroom Rapper: Cadence Weapon on Hip-Hop, Resistance and Surviving the Music Industry
Rollie Pemberton
4.1 AVERAGE
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.
informative
slow-paced
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.
An interesting and nostalgic look at Edmonton at a very particular moment in time.
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
informative
inspiring
reflective
fast-paced
reflective
medium-paced
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!
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!
informative
inspiring
medium-paced
informative
inspiring
medium-paced