Cadence Weapon Brings Rap and Poetry at Halifax Pop Expolosion

Cadence Weapon chose the Halifax Pop Explosion to unveil a poem entitled 'Dirt City,' which he penned for Alberta Arts Day. The writing is part of his new sworn-in position as Edmonton's poet laureate, an esteemed government position for which he is expected to "reflect the life of a city through readings of poetry."

He strolled out on the Paragon stage, capping off a four-band bill with no bravado or bling. Holding a piece of paper with the words to 'Dirt City,' he displayed his flow and incisive language skills through an intense, articulate performance. It was easy to understand just why this unassuming 23-year-old rapper has been chosen to serve as an official ambassador of the literary arts.

Then, with DJ Co-op on the turntables, he showed us just why he has been short-listed twice for the coveted Polaris Music Prize, first for 2005's 'Breaking Kayfabe' in 2006 then for 2008's 'Afterparty Babies.' Putting on the hood of his sweatshirt -- about as rap star as he gets -- he rocked the mic on 'In Search of the Youth Crew' and immediately jumped into the crowd. Warm-up complete.

He followed with a new song, 'Jukebox,' an aggressive track with a forceful delivery -- "You get your jukebox away from me," he demands -- that ended in a yell. Cadence softened his stance for the next one, telling the crowd, "We have a personal rule here. We're not gonna tell anyone else what to do ever again -- except after this. Everyone has to dance."

Already warmed up by Montreal's Think About Life -- a non-stop, high-energy party band with a body-surfing frontman, Martin Cesar, who had the crowd eating out of his hands, despite not singing particularly well -- the throng happily obliged.

For just one MC with one DJ, Cadence Weapon's shows are as full emotionally and musically as any band's and his songs are both inventive and cool. To prove this point, the rapper also known as Rollie Pemberton easily tossed off his take on Wavves' 'Summer Goth,' as well.

Proving he can do most anything, Cadence Weapon doesn't need to take a page from the Kanye West playbook of self-aggrandizement. His live performances and poet laureate post say more than any rap boast.