Cadence Weapon wins Polaris Music Prize for 'Parallel World'
Cadence Weapon has won the 2021 Polaris Music Prize for his album "Parallel World."
The Edmonton-raised rapper's full-length record -- which fuses hip-hop, electronic and grime music into a reflection on social injustice -- was selected by an 11-member grand jury as the best Canadian album of the year, based on its artistic merit.
The recognition comes with a $50,000 prize and heightened awareness for the artist who's been part of Canada's music industry for well over a decade but is still widely considered underground.
"I can't believe this is happening, I feel amazing," he said by webcam on Monday as he accepted the honour from his home.
The 35-year-old musician's win comes after two of his previous albums were Polaris shortlisted, 2006's "Breaking Kayfabe" and 2012's "Hope in Dirt City," but didn't take home the prize.
"Parallel World," his fifth album, was already a darling of music critics who applauded how its 10 songs that play out over a brisk 26-minutes left a lasting impact. Some credited the record with capturing a uniquely Toronto perspective on the Black experience in Canada that grapples with gentrification, technology and history.
"I definitely made music with a journalistic lens," he said, acknowledging much of the album's inspiration came from watching the George Floyd protests last year.
Cadence Weapon, born Rollie Pemberton, moved to Toronto in 2015 after spending many of his formative years in Montreal. But before that, he was already on the radar of Canada's arts scene, named Edmonton's poet laureate for two years in 2009.
His familial ties to Edmonton run deep. His late father, Teddy, was a hip-hop DJ on campus radio while his grandfather, Rollie Miles, spent 11 years playing for Edmonton's CFL team.
While accepting the Polaris award, Pemberton laid out early plans to use some of his "resources" to organize voter registration events around the Toronto municipal and Ontario provincial elections.
"We need some changes to our leadership and we need to make things more equitable for people in the city to be able to vote," he said, calling on other interested musicians to join him in his quest.
In a news conference after the award announcement, he told reporters that he also plans to use a portion of the prize money to help some Toronto crowdfunding campaigns cross their goal, including one for the Little Jamaica community, which is being impacted by construction of a light-rail transit line nearing completion in the area.
Pemberton also reflected on the political landscape of the nation a week after polls closed for the snap federal election.
"I also just want to take this time to mention that Justin Trudeau has worn blackface so many times he can't even remember how many times, and he was just given a third term," he said in his Polaris acceptance speech.
"And that's exactly why I need to be making rap records that are political, that are about these subjects because that's still a fact today."
The Polaris Music Prize awards the artist or group that created the standout Canadian album of the previous year -- irrespective of genre or sales -- as chosen by a team of journalists, broadcasters and bloggers.
It is considered one of the country's most prestigious music awards. Former winners include Backxwash, Haviah Mighty, Jeremy Dutcher and Kaytranada.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 27, 2021
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Former homicide detective explains how police will investigate shooting outside Drake's Bridle Path mansion
Footage from dozens of security cameras in the area of Drake’s Bridle Path mansion could be the key to identifying the suspect responsible for shooting and seriously injuring a security guard outside the rapper’s sprawling home early Tuesday morning, a former Toronto homicide detective says.
RCMP not investigating possible foreign interference cases related to Chiu, Dong: Duheme
Canada's federal police force is not investigating any possible instances of foreign interference in the cases of former Conservative MP Kenny Chiu and Liberal-turned-Independent MP Han Dong, RCMP Commissioner Mike Duheme says.
Stormy Daniels describes meeting Trump during occasionally graphic testimony in hush money trial
Stormy Daniels took the witness stand Tuesday at Donald Trump's hush money trial, describing for jurors a sexual encounter the porn actor says she had with him in 2006 that resulted in her being paid off to keep silent during the presidential race 10 years later.
Bye-bye bag fee: Calgary repeals single-use bylaw
A Calgary bylaw requiring businesses to charge a minimum bag fee and only provide single-use items when requested has officially been tossed.
Air France flight from Paris to Seattle lands in Iqaluit after heat smell in cabin
A plane travelling from Paris to Seattle was forced to make an emergency landing in Iqaluit after there was a heat smell in the cabin during the flight.
CFL suspends Argos QB Chad Kelly at least nine games following investigation
The CFL suspended Toronto Argonauts quarterback Chad Kelly for at least nine regular-season games Tuesday following its investigation into a lawsuit filed by a former strength-and-conditioning coach against both the player and club.
Boy Scouts of America changing name for first time in 114 years, aiming for inclusivity
The Boy Scouts of America is changing its name for the first time in its 114-year history and will become Scouting America. It's a significant shift as the organization emerges from bankruptcy following a flood of sexual abuse claims and seeks to focus on inclusion.
Federal government grants B.C.'s request to recriminalize hard drugs in public spaces
The federal government is granting British Columbia's request to recriminalize hard drugs in public spaces, nearly two weeks after the province asked to end its pilot project early over concerns of public drug use.
opinion Tom Mulcair: Trudeau's handling of Poilievre's 'wacko' House turfing a clear sign of Liberal desperation
When Speaker Greg Fergus tossed out Pierre Poilievre from the House last week, "those of us who have experience as parliamentarians simply couldn't believe our eyes," writes former NDP leader Tom Mulcair in his column for CTVNews.ca