Cadence Weapon - 'Afterparty Babies' (Big Dada) Released 03/03/08

Combining the erratic rap styles of C Rayz Walz and MF Doom with the odd slice of unpredictable dance/dubstep production, Cadence Weapon’s latest offering plays like a very fiery mash up session with bizarre results.

Dedicated to all the accidents out there - after being told by his father he was the product of an afterparty, Cadence Weapon aka Rollie Pemberton has put together an electronic hip-hop event for those willing to explore the depths of experimentation. One minute the Edmonton-born wordsmith is laying it down in an old skool manner with just a rap and a beat (‘Do I Miss My Friends?’), and the next he’s laying down vocals on an dance-crazy instrumental (‘Juliann Wilding’).

While with most albums released these days it’s easy to make up your mind with just a few listens whether or not you like what you’re hearing, ‘Afterpaty Babies’ will take a few more. It’s definitely an album that feeds on your current mind state. For example, if you’ve had a shit day at work and want no contact with the rest of the world, Cadence Weapon’s words sound so mundane that you’re put in a worse mood than you were originally in. This isn’t because what he’s saying lacks creativity and zing, it’s just the beats and everything else associated with it when meshed with his lyrics do nothing to pick you up. Whereas if you’re in thoughtful mode and are desperately seeking something for your brain to feed on, ‘Messages Matter’ is an informative attack on you and your thoughts and leave you wondering about the track hours after you heard it.

At times the album sounds a little too busy, but if you concentrate fully on what Pemberton is trying to express you should enjoy it. Sometimes stern and at times comical, this project is an intellectual journey with more to it than meets the eye. You listen, you decide.