Poor Cadence Weapon. He can’t get no respect around here. There was once a time where he toured with Islands, back when Nick Thorburn was badass Nick Diamonds. Opening for them, he’d meet crowds not so much hostile as confused: “Hip-hop? At a rock show? We’renotpreparedaaaaaah” to the point that they did the shocked Standard Hipster Show Dance, also known as the Stand Still. The only time he got a rise out of them was when he did the rap bit from Return to the Sea’s “Where There’s a Will, There’s a Whalebone.” They just didn’t know.
Even after two phenomenal albums, Breaking Kayfabe and Afterparty Babies (TMT Review), he still isn’t getting props, with fellow Canuck rapper Drake using his Degrassi sparkle to front that joke The Weeknd, and Buck 65 being… Buck 65. Also, crowds were still confused. Buddy Claire Boucher (a.k.a. Grimes) noted recently that the label was giving him trouble. But now the matter seems settled, after he began leaking out new tracks left and right. Hope in Dirty City, his next album, is due out May 29 on Upper Class Recordings. Expect more of what Mos Def should have done instead of taking up an acting career: messing around with psychedelic and disco, and a calm yet provocative form of lyricism, among other things. He even got a tour with Japandroids happening. Though the question must be begged: Maybe !!! or Aesop Rock would be better? Or even Atmosphere? At least he can be sure the crowd’s in a dancing mood. It’s tricky with hipsters: either they do the Stand Still, or they turn into an orgy of dancing, moshing, making out, and awkward groping. I mean, really.
Hope in Dirt City tracklisting:
01. Get On Down
02. Conditioning
03. Jukebox
04. Cheval
05. (You Can’t Stop) The Machine
06. No More Names (Aditi)
07. Small Deaths
08. Hype Man
09. There We Go
10. Crash Course for the Ravers
11. Hope in Dirt City
Dirt City not included on tour:
06.11.12 - Seattle, WA - Neumos *
06.12.12 - Portland, OR - Doug Fir Lounge *
06.14.12 - San Francisco, CA - The Independent *
06.15.12 - Los Angeles, CA - The Echoplex *
06.16.12 - San Diego, CA - Casbah *
06.19.12 - Denver, CO - Larimer Lounge *
06.21.12 - Chicago, IL - Lincoln Hall *
06.22.12 - Cleveland, OH - Grog Shop *
06.23.12 - Toronto, ON - Horseshoe Tavern *
06.25.12 - Montreal, QC- La Sala Rossa *
06.26.12 - Allston, MA - Brighton Music Hall *
06.27.12 - New York, NY - Bowery Ballroom *
06.29.12 - Philadelphia, PA - Johnny Brenda’s *
06.30.12 - Washington, DC - Rock and Roll Hotel *
07.03.12 - Minneapolis, MN - 7th St. Entry *
* Japandroids
• Cadence Weapon: http://www.cadenceweaponmusic.com
• Upper Class: http://www.upperclassrecordings.com
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