By Victoria Abraham

Victoria Abraham defines one up and coming artist each week so you can impress your friends with your musical brilliance. This week, she tackles Cadence Weapon, a rapper from Edmonton, Alberta.

In case you didn’t catch it, Cadence Weapon is from Edmonton, Alberta. Who knew the Prairies could spawn rappers, and skilled ones at that? Even if you don’t like hip-hop, you have to give Cadence Weapon’s dance-inspired verses and beats a listen for three reasons:

1) He might just restore your faith in Canada’s hip-hop scene.

2) He was sworn in as Edmonton’s poet laureate in 2009 for a two-year term, which made him an ambassador of the literary arts.

3) His new album, Hope in Dirt City comes out on May 29.

Origins: Edmonton, Alberta

Real name: Rollie Pemberton. Yeah, that’s his real name. But unlike Azealia Banks he didn’t think it’s cool enough to roll with. I’ll let you decide if it’s better than his stage name.

Known for: Cadence Weapon is known for hard-hitting rhymes and sick beats.

Used in a sentence: “Cadence Weapon makes you wish you’d paid attention in English class to all that Shakespearean sonnet, rhyming stuff. Maybe you’d also be a poet laureate by now.”

Download now: Loft Party

File next to: The Cool Kids, The Roots

Fun facts:  Read more…