By Maisha Hasan, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

Rollie Pemberton, perhaps better known by his stage name, Cadence Weapon, is no stranger to a changing music industry. Pemberton has spent the better part of two decades not only creating music but observing the industry in penned insights. In his newest book, Ways of Listening, coming out on May 26, 2026, he offers insights into a musical landscape that has radically changed in the digital age. And on May 25, Pemberton will be coming to Burlington Public Library to discuss his book in the Central branch’s Centennial Hall. 

This isn’t Pemberton’s first book. In 2022, he published Bedroom Rapper, a memoir on his rise in the hip-hop scene. Ways of Listening departs from an autobiographical approach, instead delving into observations and cultural analysis. 

Pemberton notes that in his memoir, “there were very traumatic experiences in my career that I ended up having to relive. It was actually relieving to do a different kind of nonfiction book, where it’s just purely about how I feel about the direction music is going…I had a lot more fun writing this book.”

The book explores how music, despite more being made than ever, has lost some of its cultural gravitas due to internet algorithms steering listeners in particular directions and the growing demands placed on artists. 

“I do think that the current musical landscape encourages people to be less engaged with the idea of music as an art form rather than as just a backdrop for content creation. It’s a combination between the ‘TikTok-ification’ of music, where the chorus has to be the first thing you hear, and the song can’t be longer than two minutes; how Spotify has also reinforced some of those ideas…it’s created an entire generation of artists who actively try to make music that’s accessible and palatable,” Pemberton said. 

Beyoncé’s words ring through the conversation — “People don’t make albums anymore,” she said in her 2023 HBO documentary Life Is But A Dream — but not all hope is lost. If anything, the same songs pushed by the algorithm and social media trends have made people want to reconnect with the offline, Pemberton argues.

In the past month, he ditched the conventional release shows and opted for pop-up markets to promote his latest album, Forager, an intentional choice to immerse people outside of the digital landscape. 

In the book, Pemberton touches on the album rollout process — its necessity to an album’s success — and that of Charli XCX’s Brat, in particular.  

“I found the Brat campaign to be really inspiring, especially at a time where it feels like artists are struggling to break through the algorithms, struggling to reach a new audience. I don’t think we’ll ever see a campaign that was that effective ever again,” Pemberton continued. “I don’t feel like everybody has to do this, but if you want to be successful, I think you actually do…things are just way more oversaturated than they were when I first started making music.”

Everything is entirely different since Pemberton started out in the hip-hop scene. Now, there is AI — a topic that receives its own chapter in the book. Even Timbaland has an AI alter ego named TaTa. It’s wack, to say the least.

“A lot of artists wouldn’t say it publicly, but they are using AI in their workflow. They have an idea, and they get the AI to make a version of it. The more we use these tools that make things more convenient and easier and faster, we don’t learn as much along the way. There was so much about making music that was just trial and error for me. I taught myself how to make beats. I taught myself how to rap. I taught myself how to do all this stuff. Along the way was a lot of research, a lot of study, and a lot of practice. If you take all that away, the end result feels less hard-earned, and I feel like people can tell the difference. There is something so off -putting and grotesque about [AI],” Pemberton said.

Regardless, a fear of AI taking over the industry is minimal for Pemberton, who claims that this latest craze will only embolden people to create and connect with real human work. He points to Rosalía’s Lux — an album with 13 languages, four movements, and blurs the line between song lyrics, poetry, and haiku. 

“I’m starting to see there is a desire for something more substantial, that feels organic. I feel like my record is resonating with people for that very reason. That [quality] stands out in this time,” Pemberton said.

As much as some people have begun demanding more thoughtful music, will artists still have to keep up with TikTok and the digital landscape? If video once killed the radio star, can’t this? 

“Throughout the history of music, there have been things that have seemed like an existential threat to music. When the jukebox came out, everyone [thought] this is going to put bands out of business. That wasn’t true. It was similar with MTV, or even with the record player, the phonograph,” he mused. “‘Video Killed the Radio Star’ is really similar to TikTok to me. The idea that if you don’t post ‘x’ amount of times a day, and if you’re not making all these videos and you don’t do social media — which is, to me, equivalent to the MTV of our time — you’re not relevant and you’re not going to be able to make it.”

Pemberton himself has kept up with the times.

“I’ve gotten way more into posting on TikTok recently, and it amazes me how people come up to me and are just like, ‘I see your videos on TikTok.’ I think the problem was that I used to think you’d have to compromise your artistry to use it. What I realized is I can actually just do what I like to do,” he explained.

When audiences read the book, he hopes they confront their own listening habits, stray away from the algorithm, and opt to ask what their Uber driver has on. 

“I think we have been conditioned to just accept what the playlist is playing for us and go with the autoplay. What do you actually want to listen to? That’s the question that all of these app companies don’t want us to think. They don’t want us to think about searching on our own or making our own decisions. Because as long as they’re in control of our path as we use the app, the more they can funnel it.” 

To register for Rollie Pemberton’s upcoming talk on Monday, or to learn more information, head to the Burlington Public Library website.