Music

Here's the spotlight on Kadence's Rhetoric.

Kadence is writing and spitting some of the most real talk hip hop I've encountered and his rapidfire flow is addictive. He challenges his listeners as much as he challenges himself when he rhymes, and he's preoccupied with pushing his limits. If you're looking for blunts, 40's and bitches, yeah, he's got some of that, but he's also got a gift for opening your mind's eye to the dark workings of the world around you.

You can find his musical productions at http://abprojects.com/album/rhetoric. Check out a song or two off his solo project and maybe even purchase the album (which is a steal for 7 bucks). He's also got a mini-collaboration with another Abolitionist Project collective artist Samiyam (http://abprojects.com/album/kadence-vs-samiyam-ep). Support this artist on the come up and put some gas in his car so he can get to the next show and blow out folk's eardrums.

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As promised, here's my take on "Life As", off of Kadence's Rhetoric.

What drew me into this track was its acknowledgement of the emcee's position, and really the poet's position, when it comes to changing the world with words ("its all entrenched in the stench of Uranian retrogression a spinning human progression in self-destructive directions, but I'm just an emcee this is just poetic expression..."). Being connected to the world, especially in today's world, is easier than ever - but is that a good thing or a bad thing? Having media outlets spitting information 24/7 about atrocities all over the world or in the next town over can overwhelm any normal person, much more so for a poet/creative artist.

"Life As", for me, seemed to address the implications of what a modern world does to an audience, how the barrage of information can render an person numb and disassociated from the evils in their world and the people in it (despite the four twitter accounts, instagram posts and CNN app downloads). The song poses this question: it is a necessity to keep our blinders on in order to continue our daily lives, but at what cost? What falls to the wayside or isn't acknowledged just so you can hit the club or pay your bills or buy that new iPhone?

And this is just the surface of what's going on in this song, and throughout the whole album. Check out the track and see for yourself at http://abprojects.com/track/life-as

-A.J.

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Ideally, I would like to feature a new artist or band on this page every other week or so so that the artist's site can get some traffic and I can find another featured artist. If you have suggestions for who should appear here next, send me an email at ajohnso2ster@gmail.com.

And again, if you're going to comment, keep it respectful.