Cadence Weapon Signs American Deal With Epitaph

Edmonton rapper/producer Cadence Weapon has signed a U.S. deal with Epitaph Records, which is obviously moving further away from its punk roots.

The young artist will see his Breaking Kayfabe debut released south of the border on March 13 to coincide with his appearance that week at the South By Southwest Music Festival in Austin, Texas. Toronto's Upper Class Recordings issued Breaking Kayfabe in Canada in December 2005 and will retain the Canadian rights to the multi-talented man named Roland Pemberton at birth.

Chart chose Cadence Weapon as one of 15 artists to keep an ear out for in 2006, while Breaking Kayfabe was nominated for both the Polaris Music Prize and a PLUG Independent Music Award last year. He's up for the favourite urban artist title at the upcoming Indie Awards.

A video for the album's new "Sharks" single, co-directed by Chris Grismer (Arcade Fire, Death From Above 1979, Metric) and Duane Crichton (Jelleestone, Pocket Dwellers), has just been released and added at MuchMusic, MusiquePlus and MuchVibe.

Cadence Weapon will tour through the summer and his sophomore album will be released in the fall. He'll perform at Chart's Canadian Music Week showcase at Toronto's Horseshoe Tavern on March 9.