Bedroom Rapper

Praise

A GLOBE AND MAIL Best Book of the Year

“An intriguing window into a creative mind that takes creativity and the constant betterment of that creativity very seriously… You don’t have to be a hip-hop fan to appreciate ‘Bedroom Rapper,’ just a fan of art and artists in general.”
—Toronto Star
 
 “[Pemberton] has [a] depth and breadth of musical tastes that most of us can’t match.”
—Winnipeg Free Press

“Pemberton has made a career out of defying expectation and staying true to his roots.”
—CBC’s The Next Chapter
 
“Pemberton offers a new perspective on rap journalism.”
—CBC’s Q
 
“One of the key ideas in [this] innovative book – which also knowledgeably explores the history of hip-hop and U.K. grime – is how [Pemberton] intentionally studied and researched, learned the rules so he could break them.”
—Calgary Herald
 
“Rollie Pemberton slays in this big-hearted, raw memoir that chronicles his journey from Edmonton teenager to critically-acclaimed rapper. Funny, heartbreaking and deeply honest, Pemberton’s insightful behind-the-scenes look at what it means to be a Canadian artist is a must read.”
—Amita Parikh, author of The Circus Train

“Charting the highs and lows of his remarkable journey from attic-bound experimentalist to award-winning MC, Rollie Pemberton remains as ruminative, engaging and forthright in the margins of Bedroom Rapper—as poet, journalist, critic, musicologist, documentarian, DJ and more—as he is on the mic.”
—Calum Slingerland, Exclaim!

“Rollie is a writer whose authenticity defines his work, making Bedroom Rapper a book that’s as beautifully compelling as it is sharp, honest, and insightful. His voice is powerful and empathetic; his retellings are vivid, heart-wrenching, and strong. An absolute privilege to read, and a story I can’t wait to keep following.”
—Anne T. Donahue

“Read this if you’re a hip hop fan. Read this for a delicious behind-the-scenes. Read this for a coming-of-age book unlike any other. This memoir by Rollie Pemberton is open, funny, sharp and filled with storytelling treasures. It’s a beautiful love letter to life as an artist in Canada as well as an incisive critique of our culture. His storytelling is raw and polished at the same time, the mark of great art. We all stan Cadence Weapon!”
—Hannah Sung