From scratchy turntables and slap bass riffs to 2-minute trombone solos and splashy Rhodes organ fills, Nashville-based hip hop artist Cadence proves refreshingly creative and catchy with the upcoming release of his third album, Songs of Vice & Virtue.
The disc, set for release Match 21 by Paper Weight Records, is a collection 14 ballads delving into the political, religious and personal realms of Matt Elam, otherwise known as Cadence.
Releasing his first album at age 18, Elam is no new comer to the annals of the Nashville rap scene. Garnering positive press from the much of the mid-state’s media and rated best local hip hop artist by The Nashville Scene Reader’s Poll, Elam’s new release will certainly draw some anticipated attention.
Beginning with splices of childhood cassette recordings of Elam talking with his mother, the record’s first song, “Comin’ Back,” is complete with an entourage of horns and piano melodies set to thumping backbeats reminiscent of Jay-Z’s Black Album.
Venturing out from there, Cadence explores a spray of musical styles. “So Alone” approaches the soul of Marvin Gaye while the sentimental jazz piano and power synths of “Here I Am” take a more lounge-style approach.
The lyrical diversity is even greater. From the start, Elam takes intentional aim to prove he has a reason to be behind the microphone. His tracks are an open forum of opinion with commentary on war, voting, religion, racism, social change and suicide.
This seriousness however is short lived as the disc comes filled with its share of humor and playfulness highlighted in both “Squeaky Clean” and “Find Me Some.”
Yet as an artist with an opinion, Cadence is hard to read. He seems to incorporate a bundle of biblical ideas into his songs – God, faith, Jesus, heaven – but then turns right around to sing about washing his ass crack and getting laid. It remains ambiguous as to which is more important – religion or sex.
However, it may be this very confusion that seems to appropriately reflect the title of the disc, Songs of Vice & Virtue, as Elam plumbs the depths of tension between right and wrong, wisdom and pleasure, sin and righteousness. If so, this record is a surprisingly profound journey through Elam’s psyche.
Overall, this album is clean, well produced, mature and worth a listen. So contrary to Elam’s own advertising strategy, I don’t hate Cadence and I don’t think you will either.
For more information on Cadence, visit cadenceonline.com or myspace.com/cadenceonline.
