Cadence Weapon Updates Connor McDavid's Anthem With Help From Locals

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Dozens of Oilers fans responded to Cadence Weapon's request to show up at Bob and Doug McKenzie's statue Monday afternoon as the rapper's team filmed a gonzo video for his new single Connor McDavid — Stanley Cup Version 2024.

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The original hip hop hockey anthem made waves in 2017, but the energy and enthusiasm of that playoff series ultimately convinced Polaris Prize winner Cadence Weapon, aka Rollie Pemberton, to make an update and returning to his hometown of Edmonton from Ontario.

“It was just good,” Pemberton says. “As soon as they arrived, I said to myself: I must be part of this somewhere. Anyway, I wanted to go home and feel that energy, and then I was like, damn, I should do the song again.

“I've had so many people ask me, 'Can you update the song with the new players?' So I had to change the list a little bit and tweak it,” says Pemberton, with the new track nodding to Evander Kane and Zach Hyman.

“I also added a little twist to it at the end, referencing 2006 which was a formative period for me and the Oilers.

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“I was 20, now I'm 38,” he laughs amid the crowd of fans of all ages at the Ice District during the video shoot, including many children, energetic indigenous drummer Superfan Magoo , Mama Stanley (Mary Louwen), a happy little girl. Pomeranian MPP and New Democrat David Shepard, who rightly noted with a big smile: “What a wonderful activation!

When the Oilers toppled Dallas last week, the former Edmonton Poet Laureate rewrote the song and headed to Dream House Studios with audio engineer Calvin Hartwick, recording, mixing and mastering the track in a blur .

“It's the quickest result I've had for a song I've ever written,” he notes, “but I wanted to make sure the fans back home would have a new version to play in their trucks, at the Moss Pit and around town, as we compete in this monumental championship series.

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On a parallel warp speed timeline, the video was shot on the way to the airport, stopping at the Stanley Cup United Cycle and Black Dog's name dropped into the song, capturing fans summoned Monday after- noon as decorated trucks honked loudly. and pickup trucks spun their tires on the corner of 103rd Street and 103rd Avenue.

Local indie music legend Lyle Bell (Whitey Houston, The Wet Secrets, o.ii.o) shot the footage on his Nikon Z6 camera in a flash, then quickly edited it for a Thursday release on YouTube.

“The video is a celebration of Edmonton and all things Oilers,” says the photographer. “We just wanted to capture some of the weirdos and the characters – when you look around Moss Pit, it's like a hockey Ren Faire, Edmonton went above and beyond.”

Our Lady Peace will play at 4 p.m. in the Fan Park east of the arena, with Shania Twain doing the same on Saturday.

As for Cadence Weapon, this remix follows the recent release of his critically beloved Rollercoaster, and the bedroom rapper will perform the song and DJ at Home and Away across the rink following Thursday night's home game. The event is the first official video, and DJ January and a live mariachi band will also complete the vibe.

One last thought from Pemberton, though: “Let’s go, Oilers!!! »

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