Recommendations: January 2026
Roc Marciano, the Kanye documentary, Articles of Interest, a playlist and more
Welcome to my monthly recommendation email featuring everything that stood out for me in January in the worlds of music, film, books, TV, podcasts and more. To read the full post and the monthly playlist, become a paid subscriber.
Album: Roc Marciano - 656
The first great album of 2026 comes from a likely source. No rapper has been on a run like Long Island’s Roc Marciano over the past few years. Setting the blueprint for the independent hustle and stripped down production of Griselda Records and others with almost two decades of prolific output, Roc has solidified his status as your favourite rapper’s favourite rapper with a nearly flawless set of releases, starting with The Elephant Man’s Bones, his 2022 collab album with the Alchemist.
There are certainly precedents for his style: the gruff Wu-Gambino flavour to his diction is reminiscent of Raekwon, the multisyllabic rhymes used to tell gangster stories is pure Kool G Rap, the droll humour and pure joy for the art of rhyming might make him the heir apparent to MF DOOM. But the moment his voice arrives over top of one of his sublime, drumless, self-produced beats, it becomes clear that his sound is truly singular:
“Blonde Amber spray on Balenciaga lingerie
John Gage, Johnny Fontane, Rob just made me a wallet chain
The Benz Brabus, pocket change, I acquired the finer things”
The technical muscle he brings to these songs is dazzling in its variety. Roc approaches the construction of his verses like a prize fighter in the ring. Depending on the track, he can come with a fusillade of dense combinations:
“The Pullman, pull in bullion, never been on bullshit
Bullpen from pimp stick to pulpit
Pulled a thick Pitbull b**** out a wolves' den
Wolf in sheep's clothing, homie, this is Woolrich
Rich cougars, Krugerrands, the roof on the Cayenne's translucent”
Or he can knock you out with a winning punchline:
“After all that clout you chased, how the fuck you still out of shape?”
His penchant for tongue-twisting verses could be distractingly showy in other hands. Take Eminem, for instance. But Roc’s smooth, subtle delivery makes 656’s 32 minute running time seem even more brisk than it actually is.
Standout tracks: Childish Things, Tracey Morgan Vomit, Easy Bake Oven, Melo
Film: In Whose Name?
In light of Kanye West’s recent public apology in the Wall Street Journal, it was fortuitous timing that I happened to have recently watched the harrowing documentary about the last few years of his life called In Whose Name? Far from a puff project, Ye’s unpredictable behaviour in this film will look familiar to anyone who has dealt with a friend or family member suffering from mental illness. Kim Kardashian is shown to have the patience of a saint in this film.
We’re watching a person navigate their total lack of impulse control and escalating paranoid delusions, while simultaneously having access to staggering wealth and unfathomable power. A bad combination. You can see how easily right wing sycophants were able to lodge themselves into his life. You can watch him get radicalized in real time, subsequently laying waste to everything he had previously built. I hope that Ye really has been able to find balance and can maintain it going forward.
Podcast: Articles Of Interest Gear series
I can’t give Avery Trufelman’s Articles Of Interest enough flowers. A wonderful Substack as well, the boundless curiosity and enthusiasm around the history of clothing exhibited in her podcast heavily influenced my upcoming album, particularly the American Ivy series. This season is all about the surprising connections between the outdoors industry and military garb. As someone who wears an N-3B snorkel parka every day to survive -30 degree Canadian winters, I couldn’t have been more interested in a subject. A pleasure from beginning to end.
After the paywall, read on for a breakdown of the best songs I listened to this month and an exclusive playlist with over two hours of music as well as my TV, book and interview recommendations. Plus get immediate access to the Pemberton Academy and full archive.
Tracks of the Month and January 2026 Playlist
Keep reading with a 7-day free trial
Subscribe to Cadence Weapon to keep reading this post and get 7 days of free access to the full post archives.