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Today, Cadet’s critically acclaimed debut album The Rated Legend, is released via Underrated Legends, while the tributes to the renowned “Underrated Legend” flood in (see below).
Cadet’s The Rated Legend album is A&R’d and Executively Produced by Cadet’s cousin, Krept (of Krept & Konan). It features Cadet’s Platinum certified single ‘Advice’ and posthumously released ‘Gang Gang’ alongside previously unreleased material from Cadet’s recording sessions. Produced by Show N Prove, Certified Bangerz, Mr Wonda and Da Beatfreakz among others, guest artists on the album include: Young Adz, Swarmz, Wretch 32, Chip, Tion Wayne, Deno and Krept. See below for full tracklisting and quotes from some of those involved in the making of The Rated Legend.
The proclaimed “Underrated Legend”, Cadet, started out in the South London based Gipset crew, with his cousin Krept, Konan and Redz. He began to plough his own path in 2015 with a series of hard-hitting freestyles, before releasing his acclaimed debut long player ‘The Commitment’ EP in 2016, follow up ‘The Commitment 2’ EP in 2017 and Platinum certified single ‘Advice’ in 2018.
Praised for the passion, power and gripping narratives of his lyricism, Cadet was championed by artists such as Stormzy and Wiley alongside Radio 1/ 1Xtra DJS Charlie Sloth and DJ Semtex and received a UEA Award for ‘Best Rapper’ in 2017. He supported Krept & Konan on their ‘The Long Way Home Tour’ and Bugzy Malone on his ‘Walk With Me Tour’, and performed at Wireless Festival in 2017.
In February 2019 Cadet tragically died in a car accident on the way to perform a headline show in Staffordshire. The following month many artists took to the stage of a poignantly sold out Brixton Academy for The Rated Legend show held in his honour. Those who performed included Stormzy, Lethal Bizzle, Dave, AJ Tracey, Krept & Konan, Big Shaq, Afro B, Yungen and more, with the proceeds from the show going to charitable organisation, The Cadet Trust.
THE RATED LEGEND ALBUM TRACKLISTING
- Take The Wheel
- Dope Boy ft Young Adz & Krept
- Support Me
- Still ft Wretch 32
- Send Me A Good One
- Gimme Space ft Chip
- Roley ft Swarmz
- Gang Gang
- Do what I Like ft Tion Wayne
- Speechless
- Damages
- The Convo (interlude) ft Telixia Inico
- Advice ft Deno
QUOTES FROM CADET’S FAMILY & THE RATED LEGEND CONTRIBUTORS
“I am determined and driven to keep Cadet’s name alive and to making sure I can continue what he started and achieved, because I know how much this meant to him. It was a labour of love and passion to create this project from just hearing random tracks he recorded and turning it into a full body of work. Cadet recorded so much good music that it would have felt wrong to have not done this. Cadet was so loved that filling missing verses or hooks from guest artists was easy to do to finish this album. All producers and artists done this all for free. That’s love. Cadet would love this album just as much as we do. It has versatility and really shows his range as an artist. With this album Cadet’s legacy will keep going, his name will live on. I have enjoyed every moment of putting this album together with our family. You will hear why he is no longer underrated…” — Krept (A&Rd and Executively produced the album and features on ‘Dopeboy’)
“For me, completing this album was my way of making sure his old and new fans continued to glimpse my son’s talent, creativity and passion for his craft, doing something he enjoyed more than anything else, performing with his alter ego Cadet. This album gives us the opportunity to introduce Blaine Cameron Johnson and Cadet in his most comfortable place, behind a microphone ” — Paul Johnson (Cadet’s father)
“The album coming out, for me, is a success for the fact that we’re getting it out for the fans and it’s something that Blaine would have wanted. So, I’m happy that it is out. I’m happy that we’re giving the fans what they wanted and that it’s what Blaine would have done. I think for me the whole process has been an eye opener with regards to the artists that have helped. I’m literally overwhelmed and can’t thank them enough for all their hard work and dedication over the past twelve months. Literally unconditional love for all of them, for everybody that has helped with the album. And, really just helped the underrated legend become a legend more in his own right. I just really hope everyone enjoys it, hopefully there will be more to come, but I just really hope that everyone can see the growth and the change and the hard work that Blaine has put into this since he has started music, ‘till literally the day he died.” — Chandler (Cadet’s sister)
“I always rated his freestyles especially. Passion. I bumped into Cad one time mid whilst I was online clashing everyone… he showed me nothing but respect and shook my hand. The respect was mutual. Genuine brudda. Wish we got a riddim done when he was still in this physical realm, but his legacy shall live on. Krept hit me to be a part of it. I could NEVER say no. Had to wack that!!! Rest In Paradise fam.” — Chip (features on ‘Gimme Space’)
“Me and Cadet was due a good 1 on 1 spa. It was a honour to flex with him on the album. I feel like he was just getting started in his career, so to be a part of his discography was a pleasure” — Wretch 32 (features on ‘Still’)
“The nicest guy you could ever meet, proper humble about his stuff, about his music just there ready to work man.… Cadet was the kind of artist [where] there was no boundaries, man. There was no limit to who could listen to his music, who could become a fan of his and appreciate his work. It doesn’t matter what kind of music you’re in to, Grime, Hip Hop, R&B, Hazz. It doesn’t matter as long as you’re living life and you’re human, and you go through all those emotions that we all do, then you would relate, because Cadet had an amazing gift to break down these concepts, these day-to-day life concepts, in such an amazing and cool, young, fresh way.” — Certified Bangerz (produced ‘Support Me’)
“It’s not even like I wanted to contribute to the album, I had to contribute to the album. We came together, we said we’re gonna make this a force, we’re gonna make this a team. If I wasn’t on this tape, it would have just been just crazy. If you know him, you know me. When we first started there was literally nobody there, it was me and him. So, what Cadet means to me? Like that’s family, he’s literally family.” — Mr Wonda (produced ‘Trust ‘Em’)
ADDITIONAL TRIBUTES TO CADET FROM HIS PEERS
“When I think about Cadet, I think about somebody that was vibrant, full of life [and] had the purest energy… He was running with the ‘Underrated Legend’ thing, but I really think he was a ‘rated’ legend.” – Ghetts
“Hand on my heart mans never met anyone as clean hearted as this brother in my life.” – Stormzy
“Oh Cadet, where do I start? All I can say is every time I saw him, he was just a vibe… he wasn’t scared to smile, he smiles all the time… We are definitely missing one of the key characters in this scene that brings a whole different vibe. He’s known for storytelling and literally delivering bar for bar… He was a beautiful soul.” – Stefflon Don
“[Cadet] was just very keen on always making sure that I was pushing my pen and always giving me advice on what I could do to just better my skill. He always made it clear to me how important it is to speak on relevant issues, things that are happening… He was just always really rooting for me… I’ve always had so much love for Cadet, always very encouraging and such a kind heart.” – Ms Banks
“Across the whole industry it was unanimous that Cadet was such a lovely person, he was known to be one of the nicest in the scene… He personally shined off of his music too. His lyrics were always honest and authentic to his story. Cadet has always been known for painting a picture of whatever story he wanted to tell you… What’s for certain is that Cadet’s legacy will almost definitely live on… He certainly left the music scene as a ‘Rated’ legend.” – DJ Target

Rishma

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