Kabaka Pyramid (born Keron Salmon) is an innovative revolutionary lyricist known for his eclectic musical style that merges the power, energy and melody of Reggae music with Hip Hop lyrics.
Kabaka Pyramid hails from Kingston, Jamaica but his musical style has resonated globally. Both his debut full length album Lead the Way and 2021 juggling mix Victory Rock Riddim have garnered international acclaim from critics.
1. Kontraband
Kabaka Pyramid’s debut album Kontraband – also known as The Kalling – stands as one of the more important reggae releases for 2023. Featuring guest appearances by Damian Marley, Peter Tosh, Protoje, and more; this project makes an impactful statement about reggae music as a genre.
Kabaka Pyramid’s album features many guests as well as their signature sound that seamlessly fuses hip hop with traditional reggae influences, in order to capture its essence while remaining contemporary and relevant for modern listeners.
Kabaka Pyramid’s music on this project contains powerful political messages that address social and cultural inequities such as refugee crises, police brutality and racial inequality. Through their music they present powerful messages of resistance and perseverance.
Ljova and Kontraband defy the stereotypes associated with “fusion music”, as their music seamlessly transcends various genres and genres. Lev ljova Zhurbin leads his eclectic band with Eastern European melodies over Latin rhythms and Jazz-influenced improvisations for an unmissable musical experience.
Red Gold and Green is an album with wide and deep resonance, from its opening melancholic mellowing through to dancehall vibes on Kaught Up – clearly showing their willingness to experiment and take risks with musical styles from Gogol Bordello to Kronos Quartet fans alike. Despite all this variety, however, Kaught Up never sounds confused or overwrought and boasts enough depth that it appeals to all music enthusiasts from Gogol Bordello fans to Kronos Quartet admirers alike.
2. Make Things Work
Kabaka Pyramid is a Jamaican conscious reggae lyricist who mesmerizes audiences with his smooth sound, often spreading positive spiritual messages for his listeners. He serves as an excellent example of how reggae music can transform lives and lead listeners down paths of righteousness; for years his worldwide following has rallied behind his message and supported it with their presence at international reggae stages, taking its power directly to thousands.
He has collaborated with various producers and released several singles since, such as Damian Marley’s debut album Kontraband and Well Done as career defining tracks. Well Done’s lyrics speak of hard working citizens of Jamaica working towards making life better for themselves and others, calling for reggae music to be recognised as sacred force rather than mere entertainment.
The song also emphasizes how hard artists must work to advance in their careers and succeed, showing their dedication and hard work as artists. Furthermore, it underscores their need to support each other and assist those battling in the industry.
Many members of the general public remain ignorant to the differences between reggae and dancehall; many think they are identical, perhaps due to ignorance or an absence of knowledge about them both. Dancehall differs by featuring more syncopated rhythms with faster and louder beats than reggae; it is typically used as party music guided by Rastafarian principles without profanities being present in its compositions.
3. Strive
“Strive”, from reggae musician Kabaka Pyramid, highlights the significance of reggae as a genre that people appreciate and defend, while its lyrics also underline its positive effect on life. Keron Salmon aka Kabaka Pyramid hails from Kingston Jamaica and boasts a unique musical style which incorporates Hip Hop lyrics with Reggae/Dancehall melodies/energy and melodies – such as changing them out to popular songs before recording them onto his mother’s tape player – giving him his distinct sound which remains evident today in his work.
Kabaka achieved worldwide renown during the 2010s thanks to his socially conscious blend of reggae and hip hop, highlighted by his debut album Lead the Way which became an instant classic. Additionally to his own releases, he produced hits for Protoje, Jesse Royal, and Buju Banton among many others – garnering coverage in Billboard, Riddim and Vogue magazines and newspapers alike.
Kabaka Pyramid enjoys a strong worldwide fan base that connects deeply with his music. He has performed at major reggae festivals in North America, Europe and the Caribbean and his message of spirituality and conscious evolution resonates deeply with audiences from various backgrounds.
Reem has amassed an extensive catalogue of recordings since the release of Accurate by Major Lazer’s Walshy Fire – to great acclaim – Victory Rock Riddim featuring MediSun & Iyaz Riddim Production and completed his second LP The Kalling.
4. I Don’t Care
Kabaka Pyramid’s song I Don’t Care demonstrates his talent at connecting with listeners and spreading positive messages. It pays homage to reggae music’s ability to inspire all people regardless of social status or location, while at the same time emphasizing DJs as key agents of positivity that bring joyous dance floors alive with positivity through reggae music.
This song depicts a young man suffering from social anxiety. To alleviate his discomfort, he turns to reggae music which helps him overcome his fears and live more fulfillingly. Even while living with social anxiety, this individual still makes time for friends and family, providing an inspiring message of hope for all those struggling with similar conditions.
Kabaka Pyramid, born and raised in Jamaican, began his music career as a rapper before shifting into reggae music. Kabaka has had numerous hits with Raekwon as a collaborator (‘Be Inspired” and “Nice Up the Dance”) as well as working alongside artists like Walshy Fire and Damian Marley on Kontraband releases.
Kabaka Pyramid’s most acclaimed single is “Reggae Music.” This track pays homage to reggae music and its ability to bring people together with positive messages and vibrations while honoring Jamaican culture and heritage.
This song was an instantaneous hit, topping both South Korean and Japanese charts and winning 12 first place trophies on domestic music programs such as M Countdown and Inkigayo. Additionally, it became a multi-platinum single, selling over one million copies worldwide.
5. Well Done
Kabaka Pyramid has been busy over the last couple of years; releasing impactful singles like Nice Up The Dance and Believe, as well as topping reggae charts globally with 2021’s Victory Rock Riddim produced by Federation Sound. He also gained immense international success through 2021’s Victory Rock Riddim produced by Federation Sound. As an exceptional conscious revolutionary lyricist who connects deeply with audiences worldwide through powerful messages and vibes; Kabaka Pyramid has amassed an impressive catalog of music over time while building strong global fan-bases around his powerful messages and vibes; performing on some of Kingston’s biggest reggae stages such as Jamaica Reggae on the River Rebel Salute Sierra Nevada World Music Festival to name just some!
His combination of Hip Hop and Dancehall earned him international attention through his 2013 full-length album Lead the Way, which charted well and earned a Juno award in Canada.
Kabaka Pyramid takes his name from Ugandan language for King and draws inspiration from ancient African Pyramids for his unique music style. His distinctive voice and deep understanding of social issues and Kemetic roots leave lasting impressions with listeners.
Kabaka Pyramid has long been recognized as an innovator of Jamaican music. A pioneer of its new wave, his unique sound fuses Hip Hop and Reggae into an infectious mix that represents Jamaica’s musical diversity in an innovative style. Although still in its infancy and has much further to go, with Kabaka Pyramid leading its development, Kabaka Pyramid gives it every chance of reaching greater heights with his message of unity and peace resonating throughout modern society. He looks forward to releasing quality musical projects through Ghetto Youths International/Bebble Rock production studio.