Last summer’s release of Keron Salmon aka Kabaka Pyramid’s free-to-download Rebel Music EP caused quite a stir among reggae music fans. This project combined roots reggae with conscious hip hop elements and seemed to unite them all under one banner.
Kabaka Pyramid is a Grammy award-winning conscious revolutionary lyricist and seamlessly merges reggae’s energy with hip hop’s lyrics.
The Kalling
Kabaka Pyramid’s sophomore release is an impressive musical statement about his development as an accomplished young lyricist with an original sound. Connecting reggae music and hip hop together, creating his own distinct sound – produced by Damian “Jr Gong” Marley himself, featuring Protoje, Black Am I and Jesse Royal alongside other prominent artists – this album speaks volumes of Kabaka Pyramid’s potential success as an artist and musician.
Grateful is the debut single off this project and showcases Kabaka’s presence as a Third Generation member of Reggae royalty. His words focus on maintaining integrity and staying away from negative aspects of life while encouraging young people to find positive ways of upturning their current lot in life.
Showing just how versatile his voice can be, he teams up with singer Nathalia aka Lionchld for one of the project’s standout tracks: they sing about their people’s struggles in an authentic and captivating manner that’s sure to hook listeners.
Other standout tracks on this album include Make Things Work, an upbeat tune that champions proper work ethics; and Mr Rastaman featuring dancehall star Tifa; this slow-tempo track may go overlooked, but is nevertheless essential listening.
Morgan and Kabaka shine on Energy, an infectiously catchy hip-hop track featuring them rapping about protecting personal boundaries against negative intrusions. Production for this is superbly accomplished thanks to drummers Ali Darvish and Shiah Coore; bassist Craig “Grizzle” Higgins; guitarists Shane “Fyah Keyz” Greensword and Julian Marley, keyboardist Ronoy Gordon and Shackair McQueen as well as saxophonist David Fernandez. Finally, their album closes with Safe Right Here featuring Jah9 providing backing vocals while aiding production as well.
Kontraband
Kabaka Pyramid’s debut album Kontraband is an exquisite blend of musical brilliance and intelligence, already described by critics as a potential classic. Boasting an array of genres that come together seamlessly for powerful political commentary as well as intelligent musical exploration, Kontraband promises to become an instant classic!
Pyramid utilizes his musical genres and styles to raise consciousness and foster social change, much like The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill did with her album of mixed genre music blending known together under one banner. However, unlike many artists he does not shy away from using humor when conveying these messages; his signature vocal scat or “skibbily bang-bang” makes frequent appearances on this album and adds lightness and comedy to the lyrics.
Pyramid’s album explores multiple topics, such as climate change, racism, capitalism’s impact on women and Africa, love, and many others. He successfully blends all these themes together into an empowering, upbeat package. Reggae fans may enjoy hearing that several of Bob Marley’s sons act as executive producers on five of its tracks – bringing an added dimension.
The Kontraband is an ensemble that blends Eastern European and Gypsy melodies, Latin rhythms, jazz-influenced improvisation and Classical forms seamlessly into its performances. They have performed around the world – including at New York’s Lincoln Center and Museum of Modern Art; Washington DC’s Kennedy Center; Ottawa Chamberfest; Brooklyn Baryshnikov Arts Center & the Baryshnikov Arts Center in Brooklyn where they recorded a Tiny Desk Concert; collaborated with filmmaker Sean McPhillips on Cupcake (premiere at Tribeca Film Festival); Aszure Barton & Artists on dance piece Busk.
Rebel Music
Rebel Music is an eye-opening book that examines the power of music to rewrite history and alter lives. Hisham Aidi provides a global view of race, empire and the Muslim youth culture with regards to musical genres across Africa, Europe and Asia; comparing different strains of Islam with various genres across these regions as he shows that musicians are equally affected by both their local environment as well as religion or politics that surround them.
Rebel Music explores how music is integral to culture. Through chapters focusing on hip hop and punk music in Brazil, Gnawa-reggae in North Africa and rai in Pakistan – Rebel Music illustrates how these musical styles reflect and respond to political tensions, social movements and other tensions within these cultures. A must read for anyone curious about the relationship between music and politics!
Young people have been galvanized by various events to use art as weapons against injustice and for civil rights. They have used graffiti art as one of their weapons against corruption and violence while fighting for equality and peace. Protest music has become an especially effective means of doing this: providing a soundtrack to their movements with songs like anthems, marches and raps that they chant throughout.
United States of America citizens enjoy freedom of speech thanks to the First Amendment of our constitution, which protects free speech and allows individuals to express themselves however they please. Unfortunately, such freedom is not enjoyed in all countries due to government censorship practices. For MTV’s Rebel Music’s second season director and producer Shepard Fairey will follow Native American musicians who use music as a vehicle against oppression through MTV Rebel Music.
Rebel Music explores Bob Marley and The Wailers’ impact on Jamaica’s musical landscape, from Lee “Scratch” Perry and Bunny Wailer’s roles to their impact at events like Lee ‘Scratch” Perry’s One Love Peace Concert where Marley unified opposing politicians; to over 400 photographs featuring contributions by artists like Island Records founder Chris Blackwell and Wailers guitarist Junior Marvin. Additionally, Rebel Music includes an in-depth timeline of Bob’s life as well as his complete catalogue.