Reviewed:- Kabaka Pyramid's "The Kalling"
A commendable robust body of work that shows the artistic growth of a homegrown fusion talent rooted in the Reggae Revival.
The follow-up to 2018's "Kontraband", Kabaka Pyramid delivers the 15-track Damian Marley-produced album with strong conviction.
Kicking off with the "Mystic Man", a posthumous experience featuring Peter Tosh.
Kabaka continues the relentless pursuit to find his inherent sweet spot between Reggae and HipHop and remains conscious of the task.
"Red Gold & Green" featuring project producer Damian Marley is already cutting its own path as the lead single from the album.
"Make Things Work" is a solid solo single that made an early impression months before the album; as was the hip-hop tainted, funk-flavoured "Grateful".
The roots rocked "Stand Up" featuring the unknown Nathalia, wraps a strong action call in a smokey hard-hitting Rubadub soundscape.
"Safe Right Here" is possibly the best single on the album depending on which side of the coin you enjoy. A bonafide love ballad wrapped and soaked in warm acoustics, this one is a gem in the grass.
"Mr. Rastaman" featuring Tifa is aesthetically pleasing but feels like a strong filler at this point in the lineup considering the gravity of the material before and after.
"The Kalling" is worth its weight as the title track and goes four the hard way with Stephen Marley, Protoje, and Jesse Royal delivering full clips on this stinger.
Kabaka Pyramid turns up the experience with an unexpected dark horse."Faded Away", is without a doubt the most innovative single on the project.
Knocking heads with Buju Banton, and pushing Junior Byles centerstage with samples from the timeless "Fade Away" Kabaka shows that his Reggae Revival roots are still grounded where it matters.
The hip-hop-tainted "Addiction" gives way to its funk-driven counterpart "Energy" featuring Jemere Morgan.
The horn-smoked roots cut "Mary Jane" with Black Am I is a radio-ready herbs anthem, that leads into "EZ Ride".
This Eddie Fitzroy sampled filler is ribbed by a monotonous flow that misses the mark coupled with the notion that Kabaka Pyramid sounds unattached to the sampled hook.
"Life is everything" is another hip-hop-tainted feature, this time with promising talent Answele and deserves a second listen.
Capping off the 15-track project is the regurgitated "Kontraband Pt2", with a new verse.
Kabaka claims this is the "best track on the album"...
But I would strongly beg to differ.
All in All Kabaka Pyramid's "The Kalling" is a commendable robust body of work that shows the artistic growth of a homegrown fusion talent rooted in the Reggae Revival.
