Grammy Award-winning reggae artist Kabaka Pyramid has released \u201cRebel Music \u2013 The Lyrics Tape.\u201d<\/p>\n
According to Brooklyn-based, Jamaican-born entertainment publicist Ronnie Tomlinson, the 10-track project commemorates the 15th anniversary of Kabaka\u2019s breakthrough Rebel Music EP, bringing him \u201cfull circle with the original fan base that embraced his music while celebrating the lyricism, consciousness and cultural purpose that have remained at the core of his artistry.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cRather than recreating a moment from the past, Rebel Music \u2013 The Lyrics Tape builds upon the foundation that helped introduce Kabaka Pyramid as one of a new generation of voices in Jamaican music,\u201d Tomlinson, CEO of New York-based Destine Media, Inc., told <\/span>Caribbean Life. \u201cFifteen years later, the project reflects the growth of an artist who has taken that foundation to stages around the world without abandoning the message, lyrical depth or musical influences that first distinguished his work.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Tomlinson said tracks from the forthcoming project, \u201cRotation,\u201d \u201cFrom Weh Day,\u201d and \u201cWe Dem Wah,\u201d offer different perspectives on that musical journey, moving between reggae, dancehall and hip-hop while remaining firmly rooted in Jamaican sound system culture.<\/span><\/p>\n She said \u201cRotation\u201d is \u201ca vibrant Rub-A-Dub anthem celebrating reggae culture and the communal energy of a reggae session.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n Driven by a heavy bassline and Kabaka\u2019s signature lyrical delivery, Tomlinson said the song is also a call to DJs, selectors and sound systems around the world to \u201ckeep reggae in rotation and recognize the music\u2019s enduring ability to heal, uplift and unite.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cThere is so much going on in the world, and I really believe if we played more reggae, we would be better off,\u201d Kabaka Pyramid said. \u201cReggae has a healing nature. The music has always been able to uplift people, bring people together and give us something positive to hold on to. \u2018Rotation\u2019 is really about keeping that energy and the music circulating.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n On \u201cFrom Weh Day,\u201d Tomlinson said Kabaka turns his attention to reggae\u2019s legacy and its future.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Produced by Fatbabs and co-produced by Kabaka Pyramid, she said the drum-driven, bass-heavy track incorporates hip-hop-inspired rhythms with Kabaka\u2019s distinctive lyrical approach.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cThe song challenges DJs, selectors, veteran artists and the wider music community to invest in reggae\u2019s next generation while calling for greater balance between reggae and dancehall within Jamaica\u2019s musical landscape,\u201d Tomlinson said.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cBoth a rallying cry and a celebration of reggae\u2019s enduring spirit, \u2018From Weh Day\u2019 speaks to unity, cultural responsibility and the importance of ensuring the music continues to move forward,\u201d she added.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Thomlinson said Kabaka shifts gears on \u201cWe Dem Wah,\u201d a tribute to the golden era of 1990s dancehall and hip-hop.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Drawing inspiration from influential Jamaican artists including Super Cat and Ninjaman, Tomlinson said the track channels \u201cthe attitude and energy of the era through a contemporary lens.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Built around a reimagining of one of dancehall\u2019s most recognizable basslines, she said \u201cWe Dem Wah\u201d produced by Jazzwad, blends classic Jamaican sound system energy with Kabaka\u2019s commanding delivery and lyrical dexterity.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cThe record celebrates the confidence, culture and competitive spirit that have long been part of dancehall, revealing a more playful side of Kabaka\u2019s artistry while paying homage to the musical foundations that helped shape him,\u201d Tomlinson said. \u201cTogether, the three releases illustrate the broader vision behind Rebel Music \u2013 The Lyrics Tape: honoring the sounds and principles that helped establish Kabaka Pyramid while demonstrating how those influences continue to evolve within his music.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cThe 15-year milestone represents a significant full-circle moment for Kabaka,\u201d she added. \u201cHis breakthrough Rebel Music EP helped establish an early connection with listeners drawn to his ability to move naturally between reggae and hip-hop, pairing intricate lyricism with socially conscious messages and an unmistakably Jamaican perspective.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cThat foundation would ultimately help propel Kabaka from Jamaica\u2019s emerging reggae movement to international stages and, eventually, Grammy recognition with The Kalling,\u201d Tomlinson continued. \u201cNow, Rebel Music \u2013 The Lyrics Tape speaks not only to where that journey began, but to the fans who have traveled it with him.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n Across 10 tracks, she said \u201cthe project moves between cultural commentary, reflection, reggae consciousness, dancehall energy and lyrical competition, connecting the spirit of Kabaka\u2019s early work with the artist he has become today.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Grammy Award-winning reggae artist Kabaka Pyramid has released \u201cRebel Music \u2013 The Lyrics Tape.\u201d According to Brooklyn-based, Jamaican-born entertainment publicist Ronnie Tomlinson, the 10-track project commemorates the 15th anniversary of Kabaka\u2019s breakthrough Rebel Music EP, bringing him \u201cfull circle with the original fan base that embraced his music while celebrating the lyricism, consciousness and cultural 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