Kabaka Pyramid won the GRAMMY for Best Reggae Album for sophomore LP “The Kalling” at the 2023 GRAMMYs premiere ceremony live from the Los Angeles Crypto.com Arena on Sunday (February 5th).
The Grammy Awards were first held in 1959 to honour “artistic achievement, technical proficiency and overall excellence in the recording industry, without regard to album sales or chart position.” Presented by Grammy oversight body the Recording Academy, the award for world music was first awarded in 1992.
The Kingston-born rapper, singer and producer beat out fellow nominees Koffee ‘Gifted,’ Sean Paul ‘Scorcha,’ Protoje ‘Third Time’s The Charm,’ and Shaggy ‘Com Fly Wid Mi.’ This marks his first career Grammy win.
Kabaka Pyramid is one of a handful of artists bringing positivity back into reggae, often channeling the empowered, political, and spiritual vibes of roots artists. He is often labeled a “reggae revivalist” for this reason, but The Kalling manages to be both classic and incredibly of the moment. And while his previous albums Victory Rock and Kontraband are testaments of lyrical and genre-blending prowess, Kabaka’s latest is a notable ascension.
The Kalling showcases Kabaka’s passion for using hip-hop, soul and dancehall to iterate on the sound of conscious reggae. The record also overflows with messages of growth, contemplation of addiction, and gratitude — an antidote to some of the more crude attitudes present in Kabaka’s favorite genres.
“The older I got, the more I felt responsible to represent myself in a certain way,” Kabaka tells GRAMMY.com from his home in Miami. “I wanted to inspire, like how artists like Sizzla and Damian Marley inspired me. I wanted to have a similar effect, and I knew I needed to put out positive music to do that.”
