Grammy Award-winning reggae artist Kabaka Pyramid has released “Rebel Music – The Lyrics Tape.”
According to Brooklyn-based, Jamaican-born entertainment publicist Ronnie Tomlinson, the 10-track project commemorates the 15th anniversary of Kabaka’s breakthrough Rebel Music EP, bringing him “full 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.
“Rather than recreating a moment from the past, Rebel Music – The Lyrics Tape builds upon the foundation that helped introduce Kabaka Pyramid as one of a new generation of voices in Jamaican music,” Tomlinson, CEO of New York-based Destine Media, Inc., told Caribbean Life. “Fifteen 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.”
Tomlinson said tracks from the forthcoming project, “Rotation,” “From Weh Day,” and “We Dem Wah,” offer different perspectives on that musical journey, moving between reggae, dancehall and hip-hop while remaining firmly rooted in Jamaican sound system culture.
She said “Rotation” is “a vibrant Rub-A-Dub anthem celebrating reggae culture and the communal energy of a reggae session.”
Driven by a heavy bassline and Kabaka’s signature lyrical delivery, Tomlinson said the song is also a call to DJs, selectors and sound systems around the world to “keep reggae in rotation and recognize the music’s enduring ability to heal, uplift and unite.”
“There is so much going on in the world, and I really believe if we played more reggae, we would be better off,” Kabaka Pyramid said. “Reggae 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. ‘Rotation’ is really about keeping that energy and the music circulating.”
On “From Weh Day,” Tomlinson said Kabaka turns his attention to reggae’s legacy and its future.
Produced by Fatbabs and co-produced by Kabaka Pyramid, she said the drum-driven, bass-heavy track incorporates hip-hop-inspired rhythms with Kabaka’s distinctive lyrical approach.
“The song challenges DJs, selectors, veteran artists and the wider music community to invest in reggae’s next generation while calling for greater balance between reggae and dancehall within Jamaica’s musical landscape,” Tomlinson said.
“Both a rallying cry and a celebration of reggae’s enduring spirit, ‘From Weh Day’ speaks to unity, cultural responsibility and the importance of ensuring the music continues to move forward,” she added.
Thomlinson said Kabaka shifts gears on “We Dem Wah,” a tribute to the golden era of 1990s dancehall and hip-hop.
Drawing inspiration from influential Jamaican artists including Super Cat and Ninjaman, Tomlinson said the track channels “the attitude and energy of the era through a contemporary lens.”
Built around a reimagining of one of dancehall’s most recognizable basslines, she said “We Dem Wah” produced by Jazzwad, blends classic Jamaican sound system energy with Kabaka’s commanding delivery and lyrical dexterity.
“The record celebrates the confidence, culture and competitive spirit that have long been part of dancehall, revealing a more playful side of Kabaka’s artistry while paying homage to the musical foundations that helped shape him,” Tomlinson said. “Together, the three releases illustrate the broader vision behind Rebel Music – The Lyrics Tape: honoring the sounds and principles that helped establish Kabaka Pyramid while demonstrating how those influences continue to evolve within his music.
“The 15-year milestone represents a significant full-circle moment for Kabaka,” she added. “His 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.
“That foundation would ultimately help propel Kabaka from Jamaica’s emerging reggae movement to international stages and, eventually, Grammy recognition with The Kalling,” Tomlinson continued. “Now, Rebel Music – The Lyrics Tape speaks not only to where that journey began, but to the fans who have traveled it with him.”
Across 10 tracks, she said “the project moves between cultural commentary, reflection, reggae consciousness, dancehall energy and lyrical competition, connecting the spirit of Kabaka’s early work with the artist he has become today.”