after something like seven straight excellent albums the man deserves a thread. he has a certain je-ne-sais-quois that makes me vastly prefer him to the other drumless east coast grit merchants like roc marci or the griselda crew. part of it is definitely his craggy voice that makes each line sound like ancient wisdom. i think the recently released a martyr's reward is at least as good as last year's descendants of cain, even if it doesn't have a highlight as obvious as "i love."
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LN4zwnowazE
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A5d8RF7dndM
― grove street (party) direction (voodoo chili), Wednesday, 22 September 2021 15:03 (three years ago)
i liked both honor killed the samurai and descendents of cain a fair amount. haven't heard the new one yet
― ciderpress, Wednesday, 22 September 2021 15:06 (three years ago)
the album he did as Dr. Yen Lo is great as well
― Blues Guitar Solo Heatmap (Free Download) (upper mississippi sh@kedown), Wednesday, 22 September 2021 15:13 (three years ago)
I love this dude.
― So who you gonna call? The martini police (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Wednesday, 22 September 2021 15:14 (three years ago)
― ciderpress, Wednesday, September 22, 2021 10:06 AM (thirteen minutes ago) bookmarkflaglink
the new one is def of a piece with descendants of cain. still very writerly, but mostly avoids the themed references and metaphors (like the biblical stuff in cain or the greek mythology in his hermit and the recluse album).
― grove street (party) direction (voodoo chili), Wednesday, 22 September 2021 15:21 (three years ago)
new album out now on his website. "ascension" is glorious
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yspLw1dZzhE
― comedy khadafi (voodoo chili), Friday, 16 September 2022 17:32 (two years ago)
whoa
― Malevolent Arugula (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Friday, 16 September 2022 17:39 (two years ago)
love this. this guy never puts a foot wrong.
― nobody like my rap (One Eye Open), Friday, 16 September 2022 17:50 (two years ago)
Peak Ka
― change display name (Jordan), Friday, 16 September 2022 18:15 (two years ago)
two new albums ?!
― Dan S, Saturday, 17 September 2022 00:14 (two years ago)
a master lyricist and writer, so inspiring to me
― Blues Guitar Solo Heatmap (Free Download) (upper mississippi sh@kedown), Wednesday, 28 September 2022 16:54 (two years ago)
otm
― Malevolent Arugula (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Wednesday, 28 September 2022 16:55 (two years ago)
Is it possible he sampled Il Paese dei Balocchi for "Ascension"? Not really something I anticipated pondering while indulging in old Italian prog, but my ears immediately pricked up.
― Nag! Nag! Nag!, Friday, 24 March 2023 06:05 (two years ago)
Announcement on Instagram that Ka has passed away at 52
― waste of compute (One Eye Open), Monday, 14 October 2024 19:35 (seven months ago)
WHAT
― the talented mr pimply (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Monday, 14 October 2024 19:37 (seven months ago)
I blasted his new album yesterday, no fall-off, just an impressive consistency. If true, RIP.
no way man wtf
― lil $CHUB (Spottie), Monday, 14 October 2024 19:38 (seven months ago)
Unbelievable legacy and a true independent, inspiring on so many levels. Way, way too soon.
― waste of compute (One Eye Open), Monday, 14 October 2024 19:43 (seven months ago)
ffs I thought this revive was about his new album :(
― vodkaitamin effrtvescent (calzino), Monday, 14 October 2024 19:46 (seven months ago)
https://pitchfork.com/news/ka-beloved-rapper-of-the-brooklyn-underground-dies-at-52/
heartbreaking
one of the best artists of this century full stop
― Blues Guitar Solo Heatmap (Free Download) (upper mississippi sh@kedown), Monday, 14 October 2024 19:51 (seven months ago)
i guess we'll find out soon enough, and he didn't appear to be sick, but the announcement notes he was a 9/11 first responder, so you do have to wonder
― slob wizard (J0rdan S.), Monday, 14 October 2024 19:55 (seven months ago)
Not many 9/11 first responders seem to live long. RIP to a real one :(
― vodkaitamin effrtvescent (calzino), Monday, 14 October 2024 19:57 (seven months ago)
WTF :((((
― Jordan s/t (Jordan), Monday, 14 October 2024 20:11 (seven months ago)
some interesting Ka pre-history
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2TQg73bFneU(third verse)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pw7eQOAN0Oo
― Blues Guitar Solo Heatmap (Free Download) (upper mississippi sh@kedown), Monday, 14 October 2024 20:15 (seven months ago)
52! WTF
― Paul Ponzi, Monday, 14 October 2024 20:17 (seven months ago)
genius
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TUxVhSyXi1U
― Blues Guitar Solo Heatmap (Free Download) (upper mississippi sh@kedown), Monday, 14 October 2024 20:19 (seven months ago)
wtf rip
― ciderpress, Monday, 14 October 2024 20:31 (seven months ago)
been driving all day, terrible news to arrive home to. been saving his new album for a time i could savor it.
he was really special, gritty and literary, plainspoken and profound
― hott ogo (voodoo chili), Monday, 14 October 2024 20:44 (seven months ago)
Damn RIP
― There’s a Monster in my Vance (President Keyes), Tuesday, 15 October 2024 03:07 (seven months ago)
rip
― flopson, Tuesday, 15 October 2024 03:12 (seven months ago)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aPzyQXR1XG8
― Blues Guitar Solo Heatmap (Free Download) (upper mississippi sh@kedown), Tuesday, 15 October 2024 14:05 (seven months ago)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0LsBFN-9vK4
― Blues Guitar Solo Heatmap (Free Download) (upper mississippi sh@kedown), Tuesday, 15 October 2024 14:13 (seven months ago)
the new album is one of his best, i think, and given the religious concept, hits extra hard in the wake of his passing. he dwells a lot on his own mortality, and i teared up a little hearing him chant "may you live a nice long life, hope it's beautiful." it did give me some solace: several times on the album he speaks about how he's at peace with himself and his accomplishments.
― hott ogo (voodoo chili), Tuesday, 15 October 2024 15:10 (seven months ago)
I didn't realize the new one had made it to streaming. For awhile it was just on his website. So fitting to listen to it for the first time today. Singular talent.
― husked, tonal wails (irrational), Tuesday, 15 October 2024 15:21 (seven months ago)
these lines really stuck out to me this morning:
Been leader since toddler, teachin' not to be a followerThem days raised my sister rigid, never coddled herI ain't poppin' shit, just got her doctorate, I'm proud of her
― Blues Guitar Solo Heatmap (Free Download) (upper mississippi sh@kedown), Tuesday, 15 October 2024 16:32 (seven months ago)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fSfDGQTc_jI
― Blues Guitar Solo Heatmap (Free Download) (upper mississippi sh@kedown), Thursday, 17 October 2024 14:30 (seven months ago)
(open mike eagle)
― hott ogo (voodoo chili), Thursday, 17 October 2024 19:20 (seven months ago)
billy woods on ka's passing
backwoodz emails are always great. We all know this. But woods' eulogy for Ka is an elevation in greatness. It's things like this, beyond the music, that make @BackwoodzHipHop my favorite label. Music and art and love are the drivers behind it all 🤍 pic.twitter.com/GmUaP87pLz— Crunchwrap Supreme Clientele (@TweetsVanZandt) October 18, 2024
― Blues Guitar Solo Heatmap (Free Download) (upper mississippi sh@kedown), Friday, 18 October 2024 21:23 (seven months ago)
oof, thanks
― the talented mr pimply (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Friday, 18 October 2024 22:43 (seven months ago)