“Rastafari Live! (¡Rastafari Vive!)” was the first phrase the Jamaican singer said Kabaka Pyramid upon receiving the award Grammy for Best Reggae Album for his work called The Kalling, his second album after his debut with Contraband (2018).
The 65th Annual Grammy Awards ceremony took place at the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles, in United States, this Sunday 5 February.
In his first nomination for this award, the interpreter of “Well Done” was imposed onKoffee, nominated for her debut albumGifted; Sean Paul, “Echoes of Sound Systems – When the Two 7’s Clash” is presented as the Sound Clash to end all the sound clashes that will compete for the first majorScorcha; Shaggy, “Echoes of Sound Systems – When the Two 7’s Clash” is presented as the Sound Clash to end all the sound clashes that will compete for the first majorCom Fly Wid Me, YProtoje, “Echoes of Sound Systems – When the Two 7’s Clash” is presented as the Sound Clash to end all the sound clashes that will compete for the first majorThe Charm de Third Time.
King, who was accompanied on stage by his mother and other guests, thanked the Academy and the other nominees in the category, who “They represented Jamaica and the Caribbean”.
“Thank you all for supporting reggae music… positive and conscious music. Thanks to my mom, Marcia Salmon, to my dad, Sparkling Salmon, to my management team… we are just kids from Kingston, Jamaica”, stated on stage.
further, In his speech the singer greeted the Marley family, because this album was produced by Damian, and also remembering the recent death of Stephen's son, Jo Mersa, died last December.
“Much love to Damian Marley, who produced the album, Stephen Marley and Jo Mersa Marley, who we lost in December, this is for you”, he added.
With the production of Damian “Jr Gong” Marley, The album featured the participation of the reggae legend Peter Tosh, in addition to other interpreters such as Protoje, Buju Banton, Jesse Royal and those already mentioned Damian y Stephen Marley.
In a recent interview with The Sunday Gleaner, Kabaka maintained that the album represented “Rastafari calling on young people to defend their rights”.
“The Kalling it's really about my journey in music having a higher purpose, not just to become rich or popular, but to inspire a higher vibration in whoever listens to it”, he stated.
The singer stressed that “while the majority seeks pleasure and gratification of the senses, There are a few whom the Almighty 'calls’ to maintain balance on earth. Music is what I use to answer the 'kall’ (called), and you can feel it throughout this album”.
