World of Jamaican Music

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An illustrated map of the creators of Jamaican music and how they are connected.

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Kabaka Pyramid

Artist. Revival

Active
2011-present
Sunrise
April 19, 1985, Kingston, Jamaica

Kabaka Pyramid (born Keron Salmon) is a Kingston deejay, singer, and producer, and one of the central figures of the roots revival that emerged in Jamaica around 2010.

He was educated at Campion College and holds a degree in electronics and computer technology from DeVry University in Orlando, an unusual route into the music. The name joins Kabaka, the title held by the king of Buganda, to the pyramids. He came to reggae through hip-hop and has named Raekwon alongside Peter Tosh as formative: "When I was early in my career, I couldn't sing to save my life; rapping was easier for me to do."

His base has been Bebble Rock, the label that grew out of the Bebble Team, a group of school friends who recorded together, and his band is the Bebble Rockers. The 2011 EP Rebel Music established him at home, with "Warrior," featuring Protoje, placing him in the same cohort as Protoje, Chronixx, and Jesse Royal. Lead the Way followed in 2013, the year the Jamaica Reggae Industry Association named him breakthrough artist.

The relationship that shaped everything after it is with Damian Marley, who produced Kontraband (2018) and most of The Kalling (2022), the second issued jointly by Bebble Rock and Ghetto Youths International with Sean "Young Pow" Diederick co-producing seven tracks. The Kalling carries Buju Banton on "Faded Away," Damian Marley on "Red Gold and Green," and Stephen Marley, Protoje, and Jesse Royal on the title track, with Jemere Morgan and Tifa among the other guests. It won the Grammy for best reggae album in February 2023.

He works as a producer for others as well. Victory Rock (2021) was his first juggling riddim, cut with a roster of younger artists, and he has toured the United States with the Marleys and with the American band Rebelution.

Last updated November 5, 2026

Connections

Notes

  1. Kabaka dates "the whole revival thing" to "2011, 2012 when my first reggae project came out." Jessica Lipsky, "Meet the First-Time GRAMMY Nominee: Kabaka Pyramid on Embracing His Voice & the Bold Future of Reggae," Grammy.com, January 11, 2023, https://www.grammy.com/news/meet-the-first-time-grammy-nominee-kabaka-pyramid-future-of-reggae-2023-grammys. In 2012 he named Uprising Roots, Dubtonic, Raging Fyah, Jah9, Protoje, and Chronixx as part of the "renaissance." Angus Taylor, "Interview: Kabaka Pyramid," United Reggae, January 18, 2012, https://unitedreggae.com/articles/n860/011812/interview-kabaka-pyramid.
  2. Taylor says he left for Fort Lauderdale after finishing high school in 2002; Kabaka mentions releasing his first mixtape "while I was still in Orlando." Taylor, "Interview: Kabaka Pyramid."
  3. Taylor: the name brings "together the name of a former Ugandan king and the iconic polyhedron." Taylor, "Interview: Kabaka Pyramid." Wikipedia, citing a WDR Cosmo podcast, links the pyramid to Egypt as a symbol of preserved knowledge. "Kabaka Pyramid," Wikipedia, accessed October 2, 2026, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kabaka_Pyramid.
  4. He named Raekwon, GZA, Common, Nas, and Canibus, and Sizzla, Dennis Brown, Peter Tosh, Ini Kamoze, and Damian Marley as "my all time favourites," and described his early split between "Ini Kabaka who does reggae" and "Ronnie Pyramid who does hip hop." Taylor, "Interview: Kabaka Pyramid." In 2023 he recalled that rapping had been easier for him than singing. Lipsky, "Meet the First-Time GRAMMY Nominee."
  5. His official biography describes the Bebble Team as "a talented group of friends and schoolmates" and names the band. "About," Kabaka Pyramid, accessed October 2, 2026, https://www.kabakapmusic.com/about. In 2012 he said Bebble Rock "started mainly with youths I went to high school with." Taylor, "Interview: Kabaka Pyramid."
  6. His official biography credits "Free From Chains" and "Warrior" featuring Protoje as the EP's key songs. "About," Kabaka Pyramid. He said most of Rebel Music was recorded at Protoje's home studio. Lipsky, "Meet the First-Time GRAMMY Nominee." "Warrior" was produced by Zinc Fence, Chronixx's production team. Taylor, "Interview: Kabaka Pyramid."
  7. His official biography mentions the Lead the Way EP (2013) and the Jamaica Reggae Industry Association's breakthrough artist award, without a year for the award. "About," Kabaka Pyramid.
  8. Kabaka said Damian Marley "produced five of the tracks" on The Kalling, "but it was all put together in his studio, [and] he executive produced the project." Lipsky, "Meet the First-Time GRAMMY Nominee." The Gleaner says Marley "produced the tracks, made beats and even programmed drums." "Kabaka Pyramid Makes His 'Kalling,'" Jamaica Gleaner, February 5, 2023, https://jamaica-gleaner.com/article/entertainment/20230205/kabaka-pyramid-makes-his-kalling. Discogs lists the release on Ghetto Youths International and Bebble Rock. "Kabaka Pyramid, The Kalling," Ghetto Youths International / Bebble Rock LP, Discogs, accessed October 2, 2026, https://www.discogs.com/release/26340167.
  9. Discogs and the Gleaner list the featured artists. "Kabaka Pyramid, The Kalling," Ghetto Youths International / Bebble Rock LP, Discogs, accessed October 2, 2026, https://www.discogs.com/release/26340167; "Kabaka Pyramid Wins Grammy for Best Reggae Album," Jamaica Gleaner, February 5, 2023, https://jamaica-gleaner.com/article/entertainment/20230205/kabaka-pyramid-wins-grammy-best-reggae-album.
  10. The Gleaner reported the win at the 65th Grammy Awards on February 5, 2023. "Kabaka Pyramid Wins Grammy for Best Reggae Album," Jamaica Gleaner, February 5, 2023, https://jamaica-gleaner.com/article/entertainment/20230205/kabaka-pyramid-wins-grammy-best-reggae-album.
  11. Victory Rock was his first production of a juggling rhythm; DancehallMag named Stonebwoy, Bugle, Alaine, Chris Martin, and Romain Virgo as expected voices. Shirvan Williams, "Kabaka Pyramid Jumps into Production with First Juggling Riddim," DancehallMag, March 1, 2021, https://www.dancehallmag.com/2021/03/01/news/kabaka-pyramid-jumps-into-production-with-first-juggling-riddim.html. His official biography mentions touring the United States with Damian Marley in 2017. "About," Kabaka Pyramid. Wikipedia lists his feature on Rebelution's "2020 Vision" (2021). "Kabaka Pyramid."

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