Kabaka Pyramid

  1. Home
  2. Wiki
Kabaka Pyramid
Background information
Birth nameKeron Salmon
Born{ born April 19, 1985}[1]
Genres
Occupations
  • Singer
  • songwriter
LabelsBebble Rock
Websitewww.kabakapmusic.com

Keron Salmon (born April 19, 1985), known professionally as Kabaka Pyramid, is a reggae artist from Kingston, Jamaica. His music blends elements of roots reggae, dancehall and rap. He cites influences from both hip-hop artists, such as Raekwon of the Wu-Tang Clan, and roots reggae performers, including Peter Tosh.[2][3]

Career

[edit]

Keron began his musical career in the late 1990s, writing lyrics, rapping, and experimenting with beat-making and sampling tools alongside friends from his high school in the Hope Pastures area.[1][3] During this period, he used his family's living room as an improvised recording studio.[4][5]

After completing high school in 2002, Keron moved to Fort Lauderdale, where he further developed his skills with an emphasis on hip-hop.[3] During this time, he adopted the stage name Kabaka Pyramid, combining "Kabaka," a Ugandan royal title, with "Pyramid," referencing the ancient Egyptian structures. The name reflects both his Rastafarian connection to Africa and his interest in Egypt as a symbol of preserved knowledge, which he also associates with lyrical content in music.[2]

Following the release of his earlier mixtapes, which leaned more toward rap, Kabaka began integrating reggae influences more prominently into his music around 2007, particularly through his collaboration with the collective Bebble Rock.[3]

In 2011, he recorded the Rebel Music EP at Protoje’s home studio. Two years later, he met Damian Marley, leading to their first collaboration, Well Done, which featured Marley's On The Corner Riddim and lyrics by Kabaka Pyramid. Their partnership continued, with Marley producing Kabaka Pyramid’s 2018 album Kontraband and contributing to five tracks on the 2022 album The Kalling, which was fully recorded at Marley's studio in Miami.[1]

Kabaka Pyramid has performed at various international music festivals,[6][7] including multiple appearances at events such as Summerjam or Rototom Sunsplash.[8]

Selected discography

[edit]

Albums and EPs

[edit]
  • 2011: Rebel Music (EP)
  • 2013: Lead the Way (EP)
  • 2018: Kontraband
  • 2022: The Kalling

Mixtapes

[edit]
  • 2007: The Transition Volume I
  • 2009: The Transition Volume II
  • 2016: Accurate by Walshy Fire

Singles

[edit]
  • 2012: Final Move ft. (Cornadoor)
  • 2013: Mi Alright ft. (Chronixx)
  • 2013: Strive ft.(Exco Levi)
  • 2015: Well Done
  • 2016: High & Windy ft. (Sara Lugo)
  • 2019: Hold Up Your Arms ft. (Capleton)

Guest Appearances

[edit]
  • 2015: The Flame on the album Ancient Future by Protoje
  • 2017: Generations will Rize on the album New Era Frequenzy by Nattali Rize
  • 2017: Suit & Tie on album Epistles of Mama by Stonebwoy
  • 2021: 2020 Vision on the album In The Moment by Rebelution
  • 2023: Nah Sell Out on the album Destiny by Alborosie

Awards and nominations

[edit]
Year Award Category Result Ref.
2014 Jamaican Reggae Industry Association Emerging New Artiste Of The Year Won [9]
Juno Award Reggae Recording of the Year Won
2023 Grammy Award Best Reggae Album Won [10]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b c "Meet The First-Time GRAMMY Nominee: Kabaka Pyramid On Embracing His Voice & The Bold Future Of Reggae". Grammy Awards. Retrieved 7 July 2023.
  2. ^ a b "Der Soundtrack von… Kabaka Pyramid" (Podcast). WDR Cosmo. Retrieved 7 July 2023.
  3. ^ a b c d "Interview: Kabaka Pyramid". United Reggae Online Reggae Magazine. Retrieved 7 July 2023.
  4. ^ "Kabaka Pyramid's model mom". The Jamaica Gleaner. Retrieved 7 July 2023.
  5. ^ "Kabaka Pyramid Biography". Allmusic. Retrieved 7 July 2023.
  6. ^ "Epixode hopes to be as big as Grammy winner Kabaka Pyramid 'one day' - MyJoyOnline". www.myjoyonline.com. Retrieved 2025-06-06.
  7. ^ Times, The New (2025-06-06). "Events". The New Times. Retrieved 2025-06-06.
  8. ^ "Rototom Sunsplash 2018 | United Reggae". unitedreggae.com. Retrieved 2025-06-06.
  9. ^ "Honour Awards | Jamaica Reggae Industry Association (JaRIA)". JaRIA. Retrieved 2025-06-06.
  10. ^ Mallick, Dani (5 February 2023). "Kabaka Pyramid Wins 'Best Reggae Album' At 2023 Grammy Awards". Dancehallmag.
[edit]