Recently Kabaka Pyramid has been appearing on the Live Music scene in Kingston with live performances at the Manifesto Jamaica Festival 2010, Jaria Reggae Month 2010, Jamaica Vybez, The Next Generation of Reggae, Bands Incoporated (Featured by The Indiggnation Band), and Conversations - just to name a few.
The Conscious musician is a member of Manifesto Jamaica, which is an N.G.O. aiming to empower Jamaican youth through the arts and culture. Representing Manifesto JA, Kabaka has worked with friend and colleague Donisha Prendegast on the "Africa Unite" School Tour spreading the word of Rastafari and the liberation struggle in South Africa. Performing for the kids in school is an important part of Kabaka's vision for his musical career and is always willing to play his part in the movement.
The name "Kabaka" is Ugandan for "King" and Pyramids are thought by the artist to house the mathematical proportions of Universal Laws that are eminent in the creation of this universe. He seeks to embody these laws in his music, spreading truth and higher knowledge to the people who are prepared to listen.
He has just released his โRebel Musicโ EP which is free to the public at www.kabakapyramid.bandcamp.com. This project is a fusion of roots rock, reggae, dancehall and hip hop and is intended to show the world where Kabaka Pyramid is looking to take Jamaican music, as well as spread the positive messages of spirituality and conscious evolution that you find whenever he grabs a mic!
โTo me....Reggae and Hip Hop go hand in hand....when they procreate, Rebel Music is born! Some believe that each art form must remain pure....Iโm not here to oppose. But fusion is the foodstuff of evolution, and evolution is constant - both physically and spirituallyโ - Kabaka Pyramid
โKabaka Pyramid is one of the most promising talents I have seen in a whileโ - Protoje
โIt is a tasty mix of roots and early dancehall scented with some hip-hopโ - United reggae Magazine on Rebel music
โWith a solid list of skills not only in the booth but on the mixing board, and an array of lyrics that preach a message of love, self-awareness and African pride, Kabaka Pyramid is well on his way to a career that should not only lead to greatness but also lead a lot of fans to righteousnessโ - Aesthetics Now Magazine
Nice Up The Dance
Kabaka Pyramid Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Ah longtime I no chant inna dance
Me come fe nice up de area
Me come fe nice up Jamaica (wboy watcha dread)
Dancehall sell off
Dance haffe cork
Liquor sell off
People really see it and haffe laugh
Promoter and him Idren haffe laugh
How dem laugh
Tra la la lala
Tra la la lala
Born and grow inna Jamaica
No matter where mi go mi naw left Yard
Me say me naw left Jamaica (not at all)
Me coulda never left Jamaica
In comes King Kabaka Lyrical Champion
Watch me chop up da riddim like a sword from Japan
Some bright off squid like a real Chineman
A practitioner of yoga but not Indian
Lyrics dem weapon like weapon of mass destruction
They have nuclear bomb like American (American)
Cyan overstand like a Egyptian
Hieroglyphics when me shift it to Fifth Dimension
Fe chant 'pon a riddim that a me religion
Git twist up plot up like a Brazilian
Pile off ya face with da mic inna mi hand
Make me sip a cup of tea like mi come from England
Ah longtime I no DJ inna dance
Ah longtime I no chant inna dance
Me come fe nice up de area
Me come fe nice up Jamaica (bwoy watcha dread)
Dance haffe cork
Dancehall haffi sell off
Liquor sell off
Georgie wine fe sell off
People really see it and haffe laugh
Promoter and him Idren haffe laugh
How dem laugh
Tra la la lala
Tra la la lala
Can't find no park cause a dance really cork
Gate man a laugh and cashier a laugh
Can't find no bottle with a cork
Me say me can't find no space fe walk
I needa food before da food it sell off
De cane man and him Idren a laugh
How dem laugh
Tra la la lala
Tra la la lala
King Kabaka Lyrical Champion
Born troublemaker from a der campion
Bomb squad crew step up inna session
From de sun shown up me affi get ambition
One condition mi affi have ambition
Fe git bigger than Catholic and Anglican
Ramp pa pon pon so affi drop a one song
Ital sip me say not a it not no one ton
Inna dirty Babylon me affi stand strong
Spurlin mi a sip before me slap it pon pon
Satisfaction she get a lot a that from King Kabaka
Say this a chat this action
Ah longtime I no DJ inna dance
Ah longtime I no DJ a rub a dub
Me come fe nice up de area
Me come fe nice up Jamaica (bwoy watcha dread)
Dance affi cork
Dancehall a sell off
Liquor sell off
Georgie wine sell off
People really see it and affe laugh
Promoter and him Idren affe laugh
How dem laugh
Tra la la lala
Tra la la lala
Oh lord Have mercy
Bim
In Kabaka Pyramid's song "Nice Up The Dance," the artist presents himself as a lyrical champion who has come to "nice up" the area and Jamaica. He talks about how long it has been since he has been able to DJ or chant in a dancehall and how things have changed since then. The dancehall is sold out, the liquor and wine are being consumed rapidly, people are laughing, and the promoter and his friends are enjoying themselves. Kabaka goes on to say that he was born and grew up in Jamaica and will never leave, no matter where he goes. He references his ability to chop up the riddim like a sword and his knowledge of hieroglyphics and the fifth dimension.
The "tra la la lala" in the song represents the sound of laughter that Kabaka hears at the dancehall. He talks about not being able to find parking, bottle corks, or space to walk because the dance is too crowded. He also mentions the food and cane man laughing. Kabaka presents himself as a troublemaker and bomb squad crew in the session. He talks about his ambition to get bigger than the Catholic and Anglican churches and how he must stand strong in dirty Babylon. The song ends with him talking about satisfying the ladies with his lyrics and actions.
Overall, the song is about Kabaka coming to the dancehall to energize and entertain the crowd. He presents himself as a champion and someone who is proud to be Jamaican.
Line by Line Meaning
Ah longtime I no DJ inna dance
It's been a while since I've been a DJ in the dancehall
Ah longtime I no chant inna dance
It's been a while since I've performed in the dancehall
Me come fe nice up de area
I've come to liven up the area
Me come fe nice up Jamaica (bwoy watcha dread)
I've come to liven up Jamaica (you better believe it)
Dance haffe cork
The dancehall is full and overflowing
Dancehall a sell off
The dancehall is packed and the tickets are selling quickly
Liquor sell off
The liquor is selling out quickly
Georgie wine sell off
The Georgie wine (a popular Jamaican alcoholic drink) is selling out quickly
People really see it and affe laugh
People are noticing and laughing about how packed the dancehall is
Promoter and him Idren affe laugh
The promoter and his friends are laughing about how successful the event is
How dem laugh Tra la la lala Tra la la lala
They're laughing so hard that it's like singing tra la la la la
Born troublemaker from a der campion
I was born a troublemaker in a deprived area
Bomb squad crew step up inna session
My crew, Bomb Squad, steps up to perform
From de sun shown up me affi get ambition
As soon as the sun rises, I feel driven to succeed
One condition mi affi have ambition
I must have ambition to succeed
Fe git bigger than Catholic and Anglican
I want to be even bigger than the Catholic and Anglican churches
Slap pon pon so affi drop a one song
I've got to hit the stage and perform a song
Ital sip me say not a it not no one ton
I only drink pure, natural beverages and nothing else
Inna dirty Babylon me affi stand strong
In the corrupt Babylon system, I must stand strong
Spurlin mi a sip before me slap it pon pon
I take a sip of Spurlin rum before performing on stage
Satisfaction she get a lot a that from King Kabaka
Fans are very satisfied with my performances
Say this a chat this action
I back up my words with action
Oh lord Have mercy Bim
Expressing excitement and gratitude to God
Contributed by Thomas I. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@cosmicwisdom999
Big up Papa Michigan and Smiley.....original veterans inna di business
@NaturalMystic69
Never heard the Michigan & Smiley version til I read your comment here. The "original" as far as I know was by Welton Irie and Price Weedy, both as a stand alone track, and as the 2nd half of Junior Murvin's "Cool Out Son" 12" extended version.
-Standalone track - https://youtu.be/DBHI2JOF_Ew
-Cool Out Son version - https://youtu.be/_OemXEJP18Y (Nice Up The Dance comes in around the 3m40s mark)
I do like Michigan & Smiley though. They had some great tracks like Sugar Daddy, Diseases and others I can't remember off the top of my head. I used to listen to them, old-school Yellowman, and others back in the day (early 80s). I think I still have some of their old vinyl in storage.
@KRAZYGIMP66
Detroit west side joy rd
@mrkonshus2680
Michigan & Smiley did the original.
@sandrahudson1950
You definitely done this chune here justice ๐๐พ๐๐พ๐๐พ
@jaylucky5555
Anything the man touch, no slouch...Midas touch.... vybz in the street ,vybez in the house on the couch. BIG UP KABAKA CANT BREATH SO BABYLON MUST FALL . GIVE THANKS
@cassandrabrowne7657
https://m.youtube.com/watch?fbclid=IwAR1WX7-2Ig-N0LvMFiwxVfrFQSX13UX5Ws5-mXdUI7btBAfvG28MRp2KpiE&v=JGhlUMH4rzE
@israelokolosi2473
Big chune. Kabaka killed the riddim.
@cassandrabrowne7657
https://m.youtube.com/watch?fbclid=IwAR1WX7-2Ig-N0LvMFiwxVfrFQSX13UX5Ws5-mXdUI7btBAfvG28MRp2KpiE&v=JGhlUMH4rzE
@shanafos5348
Maaadnessss!!!! ๐ฅ ๐ ๐ฅ ๐
Pyramid yu style different. Now dis a reggae music ๐ฏ๐ฒ ๐ฏ๐ฒ ๐ฏ๐ฒ