Bebble Rock Music artiste, Kabaka Pyramid, will readily admit that he was nervous on the day the Grammy nominations were announced. He told OBSERVER ONLINE that he took such a keen interest in this year’s announcement that he could not help but tune into the live stream.

He recalled feeling nothing but jubilation when internationally renowned singer John Legend called his name among the five selected as this year’s nominees in the Best Reggae Album category.

“You know say mi did a watch the live stream. I was watching on my iPad, so when me seet, a deh so di excitement start from. Mi see John Legend a call couple different genres and when it reach a reggae now is like the anticipation heightened. But a my name first call so mi get rid of all the nerves early,” he laughed.

“Trust me, mi start shout, mi start scream. It was just a different elation because you know how much work you put in over the years, how much hurdles we affi go through inna dis music business and just where me coming from. The fact say mi never really born wid a whole heap a natural musical talent or a musical family or anything like that. Is just work we put in and figure out this thing, so fi know say it reach to this point where we get this level recognition, it’s a great feeling, mi nah tell no lie.”

Kabaka Pyramid is nominated for the prestigious music award with his album, The Kalling. Executively produced by musical powerhouse, Damian ‘Jr Gong’ Marley, the album is the artiste’s sophomore project and features the likes of Buju Banton, Stephen Marley and Protoje.

The 15-track compilation has earned Kabaka his first Grammy nomination, a feat the entertainer is particularly proud of. Still, the Well Done singer refuses to ‘count his eggs before they hatch.’ He told OBSERVER ONLINE that in his eyes, earning a spot among the coveted five is already a big win for him.

“How my life work, when mi put certain things on mi head, that is when dem don’t happen. My thing is, mi just try and keep a natural mind. Mi nah doubt it and bring no negative energy, but at the same time mi nah hot up mi head and try make plans because I’ve seen where artiste make plans and act like dem win it already before dem win it and end up get embarrassed. So, for me, already getting the nomination makes me super grateful, it’s more than I expected. I am grateful,” he said.

The artiste is also looking forward to attending the event on Sunday, February 5, 2023.

“The fact say mi ago get my invitation and mi can go wid mi team and family. Sort out mi suit cause you know we haffi bazzle, dat is what it’s all about. If we can win it, that’s a different level we gone to and dat ago open whole heap a doors,” he added.

Indicating that a multitude of gratitude is owed to Jr Gong for expressing interest in producing yet another one of his albums, Kabaka said he was in awe of all the work the famous Marley poured into the project.

Dubbing him a master at his craft, Kabaka admits that collaborating with Jr Gong gave his album an extra creative kick.

“In my experience, Zilla, Steve, Juju, dem live music every day. All of them are multi-talented and it is because of the work dem put in over the years. It was a joy being amongst them because dem just love music. Gong make music every night,” he said. “We wanted to do a version of Jr Byles Fade Away and Gong actually did a different version of the beat. An old-school dancehall kinda early vibe. He played the drums himself, draw fi di same keyboard and di same drum machine weh Steelie and Cleevie used in the 80s and him play the baseline and all a dem thing deh. Those were some special key moments that made this album a standout in my eyes.”

Dubbing himself the ‘new kid on the block’ as far as Grammy nominations are concerned, Kabaka said he is overjoyed at being in the company of some of Jamaica’s most talented.

“We see what Koffee come do in a short space of time and lift up the genre and so we affi give thanks for everything weh Koffee doing. Protoje, mi speak so often about him, there’s nothing more that can really be said. We have been on this journey together and so it’s just a joy being nominated with him. Sean (Paul) is one a my influences from I deh a school. Shaggy’s Boombastic albums was one of the albums weh mi always used to love play from mi a likkle yute. Fi know say mi in the company of these people, it’s a great feeling,” Kabaka told OBSERVER ONLINE.