Oct 21, 2024

The underground hip-hop scene and the community at large lost an unsung hero last week. I speak of Brownsville's own, Ka (real name Kaseem Ryan), who tragically left this world at the age of 52, seemingly blindsiding fans and admirers all across the world.

He was heralded, acclaimed and idolised by those in the know and those who had the privilege of following his music career that was atypical but honourable in it's testimony of persistence and perseverance.

He had allure, he had gravitas. He was substantial and significant. And he was much more than that too when you took off the musical lens, an unheralded firefighter and an everyman that every man aspired to live like.

He now is no longer with us, but his musical legacy, and wordy and worldly talents will be forever played and played back until the end of time.

For the uninitiated, you gotta spin his discography. You'll be better for it. For those who stanned him, I wanted to use this thread as a hub to archive the tributes to him over the past week from all corners of the world.

Spoiler: Ka's Discography

Iron Works | Grief Pedigree | The Night's Gambit | Days with Dr. Yen Lo | Honor Killed the Samurai | Orpheus Vs. the Sirens | Descendants of Cain | A Martyr's Reward | Languish Arts | Woeful Studies | The Thief Next to Jesus

Spoiler: In Memoriam

Grief Pedigree - I Hope They Find Ka by Jaap van der Doelen (Passion of the Weiss)
Remembering Ka: A Journey Through the Life and Legacy of Brooklyn’s Underground Rap Icon by TD Colt (TD Colt)
Ka Gave All of Himself at His Pop-Ups by Dylan Green (Hearing Things)
Grief Pedigree: Reflecting On Rainy Days Through Ka by Julian Brimmers (Passion of the Weiss)
Remembering Ka, the Quiet Sage of Underground Rap by Paul A. Thompson (Pitchfork)
Ka Was the Visionary Soul of Underground New York Hip-Hop by Mosi Reeves (Rolling Stone)
The 10 Ka Records That Defined His Legacy by Pitchfork
Remembering Ka by DEHH
im still processing this by Open Mike Eagle

 

Oct 22, 2024

Ka felt so immortal throughout his music, I feel thats whats making this feel all the more devastating, this just came from out the blue.

Looking back at the NY scene from the beginning of the 2010s when we had Roc Marciano, Ka, Ratking and then other groups that blew up like Pro Era, Flatbush Zombies & A$AP Mob, it felt like we were finally rebuilding after the post G-Unit & Dipset turmoil. Ka was truly exceptional compared to everyone here if I'm being completely real, it forever blows my mind the way he packed his verses with so much vivid imagery and wordplay -- I dont think ive heard anything tougher than " Shot for the stars, Ima reach em one day / Left for dead, started moving rocks like Easter Sunday". He took every project on with such precision and boundless creativity, especially the later half of his career where he'd tap into more abstract & metaphorical themes and weave narratives throughout the albums with them.

OJ posted some great retrospective pieces on his legacy in the OP and I really urge anyone that looks at this thread to give Ka's immaculate discography and life story a part of your time, it's one of the great stories of a persons love for Hip-Hop

 

Oct 21, 2024

R.i.p

He was arguably the most consistent rapper in recent times. Dropped nothing but solid AF projects for years.