Ka - Descendants of Cain [2020]

Ka's music is full of moments in which he speaks his essence into existence. In the hook of "Land of Nod", the rapper bluntly states "You can tell I'm in fact a native / I live this vivid shit / I ain't that creative" and by the end of Descendants of Cain, you believe him. When he carefully see-saws between reverence and boasting on "Every Now and Then" ("People I love blood is in the soil that I walk / Where them curbs serve the servant, but it's royal when I talk"), it's impossible to disagree. Ka's recent work is so good that when speaking of him this statement feels almost redundant, however, it must be said - he is a magnificent lyricist.

The writing in Descendants of Cain is exceptional. "P.R.A.Y" is an eerie sea of exemplary verses:

"Wasn't good where I stood at the precipice / Looking for an exodus / Just trying to keep it alive during the death of this / Defined by most strenuous times now told effortless / If urge for more proverbs, check my old testament"

In those last two bars, it's apparent that the way Ka brags is more poetic than how most rappers describe life-changing experiences. He takes an often covered hip-hop subject - the trials and tribulations of one's upbringing - and crafts it into a biblical epic. Throughout Descendants of Cain, Ka proves himself a rare talent that can turn seemingly simple sentiments into complex art. The Brownsville native does not glorify his cold and unforgiving environment, nor does he look down upon it. His stark anecdotes are delivered with intelligent realism. Ka knows that things are dire, and on "Sins of The Father" he delves into the catalyst:

"They used to call us deviants, but if they was feedin' us we might’ve had obedience / You know my stock was only good as my ingredients / The system only leaned on us, never showed us lenience"

Ka has always been poignant, but he may have penned his most emotionally compelling tune to date in "I Love (Mimi, Moms, Kev)". The song is a heartfelt masterpiece dedicated to his wife, mom and best friend. It's a throwback to the golden age of New York City hip-hop. The somber bass-driven atmosphere and one verse per subject structure feel inspired by Nas' classic "One Love". As he eulogizes his late mother in the second verse, the outstanding lyricism makes the emcee's admiration, loss and love palpable: 

"You saying you proud of me, the sweetest words ever / purest soul I know moms, you deserve better / Whatever ailments you nursed me back to health / Defend me even when the enemy is in fact my self / Shown me love when all I seen is hate / said I was special, to impress you wanted to be seen as great / this my kiss to thank you for the unconditional / and though I may not see you as much, I'm always missing you"

For all that there is to be said of Ka's words, it's incredible that his technique behind the boards is almost as impressive. Ka produced the majority of [i]Descendants of Cain[/i], and the instrumentals are works of beauty. The minimalistic ethos of his production style is still there. Those pining for the emcee to grace more traditionally drum focused tracks will not get their wish here. However, Ka has never been so expansive in his sonic palette. 

The soundscapes of Descendants of Cain are simultaneously subtle and majestic. The entrancing sound of "Every Now and Then" is a spaced-out take on the more lush moments of Ka's past work.
Animoss, the producer of Orpheus vs. The Sirens, lends his hand again on the gorgeous "My Brother's Keeper". The evolution of Ka's production is extremely apparent in the first half of "The Eye of A Needle", wherein strings, bass and other samples combine to create an atmosphere fit for a Blaxploitation movie soundtrack. It's a far cry from the austerity found in parts of the excellent Honor Killed The Samurai.

Ka has amassed a stellar discography with his meditative and engrossing style. He has been nothing but great since 2012's Grief's Pedigree. The solemn nature of his music is not built for all hip-hop listeners, but it is refreshingly authentic - the opposite of chasing the latest trend. He knows his strengths and makes his art cater to them. When listening to Ka's street tales, one can feel the force of his lines, but he never yells. Few can match his calm grit. There is such poise in his phrasing that it is evident he was born to do this. Descendants of Cain is an impeccable album drenched in wisdom and experience. A fascinating listen.

Descendants of Cain is available to purchase on Ka's website. It will be available on major music platforms on May 7, 2020.

All tracks produced by Ka with the exception of "Unto The Dust" and "I Love (Mimi, Moms, Kev)" (Preservation), "My Brother's Keeper" (Animoss) and "Sins of The Father" (Roc Marciano).

This video below contains part of "Every Now and Then"