Ka – “No Downtime,” “Summer” and “Up Against Goliath” Give You a Good View of the Tortoise

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I can’t compare Ka‘s demeanor to anyone else in rap, and that’s what I look for.

Because now I get to use similes.

Ka‘s flow is like a tortoise with a Kangol and an eyebrow. You know the saying: “slow and steady wins the race.” The idea has been embraced by rap for decades–a contest of who can keep their cool the coolest. But anyone who’s lived in a rough neighborhood could tell you that it’s not just a pattern in hip hop–

It’s the rule of the rough neighborhood, where a cool and steady demeanor is not only a show of self control but a means of self preservation.

Some neighborhoods teach you to walk with a pokerface, a low voice and a non-reactive attitude. I’ve never talked to Ka, but it seems his home neighborhood of Brownsville, Brooklyn produces a few cool tortoises every year. “No Downtime,” “Summer” and “Up Against Goliath” are one man’s approach to dealing with stress.

Grief Pedigree is lyrically rich and flow heavy as much as the three singles featured here. So what’s the difference between Brownsville Ka‘s pokerface and the rest?

He ain’t faking it.
@BeekeepersInc

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