By Jamil Weeks

Brownsville is not for the weak. The birthplace of the original Murder, Inc., this particular section of Brooklyn is regarded as one of the toughest areas of New York City to live. The proof is in the high violent crime rate that consists of murders, rapes, assault, robberies, and burglaries. However, the burden of living under such arduous circumstances nurtures resilience. Brownsville is also known as a breeding ground of talent and influence. The area is where celebrities like Larry King, Reverend Al Sharpton, and Mike Tyson called home. Brownsville has also been very important to hip hop as well. The residential neighborhood was the stomping grounds for rap heavyweights like M.O.P., Boot Camp Clik, Smooth da Hustla, and Masta Ace, among others. The rugged terrains of Brownsville would shape and mold another important voice in hip hop, Kaseem Ryan. A young Ryan formed a love for hip hop as a kid, picking up the pen at the tender age of eight. Active in the mid 90s, originally with the group, Natural Elements, and later with another group, Nightbreed, Ryan would have an off and on career with rapping struggling to find his footing. The late 2000s is where Ryan would begin to forge his legacy, releasing his debut album, Iron Works, under the stage name, Ka. Throughout the next 16 years, Ka would methodically create a body of work that would capture the hearts and minds of those fortunate enough to discover his work.

Ka was an original. In an era where record companies are increasingly pushing formulaic music, Ka chose to go against the grain, embracing a genuine independent spirit. Rather than place his fate in the hands of a major label, Ka sacrificed that major industry push for building a career of his own volition. He did not spew run-of-the-mil elementary bars over trap beats with sordid tales of sipping lean or catching opps lacking. Instead he poured his emotion into ever word, giving rap fans a piece of himself with every record. Each song was like a therapy session to cope with his experiences growing up in a harsh environment. Ka rapped from the perspective of a former street guy thoughtfully reflecting on his life. In doing so, it was if he was searching for the meaning in the pain and suffering from the hard times he survived. The poetic nature of his introspective lyricism painted haunting, nightmarish portraits of life in Brownsville, exposing a deep level of vulnerability that allowed Ka to capture street life in a way nobody has before. Like 2Pac, Ka demonstrated an innate ability to connect to his listeners where you can feel his emotions. Unlike 2Pac, Ka had a subtle approach. While Pac had a more animated style that commanded your attention, Ka rapped like he was emotionally numb. His gravelly voice made him sound like he was dead on the inside from undergoing numerous traumatic events. Ka's music would be his outlet in dealing with the post traumatic stress that stems from inner city life. The authentic nature of his subject matter would endear him to a growing number of fans with each one of his 11 albums released under his own independent label, Iron Works.

Part of why Ka was so beloved was the uncompromising nature of his music. The Brooklyn legend had a "do-it-yourself" attitude, with a bulk of his music being self-produced, giving his music an organic feel. Being his own boss allowed him to create his own vision for his career and plot his own direction with his music. He directed his own music videos in addition to handling the songwriting and beat making duties (with assists from DJ Preservation and Roc Marci). In a cookie-cutter age of music, Ka dared to be himself instead of trying to fit in. Ka would become a champion for the minimalistic wave that swept the underground in the past 10 years. No hard-hitting drums, deep bass lines, or thunderous bass to drown out his voice. Instead, drum-less loop samples were used in a way to isolate the gruff delivery of his lyrics allowing listeners to focus on the words. You got a sense of his morals and principles gained from life's lessons and from overcoming obstacles. Ka exuded a "wise beyond his years" aura, like a Nas or Rakim before him. Ka cleverly was able to drop jewels about life in his music without coming across as preachy. His approach to his music provided fans with a unique listening experience. You were not just hypnotized by the beat. Ka's rhymes alone were enough to put you in a trance. Great artists are able to take you on a journey with their music. Ka was able to transport you to Brownsville. The poverty. The drug addiction. The wolf mentality you develop to endure the streets. The sense of danger lurking around each corner. Ka was able to give you an unflinching window into his worldview on everything from growing up poor, the viciousness of street life, police brutality, politics, and religion, without interference from any label executives.

What is even more impressive about Ka is that his musical career was only a part-time gig. By day, he was saving lives as a fireman. In fact, he was a first responder during the infamous 9/11 attacks. He became a fire fighter after taking a hiatus from rap. By the time he returned to making music, he had been spent a decade as a fireman. During this time, Ka had risen in the ranks to become a captain in the FDNY. Early into his return back to the music, Ka would moonlight as a rapper and give us an album every couple years between him being a real life hero. Perhaps this is why he was able to assume the role as a leader and heroic figure in underground hip hop. The brave attributes of putting his life on the line while serving his own Brooklyn community for so many years may have inspired how boldly he proceeded in handling his own career. The generosity in using his pain and personal trauma to inspire and uplift others through his music. The spirit of giving back that enabled him to be a pivotal shoulder to lean on for so many of his colleagues. Ka was like a big brother to all of us through his music. He was able to make an impact on people's lives in and out of the studio.

Ka made not have been the most well-known artist with the biggest hits. He probably will not make most people's top 10 lists or be widely recognized by hip hop media outlets for his contributions to underground hip hop. But he was a man who touched a lot of people's lives. The only silver lining is the outpouring of love and respect he is receiving in the aftermath of his sudden death. Some of his respected peers, such as The Alchemist, Cormega, and Roc Marciano have shared stories of how genuine of a person Ka was. How helpful and encouraging Ka was in their careers. How Ka showed love to other artists. How he stood 10 toes down in what he believed in. Ka had a relatability to him where you rooted for him even though you did not know him in real life. As for myself, I admittedly slept on his music until this past summer. There was a time where I had written off the "no drums" style of rap. Ka was one of those rare artists that was able to slowly draw me in. As the years passed I would tap into his music every now and then, from Descendants of Cain to Languish Arts to Woeful Studies. A couple months before his death, I listened to his latest album, The Thief Next to Jesus, and was inspired to listen to his entire discography. I am extremely grateful to have been able to appreciate his music while he was still alive. I thank Ka as a fan of hip hop for leaving behind such an incredible body of work that I will surely be listening to for years to come. Ka is one of the greatest poetic voices in hip-hop in the past 10 to 15 years. My hope is more people discover his impressive catalogue in the coming years and his legend grows to mythic proportions, similar to MF Doom. Rest in peace to the legendary Brownsville native, Kaseem Ryan.