This past Friday, VP Records unleashed Kabaka Pyramid’s update of Michigan & Smiley’s 1979 “Real Rock” anthem, “Nice Up The Dance.” Incorporating original lyrics and bringing the song into a contemporary context, the song is supported by a visually rich and celebratory video shot in Jamaica and produced by Davida-Mae Chambers and directed by 300K, which launched today on Kabaka Pyramid’s YouTube channel.
“Jeremy Harding linked me to do a cover of ‘Nice Up The Dance’ by Michigan and Smiley, a classic in early dancehall music. I loved the idea and he did over the classic ‘Real Rock Riddim’ from scratch, and I sang a lot of the original song’s lyrics with two added original verses of mine,” says Kabaka Pyramid.
“Nice Up The Dance” is taken from the forthcoming Jeremy Harding produced Dancehall Anthems; a collection of new recordings of classic reggae and dancehall songs. Dancehall Anthems features Kabaka Pyramid, Sean Paul, Beenie Man, Agent Sasco, Wayne Marshall, Runkus, Blvk H3ro, Bugle, and Royal Blu among others, taking on classic material from Yellowman, Michigan & Smiley, Ken Boothe, Tenor Saw, Papa San, Louie Culture, et al. The first track from the album was Beenie Man’s take on Yellowman’s “Zungguzungguguzungguzeng.”
Scene from the “Nice Up The Dance” video
Kabaka Pyramid is one of the most celebrated and versatile MCs of the Reggae Revival movement, breaking out with the popular 2017 album Kontraband, produced by Damian Marley.
Pyramid’s work shows a generational interest in hip-hop, integrating the MC’s flow with classic reggae and contemporary dancehall rhythms. He first came to the public’s attention when featured on Chronixx’s “Mi Alight” in 2013, a track that has grown in stature over the years as Reggae Revival anthem. “Mi Alright” was released the same year as Kabaka Pyramid’s debut album Lead The Way, on his own Bebble Rock label. His top tracks to date include “Can’t Breathe” and “Well Done” from Kontraband, and he was heard on VP’s acclaimed We Remember Dennis Brown, where he joined Chronixx, Jesse Royal, Kelissa, Iba Mahr and others on an update of Brown’s “Rasta Children.”
In addition to “Who Am I,” Jeremy Harding is known for Mr. Vegas’s “Nike Air” and Sean Paul’s “Infiltrate” (Playground riddim); and Tanto Metro and Devonte’s “Give It To Her” (Liquid riddim). Harding was Sean Paul’s manager through the apex of his career and produced three tracks on the platinum Dutty Rock album, the biggest selling title in VP Records’ history. More recently Harding produced “Heaven” for Jah9, found on her Note To Self album.
Check out the new 300K-directed video for “Nice Up The Dance” below or stream the single here.
You can follow @kabakapyramid on Instagram.
