King Kahali – The Dangerous One

This was a hard review to start and It’s finish… King Kahali is a pioneer and top emcee in the Sacramento Hip-Hop scene. I watched Kahali (Jon Doe, Mean Doe Green, Doey Rock, etc.), grow into a top notch artist and performer over the years. I clearly remember his early days of open mic battles at the Cattle Club hosted by The Fonke Socialistiks and his times running with the Rat Pack crew in the the early 90’s! I’ve also seen him grow and find his voice while exploring opportunities with various labels and crews such as Taylor Made Music; Sic-Wid-It Records and Wu-Tang (Raekwon is a long-time friend that refers to Kahali as his brother).

King Kahali’s last album The Dangerous One, the follow-up to his classic 7-track Gold Plates album release from 2019, dropped less than a month before his sudden passing. The album appropriately begins with “85 J’s” which proceeds a recording of Raekwon ‘The Chef’ introducing King Kahali to the world. The production on “85 Js” by Elete Traxx sets the tone for the remaining nine tracks. This song is a hard hitting metaphor comparing how Kahali’s rap skills and hard work ethic will make him a hip-hop classic the same way the ’85 Air Jordan shoes are a classic iconic symbol of Michael Jordan. We all know Jordan went hard in the paint and so does King Kahali on this track. The ENON Jacobs produced track “Stay Dope” is a spiritual street hymn that starts off with a melodic biblical-like chant voice. The hook is complemented with a contrasting and addictive street hook that brags and boasts about being the ‘dopest’ and is easily backed-up once the first verse drops.

Even with the varied production credits, the whole album flows from beginning to end. The Dirty Diggs produced track “Black Gold,” featuring The Gatlin, smacks hard! The beat allows Kahali to reach his highest level of metaphors and lyrical punch lines. In addition, the perfectly timed muffled baselines put emphasis on his delivery. The Gatlin flexes his skills as well- contributing smooth rhymes and cleverly-crafted metaphors. Other stand-out tracks are the Carolinah Blu produced tracks “Jerome Bettis” and “Whole Lotta”. The track “Jerome Bettis,” is a nod to the former Steeler’s running back; top-eight NFL rushing leader; and six-time Pro Bowler. The intro proclaims, “Based on a true story… The names have been changed to protect the innocent.” but, the metaphoric parallels between Bettis’s path to football and Kahali’s path to hip-hop are uncanny. On the track “Whole Lotta,” Carolinah Blu’s production and King Kahali’s flows breath new life into a familiar hip-hop drum beat laced with graceful piano keys and violin strums.

To complete the project, ENON Jacobs’s complimentary production style can be heard again on the closing track “Vengeance” – a perfect celebratory close dedicated to King Kahali’s doubters. “I’m snatchin’ every track that’s crackin’/and draggin’ by the face”/’til we back-to-back in ‘G’ Wagons/every rapper, food on the plate/. For King Kahali, destrying tracks and living comfortable was inevitable… Rest easy my friend.

-itsTripple