Here’s the ninth full-length solo record from Brownsville, New York-based emcee, producer and fireman Ka. He was a member of Natural Elements about three years ago before eventually splitting off from Iron Works in 2008, subsequently releasing “Grief Pedigree” and “The Night’s Gambit”. 2016’s “Honor Kill” became his most popular work, as did “Descendants of Cain and the Martyr’s Reward,” but Dr. Luo Yan and the Hermits and Hermits frontman are about to break away from flagging art and miserable research, Full production of “The Thief Next to Jesus Alone”.
“Bread, Wine, Body, Blood” begins with a warning not to be the weapons they use to harm you, a pure struggle we all go through over organ samples, while “Beauty” takes the soulful route and continues to sample hope. Art Everyone listening lives a good and long life. “Tested Testimony” lays out a slutty drumless loop, bragging about having no money in the safe as he takes the safest lane before the bluesy “Borrowed Time”, hoping to make it when his time comes.
Looking ahead, “Collection Plate” leaves the drums out and skips another soul flip, pointing out that if someone really wanted to bless him, he now has the titular object, while “Broken Rose Window” brings the former The Blues Flare actually goes back to talking about being economically disadvantaged. “God Undefeated” again samples gospel, ensuring God is on the side of the victor, leading to “Soul & Spirit” remaining drum-less, suggesting building fences instead of bridges.
“Lord Have Mercy” talks about the need for true freedom in some delightful keyboard passages, but then “Such Devotion” returns to gospel samples, telling everyone they’ve never seen so much devotion or piety. He later stated that he wanted each of “Cross You Bear” to be golden, complete with exposed organ, while “Fragile Faith” spoke of aerial preparations for ground war over a murmur of background vocals.
As “The Thief Next to Jesus” comes to a close, the penultimate track “Hymn & I” comes right out of the gate, discussing hearing so many Christians use the “n” word, as well as gathering strength in our daily lives, and Learning Heartbreak from the Most Loyal Before “True Holy Water” Ka flawlessly delivers what may be the most godly production ever, which also features a drumless cut that lets everyone know he’s here for everyone.
Literally every album in Ka’s discography has its own unique concept, and after back-to-back a few years ago, he unsurprisingly continues that tradition with The Thief Next to Jesus As for my firm belief that it would work with Honor Killed “Samurai” is my favorite of the 9 solo pieces he has written for us over the past 16 years. The work, which built heavily on drums-less sounds around samples of gospel music and a hint of blues, became the best of Ka’s entire career as he put his own unique poetic spin on religious themes.
Rating: 9/10
