KA (2) – The Thief Next To Jesus

I have a WSG 1/1 pressing for trade - looking for this / other KA releases <3

This album is absolutely incredible, as is Ka’s body of work in general. Truly a special human and we’re lucky he made as much music as he did in his time on earth.

The people flipping these albums for absurd prices are trash. Don’t them by buying it. Good god.

Before you go spending an obscene amount on this record, be aware that at the end of the pop up there were still plenty of copies left (there were still copies left of the 3 from 2023 as well)

I wouldn’t be surprised if they’re made available to the public at some point

Tupac did it with the "The 7 Day Theory", Prodigy succeded at this as well with "The Book of Revelation" and now Ka has dropped a swan song a month prior to his departure from this physical realm with "The Thief Next To Jesus" - a record where the Brownsville lyricist sounds tired as all hell, as if he just might collapse while spitting over the lo-fi gospel samples that sounds like if DJ Muggs would have produced the Good Book series with Budgie instead of The Alchemist.
Yes, Ka sounds tired - but the subject matter on this record gives every reason for that as he makes a (I'd assume) knowing last ditch effort to get a message out to those who can tap into his tribal frequency.
Listening to "The Theif Next To Jesus" can either reaffirm or induce revelation.
The whole record I felt tears in my ducts but didn't release any, because the material is so relatable I've already been cried out.
"The Theif Next To Jesus" is a litany of struggle rap that boasts organic credibility and cautionary tales to not fall for the "okey-doke" in European society if you dont carry the ethnic makeup of the colonizing caucasians.
"Growing up I was told you cant have this, put that back next time" and "If they really wanted to bless me, they would have left me the collection plate" on a bed of stories about mustard sandwiches and empty fridges - though Ka's tired vocals are sometimes inaudible over the high volume, lo-fi beats - I dont mind playing this back to get another helping of Ka's food for the soul that is more filling than the pie in the sky "The Thief Next To Jesus" decidedly spoils.
***
Certainly the best DIY project of 2024. I am honored to have heard of Ka through his "Descendants of Cain" project previously through DEHH. So when "According To Hip-Hop" reported his ing I was able to absorb the volume of this loss of one of Hip-Hop's rare Mix Master MC's through taking "The Theif Next To Jesus" for a memorable spin.
Brownsville stand up !!! "The Thief Next To Jesus", Ka - two big reasons why BK is the best boro !!! And then I finished writing this and a girl named Brooklyn gave me her name ...
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C.V.R. The Bard
16th/Oct.2k24