LargeUp Premiere: K-Salaam, Beatnick, Junior Reid and Jesse Royal – “Babylon Food”

There’s no denying that the GMO-based food peddled by global conglomerates like Monsanto is killing us. The rise of genetically modified foods in recent decades has coincided with an explosion in food allergies and antibiotic-resistant germs. Given the threat posed by GMOs, particularly to poor people with limited food options, it’s surprising how few artists in reggae — a genre that’s always been concerned with promoting livity — have addressed this crisis in their lyrics. On “Babylon Food” from producers K-Salaam and Beatnick, Junior Reid and Jesse Royal cut to the chase, chanting down Monsanto and their ilk. “Babylon food ah kill we more than gun,” Reid sings in the song’s hook, linking the blight to strokes, cancer and heart attacks.

“Babylon Food” is the lead single from K-Salaam and Beatnick‘s Give Love EP, which drops next Friday, June 30th.To celebrate the EP’s release, the pair are throwing an album release party at SOBs, also on June 30th, with Junior Reid, Massive B, and Black Moses Sound followed by events in Minneapolis (July 3rd at the 27 Event Center) and Vancouver (July 6th, at the Waldorf).

Stream “Babylon Food” below, and watch the making-of video here.