Kassa Overall - “Ready To Ball”

SXSW 2024 - OEB Score: 8; Popularity Index: 6

Pairs Well With…Shabazz Palaces, A Tribe Called Quest, Robert Glasper

Equal parts jazz and hip hop, Kassa Overall has crafted an engaging, complex sound on his latest record ANIMALS. The Seattle-based drummer’s third full-length, ANIMALS is a creative, groovy, and surprising record layered with rhythm and psychedelic soundscapes. Tracks range from in-the-pocket jazz-rap (“Ready To Ball”) to pure cacophony on wild song-phrase “Still Ain’t Find Me”, experimental in nature but cool in vibe and texture. A collaborative artist with most of the songs on ANIMALS featuring guests from rap, pop, and jazz corners, efforts that broaden the sound of the record. Kassa Overall avoids his disparate influences sounding spastic or incompatible, instead ANIMALS is able to explore freely while still presenting itself a one, cohesive songbook. Creativity around a core idea, an anchor that lets Kassa Overall take influences from all over the world and make it sound natural in his expert-level hands. (Kevin McStravick)