Messiah’el Bey & Rocio del Pozo – The Karma Of Trust

Music Reviews
Jer@SBS
April 12, 2025
0

Messiah’el Bey & Rocio del Pozo – The Karma Of Trust – Album Review

Visibly, you can see the street cred of Messiah’el Bey & Rocio del Pozo before you even click play – they’ve got like…practically the whole Wu-Tang Clan coming out to support’em on this record! They’re synonymous with quality, as most of you out there know…so that’s certainly a good indication of being able to find something you’ll like to listen to on this record. Push play, let’s see what we’ve got here.

The Karma Of Trust begins with an intro-style cut, and you’ll find several skits/Spoken Word cuts on this record go on to serve us well on the listening-side of the speakers to help explain what this album is all about. Do NOT take that as an indication that this duo will just simply spell things out for you – you’re still going to have to figure things out, and you’ll likely have questions about stuff being said along the way too…enjoy that…it’s good to listen to information and filter things critically…that’s a gift we’re all blessed with, and it should definitely be exercised at all times. For example, as I listened to “Revolution 15” start up the album, I heard things like “America’s changed now” – and the first thought I had was, “but has it, really?” Then Messiah started going on about some remarkable facts about John Lennon, which I was immediately interested in…but then followed it up with what could only be described as a fairly hot take about the circumstances surrounding his death – and yep, I questioned that too. The man does well with supporting his argument in a short time frame, and “Revolution 15” won’t actually be the last you’ll hear about this issue on the album either…so stay tuned…we’ll talk more about this later on. And then there’s something about a “humanoid army?” Even stranger, it mentions something about it being perfected? Messiah my friend, I don’t know what experiences you’ve been having on this planet but they seem to have been different than mine – the last thing I’d associate humans with, is perfection. Anyhow. I’m more than willing to hear the guy out, so let’s see where it all goes on The Karma Of Trust.

The beat on “Don’t Be Scared” is tight to begin with, and when Rocio starts to sing, you’ll hear the whole song burst open with an exotic dose of character from the music to the microphone. With J. Mark$ making an appearance as a featured guest, you’ll get a focused set of bars that have the right level of intensity to’em, with a sound that also provides good contrast with the singing voice of del Pozo. I felt the same about the way that Messiah’s bars worked out as well…both emcees end up providing a more grounded sound in comparison to the dreamier vibes being created by del Pozo’s vocals in the main hooks. Lyrically, I’ve got my moments here & there with some of the songs on this record nailing what they wanna say exactly how they wanna say it, and a few spots where I felt like they were reaching for a rhyming word or stretching the meaning of something they were trying to express, but…”Don’t Be Scared” isn’t really one of those tracks that concerned me all that much in that regard. The sentiment is what really drives this opening cut, and it’s got an empowering message at the core of it all that I feel like listeners will appreciate. Much the same can be said of The Karma Of Trust as an album overall. When it comes right down to it, “Don’t Be Scared” highlights the fact that Messiah’el Bey and “Rocio del Pozo” are more than willing to juxtapose different sounds to create something new for you to listen to.

Songs like “Sonic Intelligence” reveal a more naturally accessible style of sound, rhythm, and melody combined together…to the point where I’d be taking a very strong look at this track as the lead-single or gateway track to entice the masses into listening to the rest of the record. Obviously, having an iconic name in the game like Ghostface Killah is not going to hurt either, and much like you’d expect the legend delivers maximum impact with every syllable he spits. What I think might genuinely surprise a few of you out there though…is that on a track featuring Ghostface Killah…it could potentially be Rocio that steals the entire show on “Sonic Intelligence.” This would be right up there with my favorite performances that she puts into this lineup, and it happens to also be found on one of the strongest hooks you’ll find anywhere in the set-list as well. Sometimes we’re fortunate enough to write a part that truly brings out the best in us, and that’s exactly what it sounds like in the inspired performance you’ll hear from Rocio. Fortunately, you don’t have to choose one or the other, you get the best from Rocio AND a bulletproof set of bars from Ghostface Killah, which gives you every reason to turn this UP.

So…again…lemme be crystal clear – all their intentions with this album are good, and the meaning you’ll find in the words is pretty much nothing but positive – and I’m very much a fan of how they’ve approached making this record with specific goals regarding the message they’re putting out into the world. All I’m advocating in favor of, is for them to make sure they’re prioritizing their uniqueness as well…as in, sure, it’s great to create lyrics people can relate to, but it’s another thing to make sure you’re not simply saying things that have been said countless times before too. Like “fight for what’s right” from “Don’t Be Scared” earlier on, or how they’re going to “break these chains that bind” on “The Karma Of Trust” for example…these are the kinds of areas that I’d advise caution. They’re these odd lines that people instantly know what you mean, which is obviously a good thing, yet they still kind of say nothing at all at the same time, because they’ve been used in countless ways throughout the course of music’s history. My point is simple – any time you find yourself writing a line out that you know you’ve heard in some capacity somewhere else, that should be your cue to question whether or not that’s really what you want to say in the way that YOU would truly say it, you feel me? Because I’d argue there’s a way to say what Rocio is saying that would carry more identity for her specifically, as opposed to drifting dangerously close to describing something generically. Other than that, I don’t mind “The Karma Of Trust” – the quality of Rocio’s performance is still intact. I’d probably tell you I’m a bigger fan of the hooks that occur in the verses than the ones found in the chorus, but that’s how life goes sometimes. Both these main elements still make an impact in their own way, and that’s really what matters most.

A track like “Acapulco Gold” is actually harder to assess, in my opinion. There’s a lot about this that feels fresh and new, which is good…but it’s also more difficult to figure out if that’s going to work for or against it when it comes to how it’s received by the masses. I really dig the personality added in from guest-star Peso Peso…I like the soulful verse that Rocio adds in right after as well…and I felt like the music itself was continually interesting. Where I was less sure about “Acapulco Gold” was whether or not it had enough to stand out in this lineup of songs where there’s an abundance of memorable cuts along the way. Like, I can’t see any fan of The Karma Of Trust getting up to cross the room and switch the track, but at the same time, I’m not as convinced “Acapulco Gold” is the cut that is going to be universally loved either. Sometimes that’s the consequences of being ahead of the game, and no one really has a choice but to live with that when that’s the case. The performances are great, the production is outstanding, but the material seems to get a bit thinner by comparison I suppose…but yeah…still ain’t a bad track by any means, and the dual-language aspect could be a solid advantage for “Acapulco Gold” to prove me wrong and find a larger audience of approving listeners than I’d assume.

That being said, I feel like “Acapulco Gold” probably stands a way bigger chance of reaching people than “Lapdancer” could. Don’t get me wrong, y’all know I’m never going to be the person that tells you I’m right about everything – I’m the guy that consistently tells you to listen to everything for yourself, and that your opinion on what you hear is way more important than anything I could tell ya. “Lapdancer” is tough though…to me, this is where contrast can become a serious obstacle in between the artist and the ears they’re trying to attract…essentially, there’s too much goin’ on in this track in too many different directions, and it’s also missing that piece de resistance that’ll draw people towards it. “It’s a delicate balance” indeed…and I feel like the heroes of this story likely went a bit too far with this one & invested so much time into it that they might have convinced themselves this works more than it really does. It’s like a full-on mixtape in one song…and from my perspective, it’s just too all over the map for it to be able to make the kind of connection we need from the other side of the speakers. With all these amazing names attached to it…Killah Priest, Honey-B-Sweet, Kamala Alexander, and of course, Rocio & Messiah’el as well…it’s almost perplexing that it doesn’t come out with more potential of reaching the people out there. I think this is an example of ambition getting the better of’em though, and the hard conversations of being objective likely not being had as brutally as they need to be. Performance-wise, I don’t feel like the quality ever drops significantly at any point in the record, but the wide array of styles and sounds on “Lapdancer” seem to shoot well wide of what listeners tend to generally pay attention to. I’m not saying it’s impossible…time will always tell the full story on what people are listening to, but I’m saying that there’s a good chance the uniqueness of this particular track is going to be a very tough sell.

You get your second skit with “Press Conference 1” as we approach the halfway mark on The Karma Of Trust, which will give you Rocio’s explanation of what the title means. Honestly, it’s insightful, and I really enjoyed it. Rocio goes on to explain how tough it is to find that right kind of collaboration, and she details how crucial it is to find a level of trust that can establish the necessary conditions for a working relationship in the music business. I like the way she looks at how the mechanics of how she was able to work with Messiah’el Bey, and clearly they’re happy with how it all worked out in the end.

While I might have been less convinced that Rocio got her absolute best throughout the entire course of singing “Mirror Mirror,” content-wise, I felt like this track was easily one of the strongest you’ll find on the whole album. And don’t go getting it twisted…Rocio’s pretty solid on “Mirror Mirror” for the vast majority of it, and she’s always got noteworthy highlights in any track you listen to her sing, including this one…all I’m saying is that she doesn’t quite have that same degree of natural fluidity & confidence that you normally find her singing with by comparison to other cuts on this album. Gotta call things like I hear’em y’all…always have, always will. The real bottom line is, I’m fine with the trade-off it feels like we make in that regard here, because the level of quality in the substance in the songwriting, goes way up. “If you’re lookin’ for love then go find yourself” – that’s straight from the Messiah himself, and they cleverly build the song around this concept from there on. Message-wise, I think this is about as good as it gets really…I listen to “Mirror Mirror” and I’m endlessly impressed by the perspective and depth that it has, the empowering & relatable lyricism it contains & how it stresses the importance of self-love/care. As far as cuts that listeners will connect to for what’s being expressed, “Mirror Mirror” is a huge win.

Every time I head Messiah speak, he reminds me of old-school Ice-T from back in the day…very similar tone of voice compared to the one I grew up listening to on cassettes in my Walkman. So…okay…I’ll admit…I’m honestly not sure what to think about “The Father’s Day Song” if we’re talking about the content itself. I’m from a whole split family situation, and I’m just trying to think about what it would be like to experience my old man turning that so directly and unambiguously into material for his music, you know what I mean? It’s a bit…problematic…from my perspective, despite what are clearly the best of intentions. Anyhow. I feel like we’re all gonna hear this from different points of view, largely based on what our own relationships to our families are. If the voice of his daughter IS his daughter…if the words she’s saying in this song are HER words…then I’d probably be a whole lot easier going about it – so if that’s the case, then right on. Otherwise, I’m not all that sure this is a place where anyone, including a father, can really speak FOR her – make sense? Who knows…they might be onto a fairly polarizing tune here…which is never a bad thing when it comes to making music…it gets people talking, it sparks debate…people aren’t silent about what they hear, and that’s always a good thing at the end of the day. Plus, I mean…who knows if I’m even getting anything right anyhow…maybe people listen to this song from a totally different angle than I do when it comes to its content. What I can tell you for sure, is that despite wondering about this detail or that detail in the lyricism and how it would be received by Messiah’el’s daughter in real life – the song itself, sounds AMAZING. You see? Sure it’s great if we know or understand everything about something we’re listening to – but it’s never the make or break of it all…you can still feel like something you’re hearing is outstanding, even if you don’t completely ‘get it.’ I love, love, LOVE so much of this track from the original intentions it possesses, which I fully believe are good…to the incredible hook in the chorus…all the way to the Spoken Word ending it has for the finale. Obviously “The Father’s Day Song” is intensely personal to Messiah’el in about a million ways…I commend the man for sharing this sincere side of himself for all of us to hear.

Cappadonna is in the mix on “Celibacy!” It’s been way too long for me to accurately remember, but I either did an interview with the guy, or a review on his music way back when I was working with my first online magazine (Kludge, R.I.P.) sometime in the early 2000s. Joined by the main heroes of the story on The Karma Of Trust and by another featured guest in La Bruja, it felt like they all tapped into another cut that’s destined to be received in high regards. What I thought made it even more interesting to listen to, is that I’ve never heard the word “Celibacy” pronounced in the way that Rocio sings it…and I’m all for the idea of bringing sonic diversity into lyricism like this…it’s smart…it catches the attention of your ears, because you know it’s not the way you normally hear something. While it’s true that doing this can often snap you out of listening to pay attention to strange semantics like this for a hot minute or two, I think the effect of having it occur in the main hook gives you more time to let it sink in and work its magic on ya. I don’t know if it gets to the point where you wouldn’t notice it necessarily, but if anything, I think with experience and repetition, you practically end up celebrating the way Rocio sings “Celibacy.” All-in-all, I dig what they’ve come up with here…I love the way the vocals sound in the hooks, and I’ve been relentlessly impressed by how much detail Messiah has put into the backing elements of these songs as we’ve been listening to The Karma Of Trust. He’s really got these tracks decked out with a whole system of layered sound that’s wildly effective when he chooses clarity, or whenever he decides to fill the background with different conversations & musical elements set to lower volumes in the mix. He’s kept the music interesting and enticing, unique and diverse from start to finish, and I appreciate it.

There’s a whole lot about this record that seems to get stronger the longer you listen, again, in my opinion. I felt like Messiah’el Bey & Rocio del Pozo took a few riskier chances with some of the material you hear before “Press Conference 1” – but from that point forward, they fuel the mid-section of this album with seriously thought-provoking content, killer hooks, and a lineup of noteworthy guest-stars. On “The Legend Of John Horse” for example…you’ll find Method & Red in the mix…and c’mon y’all – do the make stars bigger than those two? If you didn’t grow up listening to the bars of Method Man and Redman at some point in your life, I don’t know that we can be friends…just sayin.’ So do they deliver on “The Legend Of John Horse,” you ask? Like the legendary professionals you damn well KNOW that they are, yes indeed they do. This whole track hits the mark like they all had this collaboration saved in drafts for years…and now that the time is right for it, they’ve brought out one of the most powerfully potent cuts you’re likely gonna hear this year. Shyheim is on the track as well, and all-around, every single contribution to this all-star collaboration is a crucial piece to what makes it so freakin’ perfect. If you asked me how many times I expect to find one of an album’s best tracks occurring in the eleventh spot of a lineup…I mean…you get the point – you don’t often find songs of this caliber this deep into a record. That’s the thing though…like I’ve been tellin’ ya, The Karma Of Trust continually builds on itself. This is straight aces from start to finish, and one of the most balanced tracks you’ll find on the record.

“Press Conference 2” is just as crucial to understanding what this record is all about, and getting to know the artists behind it all, as “Press Conference 1” was. This time, it’s Messiah’el in front of the mic, and he goes on to relate the process of music making to nature and spirituality in a very astute way. I really appreciate his point of view, and how different the answers he gives in “Press Conference 2” would be to so many that would be asked something similar…you know what I mean? Messiah’el doesn’t get caught off guard here – this business of making music is something he knows inside & out, and he clearly has an incredible understanding about what he gets out of it, and how music benefits us all. I also really dig how humble and grateful the man has been about the support & love he receives for doing what he does…the man is never anything less than authentic, and people truly want that in what they listen to.

I think for myself personally, I was probably the most surprised by “You Are Amazing!,” because it seemed to defy the odds for what I’d normally want to listen to. I felt an instant connection to the hook, even though I recognized it as a bit more of a challenge for the everyday listener to get into as the main centerpiece of the song. And I felt that too in a way…I was immediately interested in it, but almost in a more curious way than feeling like I was confident that it could carry the weight of the song as its main hook. Then I felt a little similar about Rocio’s performance as I did on “Mirror Mirror” earlier on…I didn’t really feel like it had the balance & consistency that we know she’s capable of, but that being said, she’s got some incredibly memorable moments and highlights in this track I knew I wanted to turn UP. The words…that’s another point of contention…I don’t typically end up listening to too much like this…I’m not one for songs about dancing, songs about music…it’s all very much not my thing when it comes right down to the DNA that makes a song like “You Are Amazing!” – and yet…I kept on spinning this song. I mean, Rocio even uses my least favorite word along the way – “funky” – and somehow, I still came out feeling like I knew with each subsequent experience I had listening to this song, that I’d like it even more. Maybe that’s the advantage I’ve got over the average everyday listeners out there…I can recognize potential, even if I’m struggling to pinpoint what it is, and I often know when I hear something that’ll convince me over time. Sometimes that’s hearing a live performance that doesn’t seem to measure up, and I know the music will work better on a recording…sometimes it’s knowing that even our favorite artists & bands can make us turn up our nose at something new, simply because we need time to absorb & consider what we’re listening to…sometimes it’s merely hearing a song like “You Are Amazing!” and knowing that it’s got an energy and aura that continues to strengthen with exposure to it. I’m always happy to find myself being convinced by a song…that means it’s genuinely been earned – so kudos to you Messiah’el and Rocio…it took a minute, but I’m onboard with “You Are Amazing!” now.

Do I love the concept of “the car of life?” No. No I do not. I also think it’s always weird to hear the word “strife” come up in as many songs as you tend to, especially when you consider that you’ve probably never once heard it come up in casual conversation, ever – right? Anyhow. They continue to defy the odds with “Song Of The Crows” – I might not love every aspect of the lyricism on this particular cut, but performance/balance-wise, I felt like this song was one of the record’s best and most listenable tracks for sure. There’s a lot of flavor in the mix here…love the highs in the melody, love the lows of the bass-lines just as much…its exotic, it’s got character, it’s got the kind of sound that continually intrigues you. Based largely on Latin-vibes when it comes to the texture and tones you’ll hear, I feel like this duo really tapped into something that works brilliantly for them on “Song Of The Crows” and came out with another cut that’s destined to become one of the most universally enjoyed by all. Again, really nice to hear them take time to acknowledge their supporters towards the end of this album with Rocio sending a quick shout-out of gratitude to the listeners in the finale of “Song Of The Crows” before The Karma Of Trust is finished. I dunno…to me, it’s very sincere…you can tell these two truly appreciate you listening.

The final skit on the record, called “Shina’s Prayer” was totally interesting to me on several levels. We get to revisit Messiah’el’s daughter on this track once again…which…I’m gonna stand by what I said earlier, in that if these are indeed her words, then I’m all good with 100% of it. If he’s filling in the words for her on her behalf…then I think we’re having a different conversation. Before we even get to that conversation between him and his daughter though, he was just in the process of explaining WHY he feels like John Lennon was shot from the front, when we’ve become so accustomed to hearing he was shot from behind by Mark David Chapman. What fascinated me, wasn’t so much that it was different information that we’ve typically been exposed to, so much as I was really getting into how accepting society seems to have become of one study that offers a completely unique perspective – I just think that’s a fairly new development in human history. We are so accustomed to the general consensus as being the ultimate truth, which still seems to make logical sense overall in my personal opinion, but it’s neat to see that being challenged so often now, and how many folks will hear one outlier as being more truthful than an entire set of data that’s been agreed upon. I also think it’s neat to hear revisionist history in action as well…again, I’m not saying anything I’m hearing is wrong, but it’s almost impractical to assume we could know more about an event that took place long ago in the present day. It’s certainly possible – all of what I’m talking about IS – and to me, it’s interesting to consider this kind of stuff and how it’s now playing a much more active role in our everyday life than it ever did before. Do I think Lennon was shot from the front as of listening to what Messiah’el Bey has cited throughout this record? Not really, no…but I do appreciate where he’s coming from, and I appreciate that he’s not only put out his own perspective on it, but backed it up with sources and scenarios that make it all plausible.

It’s been a wild ride, hasn’t it? “Humanity For Life – The Legend Of John Horse Remix” finishes off the album with a totally different spin on the original source material that spawned this remix. In fact, you probably wouldn’t even recognize it if it wasn’t for the title itself, because it really does possess a whole different rhythm & pulse, while significantly narrowing down the guest-list as well. And…hmmm…what do I think of this last cut? I think that, personally, I ended up most interested in the music for this finale. You gotta admit, that’s a beat and a half y’all…”Humanity For Life – The Legend Of John Horse Remix” hits hard, and the intensity of the music is pretty much guaranteed to get everyone out there paying close attention. Love the mix, the production, all that technical stuff…it’s been an asset to this final track and indeed to this whole record when it comes right down to it. I dig the more spiritual aspects of what they’re saying lyrically on “Humanity For Life – The Legend Of John Horse Remix,” they bring up some good points about unity and how we’re all connected in some way, shape, or form. It’s presented in a very bizarre way, don’t get me wrong…I wouldn’t be expecting people to connect to this last cut in the same way as they did with the rest of us, because it’s essentially expressing a very antithetical energy as what you’ve heard in the majority of the material that came along before it. That being said, if you value uniqueness…and you love that hard hitting beat as much as I do…chances are you’ll feel like “Humanity For Life – The Legend Of John Horse” is well worth sticking around for, and makes for a solid conclusion to what’s been an immensely diverse album full of twists & turns you’d never have predicted, with thought-provoking material laced firmly into its grooves & a positive message at the center of it all.

Find out more about Messiah’el Bey & Rocio del Pozo from the official links below!

Main Site: https://messiahelbey.com

Messiah’el Bey Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/1TSU8ZHoDGcAyrAfPtiDZU

Rocio del Pozo Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/4xlZkXazMSrjRmdVeeaM62

Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/us/album/the-karma-of-trust/1786812975

Magical Multi-link: https://distrokid.com/hyperfollow/messiahelbeyandrociodelpozo/the-karma-of-trust