Akala

Akala

Akala artist profile

Akala first raised ears on the streets last summer with the double a side white label, "Banger 4 da streets"/"War". The tracks got instant underground radio play and critical acclaim for their candid lyrics, cold flow and banging beats. However, the buzz reached a whole new level when a video for "Banger" appeared on Channel U, featuring Akala irreverently rapping on the roof of a police car. The video, shot on a shoestring budget, entered U's request chart at number 11 and peaked three weeks later at number 6, above Kelis' "Milkshake" and G Unit's "Stunt 101". This relentless street anthem with it's hardcore depictions of ghetto life and a sick sample from Verdi's requiem, remained in the chart for ten weeks, longer than any video in the first quarter of 2004.

The streets had clearly spoken, and UK hip hop had finally found itself a serious contender, just as polished and natural as american rappers, without aping them. Akala's greatest influence is Jay-Z, from whom he garnered his writing style, or rather, non-writing style as he does not write down any words. Instead he just listens to the beat, thinks of what to say and then puts it down.  Despite this influence, there are no fake accents or fake stories, Akala is the genuine article, a black english rapper talking about england's black society, in a black english accent.

The quality and realness was evident: After a series of electric live appearances, on pirate radio and in london's premier clubs(including  support slots for MsDynamite at Brixton Acadamey and 50 Cent at Glasgow and Wembley), the demand was boiling over, the streets couldn't wait any longer for a video for "War". This time the bar was raised with a cinematic video, complete with dramatic narrative, tough for the thugs but plenty of eye candy for the female audience. Once again, Akala's sincere storytelling, powerful, yet calm delivery over a top notch beat, went straight to the heart of hip-hop heads everywhere.

At twenty years of age, this North Londoner has life experience beyond his years, from nursing his mother through cancer to seeing the harsh realities of street life first hand, all before his teenage years. These memories fuel the passion behind his lyrics. No biography is better than an autobiography, so, quoting from his lyrics:

"You already know the tale, never lived with my father, Nasty break up with my mum and her partner, and of course times was harder, Mum's did the best with the strength she could muster, But she was so stressed it was us that would suffer, Plus, school teachers hate me, say that i'm feisty, Play all kind of mind games to try break me, Help turn an innocent kid into an ignorant pig, Fuck em anyway i still got straight A's"

Akala's always had the stubborn and determined heart of a fighter. (His name is a buddhist term meaning immovable). The discouragement he received at school only made him yearn more for knowledge and success.

"Never fell for the spells they tell in this world, I read malcolm(x) when you was learning to spell, I took exams early with the geeks in the school, Opened a business, you were still chasing your balls"

He says in "Roll with Us", referring to the Jamaican restaurant he opened in Ayia Nappa at the age of 18. He continues, "I spent my teens sticking but i'm one Britain's best mathematicians,Official, i got the certificate".

That's no rap exaggeration. He was actually chosen to attend the Royal Institution mathematics masterclasses and took his maths GCSE a year early! Despite his academic success, he grew so tired of the constant harrassement by his teachers that he packed in college to follow his other passion, football. Up until a year ago, he was playing in the Wimbledon junior's squad, but after an injury forced him to take a break, he put his focus on music and never looked back.

During his injury time, a mutual friend introduced him to american hip hop producer/engineer Rez, signalling the beginning of a new era in Akala's music. Rez had previously worked with many big names in hip hop, including Wu Tang, Ruff Ryders and Lyricist Lounge. He was instantly impressed with Akala's hard, profound and sometimes humourous lyrics,  but thought his flow needed some work. At that time, garage was still the dominant force amongst British MCs, however Rez thought it would be a good idea for Akala to maintain his natural style, but to adopt the breathing techniques and rhythmic punctuation of american rappers. After a few months of training with these new techniques, Akala locked his flow down, the two recorded "Banger for da Streets" marking the beginning of a fruitful partnership.

Since then they've recorded ten more original songs and completed a mixtape that will be hitting the streets shortly. The mixtape comprises fifteen tracks including eleven freestyles. They are currently in the studio putting the finishing touches on the debut album, and plan to release the single "Roll With Us" towards the end of the year. In the meantime,  the quality of the mixtape is already a cut above most people's albums. In Akala's own bold words, "It's like Shakespeare, with a n***a twist ".

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