Akala at BCC BLAST...

How did you come to be at Blast?

I worked with BBC World Class doing work around the slave trade and established a relationship with Chez who’s here today and Sian who works for the BBC. We came up with the idea and Blast decided to take it on tour.

You`ve been consistent with your albums, are you working on the 3rd and can you give us a little low-down?

I am indeed working on the 3rd and all I can say is that… I’m excited.
What kind of writing process do you go through and where’ do you get your inspiration?
Most of the time I don’t actually write anything on paper. I listen to the beat and rap lyrics over and over again in my head. But sometimes when I’m trying to do something more poetic, just ‘cause I like to see the words, once or twice I have written songs down. The best inspiration comes from life and being around nature.
Yeah absolutely, I think that music is about truth, whether it be the music or the lyrics, it’s about your personal truth and that’s what people connect with. So if there’s no honesty there’s nothing to connect with.

What`s your favourite track you`ve made?

Probably my personal favourite is a song called “Carried Away”, on my first album.
Who’s the best talent you`ve worked with so far in your career?
I’ve worked with far too many talented people to single out one person. I’ve just returned from a trip in Mali in West Africa, where loads of UK MC’s, singers and producers went to work with musicians from across the African continent. The talent there was just absolutely phenomenal, all round.

Where has your music taken you around the world and where else do you wanna go with it?

With music I’ve been to Germany a few times, Switzerland, Norway, Holland, Belgium, France, Nigeria, Mali, Vietnam and the States. I haven’t been to South America yet, I’d love to go there.
You`re one of my inspirations and I look up to you. Who has inspired you in your life?
My list is endless. Bob Marley, Mohammed Ali, Marcus Garvey, Wu Tang, John Lennon, Public Enemy etc. Richard Branson…

When did you start rappin`’, and can you tell us some of the key turning points that got you where you are today?

I’ve been rapping probably since I was like 6 or 7 when I first heard NWA and Public Enemy. My Dad was a DJ, so when I used to visit he played those records and I used to learn the lyrics. Then I started writing my own probably at 8 or 9. I’d say major turning points were albums that really influenced me. Wu Tang Forever definitely had a major, major impact for me and has a lot to do with me being a rapper now I think.

Speaking of music, Grime in particular has got a bad name. What would you say are the positives to Grime?

First of all, I think Grime is a localised, fast form of Hip-Hop. It’s not really a whole different music, it’s MC based. I think there are Grime artists that are positive, your Purples, Bashy, War Riko, like with Hip-Hop. I think it’s important to be honest more than anything.

Do you think there`re some artists in Hip-Hop etc. that have negative influences over youngsters, rapping about violence?

Yeah of course there are but that’s not specific to music. There’s violence everywhere and the thing is that there are youngsters from certain backgrounds who listen to the same music, play the same video games but they don’t kill each other at the same rate. So what are the factors in the life of young working class children that are different?

"...gang violence in the US was
at its height in the mid 80s,
which was when so called
gansta rap didn't even exist".
What do you think the main factors are in things getting worse with the youth in society?

There’re loads of factors. Family structure, economics, lack of knowledge of self, lack of self love, lack of opportunities. There’re so many factors that go into creating this problem. We have to be open minded about it and accept our responsibility and contribution as a society.

You`ve been known to criticise the commercial US style of rapping about ego and material wealth. Do you think that whole image is in some ways responsible for the rise in violence in UK streets?

No I think that’s a scapegoat. Makes it easier for the government and for society to pretend that this is a foreign problem. The fact is, gang violence in the US was at it’s height in the mid 80s, which was when so called ‘Gangster Rap’ didn’t even exist. So clearly there isn’t really a direct correlation between Hip-Hop and violence. Would I say that seeing negative images of oneself can add to an already pre-existing set of circumstances that are creating a problem, yes absolutely. But when we’re seeing a negative style of Hip-Hop music on our TV, it’s not the rappers that own the TV or radio stations or record companies. If we have a problem with these things we need to be campaigning to these record companies and saying we want a positive style of music.
 Why do you feel that people buy into unrealistic lyrics rather than searching out the deeper stuff?

People buy into whatever’s commercially promoted and I think if you look at the reality, the biggest selling rappers of all time are Fugees, Outcast, Tupac, Biggie - artists with a balance. Artists that are just all out negative or about champagne, tits and bums, they’re not the biggest selling rappers of all time. The biggest selling rap record of all time is “The Score” by the Fugees and that’s a conscious record.

Not long ago we lost a great spokesperson against gun crime, Pat Regan-Mothers Against Violence. What advice would you give to any youth out there involved in a negative lifestyle?

Growing up I can tell you first hand that a negative lifestyle only breeds negative consequences. There’re only two ends to street life and that’s in a jail cell or a coffin.

You`ve an open minded music taste, what new music have you been getting into lately?

The last album I got was Santogold. Also from Brooklyn I really, really like MGMT.

Both you and your sister Naomi (Ms Dynamite) are known for your questioning and awareness of society. What would you say are the reasons you turned out like that?

My mum has made us aware from very young so it would definitely be something to do with the way we were brought up.

What advise can you give to young people who are wanting to do something musically?

Just don’t be afraid to be yourself. That’s the one thing that you have. Doing what you think people will want is not gonna work. What you can do is be you better than anyone else on planet Earth.

True

By Haider Khan

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