Published: Thursday - April 20, 2006
Words by Starrene Rhett
Akir (Photo: Viper Records)
Hearing AKIR spit may give you a sense of déjà vu, but in a dope way. You may have seen him touring with Immortal Technique, or in recent Mecca clothing ads. If not, it may be because he invokes the spirit of Nas circa '92. This modern day hip-hop griot has stepped up to the hip-hop batting cages, and he's swinging lyrical swords.
His name is an acronym for "Always Keep It Real," and his rhymes don't get any realer. Get ready kids, AKIR is no joke. He's serious about his craft and he took the time to tell BallerStatus why.
Ballerstatus.com: It's easy to assume that AKIR is simply your government name, but for there's an interesting story behind how you got it, although it is an acronym. Can you elaborate?
AKIR: A lot of my people were graffiti writers. I always admired that and wanted my own tag. So, everyday I would just write different letters together and see how they looked. One day, I was visiting my friend's dorm and this Saudi kid saw me writing AKIR on the bathroom mirror. He told me that in his language there was a word that meant "the goodness" and it resembled AKIR. After that, I ran with it.
Ballerstatus.com: In XXL's Chairman's Choice, you were compared to Nas in his early days, which wasn't an off comparison. How do you feel about that? Do you think you are similar to Nas? If so, in what way?
AKIR: I always get that comparison and it would be unfair for me not to acknowledge his legendary status and his influence on my hip-hop career. I want everyone to know that it is not my goal or intention to copy or bite someone's style. If people get passed the human nature to compare and begin to familiarize themselves with my music, rhyme patterns and style, they will be able to respect my originality. Coming up, it definitely was a compliment, but the more I attempt to establish myself, the more it became annoying. I actually addressed it in my first single, just to get it off my chest. In the song "Mood Music," I say, "Lets get it straight first; I never tried to be like Nas / I'm my own man, respect to that n---- though, pa / It's the same thing they used to do to him with Ra (Rakim) / I take it as a compliment and nod as I hit the top."
Ballerstatus.com: You most definitely have a firm sense of self. Let's talk about your new album, Legacy, which is out now. What can people expect?
AKIR: We put a lot of thought, energy, creativity, and resources into this project. We finally get a chance to let the whole world hear us! We had to get ill wit it and bring in musicians for a couple tracks (Apex-Bass/Dujeous, Dave Guy-Trumpet/Dujeous, and Trackslaya-Piano) and called up a couple of friends to do cameos (Immortal Technique, Jean Grae, Poison Pen, Hasan Salaam, and Mojo-Dujeous). I got some production from outside the camp to help out (The Heatmakerz, The Fire Dept., DJ Static, Illastrate). The majority of the album is produced by One Enterprises (AKIR, Southpaw, Nfinit, Dada (the Goldenchild), and Y.G.) and I am proud to say we came with a variety of sounds making the album definitely stand out as its own.
Ballerstatus.com: You've moved around a bit. Has your music been influenced by the different places you've lived in?
AKIR: Just as different places have different dialects, accents, food, etc...the way of life is very different. The majority of my childhood was spent in NY and parts of New Jersey. Up here, we get a lot of things first, since New York is where many of the headquarters and associations for the industry are. So, we live with a necessity to always be up on the fresh sh-- and to do everything with style. In addition, everything up here is so competitive, you have to make moves to stand out while watching your back constantly.
Atlanta was more laidback at first glance. People do the same things, but have a different swagger to it. In addition, there is a very rich black history down there. I really felt proud to be around blacks and to see my people as entrepreneurs and/or well off with their endeavors. Next, I was moved up to a boarding school in Massachusetts. As you can imagine, northern New England was a whole different climate for me. I hate to make race an issue, but there it was definitely one. I always felt extremely different from everyone else, but it forced me to learn how to play the game. Although it was high school, it was the same culture as a college campus and prepared me in learning to work a system to get what you want. DC and Howard University taught me how to be persistent and the importance of rapports. It also helped me realize the importance of preserving your community and the people in it. All of these cultural observations and adaptations combined with the various music and vibes have been extremely instrumental in my content, my style, and my choice of music.
Ballerstatus.com: There are so many hobby MCs out there, yet you live and breathe this stuff. What's your contribution to hip-hop culture?
AKIR: I was a fan of hip-hop as a child, but when I started to become part of the culture, I felt I had so much good music to access and reference and I wanted to bring that back. I promise to maintain a certain standard of content with my music. It's been so long trying to get on, now that people wanna hear what I say, I better use it wisely, ya know? Also, I wanna break down that underground/commercial wall. I simply ask lemme be me and don't box me in.
Ballerstatus.com: You've toured with Immortal Technique, how did you two hook up?
AKIR: Immortal Technique and I have been friends since high school. We met through Southpaw and were either trying to get in trouble or trying to rap whenever we saw each other. I had actually been trying to do some stuff down in DC for a while, but down there it's pretty hard to get it poppin'. When Tech came back from PA, he started hittin'n----s with a vengeance and started getting touring opportunities. He hit me up like, "Yo dog, it's time to hit the road." Since then, we've been on like four or five tours and in four countries in two years together.
Ballerstatus.com: That's hot. But, speaking of hooking up with other MCs, you're no stranger to that. What's up with The Reavers?
AKIR: I met the homie Billy Woodz down at Howard U. He hit me up last year some time and told me he would really like to collab with me. I was down immediately and put down like four or five tracks. The crazy part about it was I really didn't know a lot of these cats before this project and now many of them are my good friends.
Ballerstatus.com: Have you been influenced by your experience with The Reavers? Meaning, has your involvement with them affected you as a solo artist?
AKIR: It has definitely helped me think outside the box. Sometimes, I get so bogged down by the fact that I need to put out a professional project, and that it will always be under great scrutiny, I forget to have fun with it. These brothers definitely brought that element of the cipher back to the forefront. I really appreciated that.
Ballerstatus.com: In Street Edition vols. 1 and 2, you have a song proclaiming music as your best friend. That's pretty serious. What makes music your best friend?
AKIR: Throughout my life, music has always been my therapy and/or my escape. At any given time, I can just put on my headphones and drift to another place. I often make beats as a way to ease my mind. It's dope because at the end of the day, it still ends up being productive.
Ballerstatus.com: Now that this is your bread and butter, what's your favorite part of being an MC (touring, rhyming, etc)?
AKIR: I like all the aspects of being an MC, but seeing the audience sing your lyrics back to you is crazy! The other part of MCing that is very special to me is when I just finish writing a song and record it. Then after the mix, Southpaw and I turn on the big speakers and let that sh-- bump. It's ill.
Ballerstatus.com: You talk about your life, but also what you see around you -- the government and politics. You never sugar coat it, front or apologies. Do you ever get criticized for this?
AKIR: Not as of yet. I'm sure there will be things that people get twisted or don't understand, but f--- it. You can't please everybody.
Ballerstatus.com: What's your five year plan?
AKIR: I wanna get my music out there and further establish One Enterprises, Ltd, as a production company. In addition to writing and producing for artists, we would like to find other artists we believe in and make them great.
Ballerstatus.com: Are you working with any other artists at the moment?
AKIR: We just started working with two 17-year-old girls from LaGuardia High School: Akua Wilder and Krystl Yardon. Their voices and writing are out of this world.
Ballerstatus.com: Why do you love hip-hop?
AKIR: There is so much I could say, but mostly because it is a culture about making something out of nothing.
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