AKIR Interview
AKIR is an emcee who stands for freedom and good music. He is currently signed to Immortal Techniques Viper Records and is gearing up to release his first solo album Legacy that drops later this month.
What inspires you away from the music?
Children. I often participate in after school programs and see their eager spirits and vulnerable minds. It makes me realize how much work I have to do on this earth before I’m done.
Tell us about yourself. Where did you grow up and what are you presently involved in?
Ya’ll really asking some personal questions. Why, you wanna make some money? Hahaha…Nah, on the real I’ve moved quite a bit, but my home has always been Uptown NY specifically Washington Heights.
What are some things that got you into hip-hop?
Car stereo systems, Public Enemy (It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back), Bass, My cousin Daniel, Rakim (Microphone Fiend), DJ Red Alert, Tascam 4-tracks, Girls, Marijuana, Primo beats, Dead air on the radio, DJ friends.
What are you chasing in hip-hop besides paper?
I wanna bridge the gap that the industry has created to force genres in hip-hop. I wanna make music that appeals to hip-hop lovers no matter the their particular cultural preference.
How would you define your style?
Lyrical flow, concentrated, and concept driven.
When did you first get the sense that a buzz was building for you?After I got the Unsigned Hype people really started checking for the kid. Before that I was on the street grind really hard. I began to realize, however the people I was meeting on the street and selling music to were not the people coming out to the shows and contacting me on a regular basis. I also was on the Internet early on, registered on every artist site available and still no fan base. With hip-hop, the fans seem to only respond to sensationalism, thus the media is very important in reaching and maintaining the interest of the hip-hop audience. I think it has to do with the way the larger media and major label promotions program the audience. Once the initial endorsement is made, that’s when word of mouth and performances cause people to latch on for more than one experience.
When is the solo album dropping and do you have a title?
The solo album entitled “Legacy” will be available July 17, 2007. 
How would you describe the AKIR’s sound to those unfamiliar with your music?
I like so many different types of music, it is hard to describe what I come up with or chose for music. I’d say it’s social commentary with a combination of traditional hip-hop, jazz, classical, and soul.
What do you feel has been your biggest accomplishment to date?
I am releasing an album to be distributed worldwide. I have never accomplished that before.
Out of all the tracks you’ve released, can you pinpoint one or two as particular favorites?
“Best Friend” is a very special track for me because it marked the first time I ever really connected with a piece of music in a recording. The content of the music was so personal and DJ Nfinit laced the beat so well. After we recorded it we sat around bugging cause it came out so well, it sounded like we heard it before. That’s how we knew it was fate not to sound corny, but its true.
“One” obviously is a very meaningful track for me and by far is my most popular song to date (including the remix on Immortal Technique’s “Revolutionary Vol. 2”), but currently the track that stands out the most is my new single “Apocalypse”. It was the last song I wrote for the album. From the time I started recording it I knew from the vibes in the air that it was a special song. I really was able to connect with the content and the music on this one. It also was the first time I performed a song and the fans responded before I even started to rhyme. Big shout to The Fyre Dept.
Do you like to listen to your own music?
All the time. You gotta be your biggest fan and you gotta listen to your stuff in that mindset. I try to imagine me at 16, listening to an artist for the first time. That’s the way I try to judge whether or not something I’ve done is hot.
Do you have a certain recording process or routine or is it always different?
I have personal vices I like to indulge in before and during my sessions. Other than that there is no true routine.
Do you believe that you get pigeonholed being a conscious emcee?I’m conscious because I try to stay awake, but in some respect we all deal with ignorance. I’m commercial because I sell my music as a product in the commercial marketplace. I don’t buy into those categories and as previously stated, I hope to span across whatever sub-genres there may be. The public will try to classify me, so I will try to keep doing things that force them to understand I won’t be pigeon held.
Is there anyone you consider a musical peer, not necessarily in terms of sound, but overall aesthetic?
My homeboy Hasan Salaam. He is a solo artist and one of the members of the super-group I’m in: The Reavers.
What do you think makes you stand out from that of any other emcees?
“I never been competitive cause who could be a better me?”
Do you think that music as a whole is suffering due to the follow the leader type of style?
I definitely feel the music industry is suffering. I don’t necessarily blame the artists themselves, but I blame the programmers, the major record companies, the advertising agencies, and the media outlets. When the majors see a winning formula they do forceful mind-numbing promotion, thus the fans are used to expecting the artist in a certain package and aspiring artist are used to trying to match that formula to get on.
How does an artist keep from watering down his style and find a co-existence between independent & commercial fan base?
I believe the only way to truly do that is through independent deals or as the artist who has accomplished that before me, maintain some sort of creative control. You also have to be able to maintain both sides of the fence in your material and not be afraid to try new things.
Besides yourself what other artist do you believe we should look out for in 2007?
Immortal Technique, Hasan Salaam, Jean Grae, Karniege, Malene Young Lao, One Belo, Arophat,
What projects should we be looking out for in 2007 from AKIR and One Enterprises?
Apocalypse (12’Vinyl) , Legacy (Full –Length CD)
Any last words, shout outs or plugs?
oneenterprises.com
myspace.com/akir
One Love…One Music…One Movement…
EL.FIN
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