Akala (rapper)

Infobox musical artist
Name = Akala


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Background = solo_singer / rapper
Birth_name = Kingslee James Daley
Alias = Akala, Black Shakespeare
Born = December 1983 in Crawley
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Origin = London, United Kingdom
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Genre = UK Hip-Hop/Electro/Alternative
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Label = Illa State Records
Associated_acts = Ms Dynamite
URL = http://www.akalamusic.com
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Akala (real name Kingslee Daley), born December 1983, is a British rap and electro/rock/alternative artist. He is the younger brother of the singer Ms. Dynamite. He was formerly a football player with Wimbledon F.C. and West Ham United's youth team, playing as a defender. His recent music has seen airplay on various radio stations and music channels including MTV, BBC Radio 1, Channel U TV, Choice FM, Kiss 100 and BBC 1Xtra. He is of mixed race origin: half black or Jamaican and half white or Scottish and talks about the many issues in the black community in his music. His stage name is a Buddhist term meaning "immovable". One of his first major appearances was with his sister (Ms Dynamite) at the Live 8 festival in London, July 2005.

He released his first album, "It's Not a Rumour" on May 1, 2006. In September 2006, he won a Mobo Award for best hip-hop artist. Controversy surrounded this award, as Akala beat chart-topping artists like 50 Cent and The Game. [ [http://arts.independent.co.uk/music/features/article1370014.ece Who wins at the Mobos? - Features, Music - Independent.co.uk ] ]

Akala was the support artist on the UK leg of Jay Z's numerous sold-out arena tours and Christina Aguilera's Back to Basics Tour in November 2006. In December 2006 he also supported DJ Shadow in Brixton's Carling Academy. He has also had the opportunity (a first for a UK rapper) to support Richard Ashcroft at his summer 2006 Manchester Cricket Ground concert. He has collaborated with a number of Grime artists such as Jammer, Baby Blue, Earz and many others.

On 15 June 2007, Akala had a brief interview on Sky News concerning young black people.

He has appeared on Soccer Am and was asked a question by Tubes.

In summer 2008 he is working with BBC blast, touring the country and working with youngsters. His workshops focus on the similarity between William Shakespeare and current hip hop artists.

He released his latest album, The War Mixtape Vol. 2 on 22nd September 2008.

Discography

Albums

Mixtapes

ingles

* "Welcome To England" (2003)
* "War" (2004)
* "Roll Wid Us" (single, May 16, 2005)
* "Bullshit" (single, October 24, 2005)
* "The Edge" (featuring Niara)(single, April 10, 2006)
* "Dat Boy Akala" (featuring Low Deep)
* "Shakespeare" (single, July 3, 2006)
* "Bit By Bit" (single, September 17, 2007)
* "Comedy Tragedy History" (single, 2008)
* "Freedom Lasso" (single, 2008)
* "Where I'm From" (single, 2008)

ampling

On "Shakespeare", Akala samples "Loneliness" by Tomcraft. On "This Is London", he takes the instrumental of the single "Shook Ones part 2" by Mobb Deep. On the "Freedom Lasso" album, Akala samples the likes of The Cure and Siouxsie Sue.

References

External links

* [http://www.akalamusic.com/ Official website]
* [http://www.thesituation.co.uk/ukartists/05/akala/akala.html Article on Akala]
*MySpace|akalamusic|Akala
* [http://www.choicefm.com/Article.asp?id=78318 Choice FM article]