Akil’s name will always be associated with legendary LA group, Jurassic 5. As one of the four MC’s of the crew, he made an indelible contribution to their old-skool Treacherous Three-style throwback lyricism and catchy hooks.
Akil’s name will always be associated with legendary LA group, Jurassic 5. As one of the four MC’s of the crew, he made an indelible contribution to their old-skool Treacherous Three-style throwback lyricism and catchy hooks. J5 walked that fine-line between critical acclaim and underground respect ever since they dropped their first self-titled independent EP in 1997. After signing to Interscope shortly after it looked like they were following Black Eyed Peas into mainstream success. But then in 2007, after huge world tours and three and a half major label LP’s, they mysteriously disbanded. Since then Akil has been walking his own path, spending time working on his solo record and connecting with hip hop communities wherever his travels take him. One that brings him to Australia for this year’s NoiseFest.
“I have to prove myself and that’s what I’ve been doing these past couple of years,” a relaxed Akil says from a northern beach somewhere the morning after a Sunshine Coast gig. “Getting out there, letting people see me and know me for who I am, so I can get out from under those shadows (of Jurassic 5). But I’m not trying to get away from those shadows really, ‘cause that’s me. I didn’t break up the group; I didn’t have shit to do with that.”
Akil has been building on his strong hip hop foundations with his new solo record. Years before J5, Akil was a b-boy and DJ before he even picked up the mic. “I’ve been DJing since ‘82, but it has been like in and out, in and out since ’82,” he laughs. “My father was a DJ. He was DJing in the ‘70s… before two turntables; but he was the record guy.”
When Akil did begin to take rapping seriously he found himself in the midst of a west coast lyricist renaissance, spearheaded by LA’s infamous Good Life Café. “Good Life was exciting, ‘cause you had different MC’s, with different styles,” he acknowledges. “So every Thursday you knew you were going to see something different and creative, so it just kept the creative juices flowing,” Akil says about the night that gave birth to acts like Freestyle Fellowship, Abstract Rude, Busdriver, Pigeon John and 2Mex.
“People were trying to make songs and stuff, it wasn’t necessarily like how it is now. Everybody now just wants to freestyle. That’s cool,” he nods, “but that is just one aspect of emceeing.”
Back then Akil was rolling with Zaakir in a group called Rebels Of Rhythm. “The Trials and Tribulations Of Jessica and We Got The Rhythm are the only two things we put out,” he explains. “We just got inspired by a lot of the cats at The Good Life that were putting stuff out, so we just decided to make a little two-song tape, just an A and B-side. That was ’93.”
It was through their performing at the Good Life that the two developed a close affinity with a group named Unity Foundation, consisting of Chali 2Na, Marc 7, DJ Numark and Cut Chemist. A year later the two groups would combine for the Unified Rebelution track and J5 were born.
The rest of the story you should know – festival favourites, gold albums and respect by the pound.
“Meeting Kool Herc, Grandmaster Caz and all the oldskool cats and they all really respected what we did!” Akil exclaims happily about what J5 managed to achieve. “To please the people that I loved, that I had pictures of on my wall…. who I idolised when I was young – and they’re telling me ‘Yall tight!’ That is the pinnacle to me.”
But now Akil has taken things back to basics as he puts together his first solo LP Sound Check. “It’s a good opportunity right now, for me to showcase what I do,” he reasons. “I’m a DJ and I produce too, I produced 70% of the album.”
Many people may be surprised by that, but Akil has deep roots in the production game. But this was a man who was refining his craft all the way back in 1992 on an MPC60 he stole during the LA Riots.
“No, no more stolen MPC’s… oh shit, you up on your history,” he laughs. “The MP is just kinda too big right now. I appreciate the functions, and I came from working with the SP1200, so I love em. But if you know how to make a beat, it don’t matter what you make it on. I’m able to make beats sound like they came from the SP1200 on Reason.”
As he polishes off his LP, Akil The MC is touring far and wide across the globe with Louis Logic and attempting to give back to every community he visits. “I have taken it back to the grassroots, (and) these workshops and stuff I do… I recognise that that was my humble beginning in the first place. That’s always where my heart is,” he says, gracefully acknowledging the roots of both his talent and that of a new generation.
“I wanted to do more community stuff and more grassroots stuff with J5….. I’m not saying that people was against it,” he clarifies, “but there wasn’t that push to get involved.
“That always messed with me ‘cause I am a grassroots person,” he nods. “I’m a community person; I’m from the hood and you can’t cross those lines and act like you’re a fucking superstar in the hood,” he grins.
The best part remains that with all of his talent and world-beating experience, Akil The MC will be showcasing everything that made him an important part of hip hop history when he heads to Melbourne for NoiseFest 2010, to once more give back to the fans and the hip hop community.
Catch AKIL THE MC giving back with his golden-era sound at NOISEFEST 2010 alongside an all-star hip hop cast including Louis Logic (USA), M-Phazes, DJ Bonez, Mista Savona, Jess Harlen ft. Plutonic, Elf Tranzporta, Lotek, 1/6, DJ Damon (the Nomad), Scarlet City, Ms Stylz, Tenfold, Lady Lash and heaps more (plus special New Zealand guests) at The Prince Bandroom this Friday November 19. Tickets are on sale now – but make sure you’re quick as they’re likely to sell out – from POW pub, Obese Records, Greville Records, Polyester Records (Fitzroy and City), princebandroom.com.au.
