AKIRA THE DON
SAT 23RD - ARTYTECHS PARLOUR

“Akira the Don is the most well-connected man in British hip-hop ever – and will be the urban music talking point of 2005” – NME 17.05.05

Not many hip-hop artists come as original as Akira the Don. This one rocks a Salvador Dali-esque moustache, long bleached blonde hair and a wardrobe seemingly more befitting of a glam rocker from the late seventies than someone who claims he wants to be the "Rap Morrissey".

Originally a notorious music journalist, Akira now focuses his writing on his phenomenally popular website www.akirathedon.com which is an outlet for his thoughts, musings, discoveries and opinions. The website is also the online home of the famed ATD Mixtape series, along with the daily updated diary and a bunch of weird animated blobby things. The mixtapes have spawned a global cult following amongst downloaders and file sharers. Updated on a monthly basis, the mixtapes provide Akira with a forum to vent his emotions on issues he is dealing with at the time.

Akira the Don is an MC poet who uses music as an outlet for tackling real-life issues head on. He's not afraid to open up about his inner fears or rail about the things in life he hates. He has the ability to recount stories and can carry the listener along with his words, painting graphic pictures enabling them to empathise and share his feelings, convictions and personal journeys.

His style most recently caught the attention of one of the world’s most important and successful record labels, Interscope. In a tale that could well become near mythological, Akira was snapped up for a six album deal after one of the A&Rs heard his music whilst getting his hair cut in a New York based barbers. It means that Akira just one year after launching headlong into his solo career will be working with demi-gods such as Eminem and Dr Dre. Jeff Anderson Interscope's A&R department says:

Ahead of his debut album release on Interscope, Akira released his second EP on the underground record label ‘Something in Constriction’ in May 05 to rave reviews from publications as diverse as NME, the Daily Telegraph to Hip Hop Connection, and from the Daily Post in Wales to the rock weekly Kerrang and even uber stylish fashion magazine Tank. Adam is now dividing his time between completing his album in New York and performing live across the UK.