As many artists have only just started to embrace the digital revolution there are some artists that have embraced it in their arms and clasped it to their bosom: Radiohead, Trent Reznor to name two.
Over the past few years one hip-hop artist in particular has brought out mixtapes, blogged frequently and has kept a close interaction with his fans in Akira The Don, this mixtape has been released through his website (www.akirathedon.com) for a small fee of £2.41 (for a bit more you get a t-shirt) to preview his upcoming second album ‘The Life Equation’ which was formerly known on the Don mixtape as 'Hail Discordia!' (As you can tell he’s a Darkseid/DC fan here) which is due sometime later in 2009.
Following a long and somewhat ardous road with Interscope Records over the release of his first album ‘When You Were Young’ after objection over the song ‘Thanks For All The AIDS’ amongst other things Akira has spent his time creating new mixtapes (which in turn inspire his fans to create remixes and made a remix tape possible last year).
The first single ‘Streetfighter’ is a great use of samples (provided by Capcom!) and lyrics following the concept well about how to fight and fight well, with his regular collaborators in Littles and Big Narstie, in contrast Akira has his mellow moments on the track ‘The First Day Of Spring’ which was released, written and recorded on… well it’s obvious really!
The sample usage always seems to fit well (see Third Hand Wire Riffs as a example of using Britpop and the Don mixtape for usage of 2008 hip-hop) with Can’t Go 4 That using Hall and Oates along with the drum beat from Aerosmith/Run-DMC and Ice Ice Baby being part of the chorus.
As always there’s a snippet and two off the upcoming album which should get people excited and a remix of Air France included of No Excuses.
Overall a good taster and a welcome return for the Don who if there’s any justice should do well in 2009 and show there’s more of a mixed side to UK hip-hop!