AKIR feat. Che Grand "Soul" [Music Video]

I was pleased to see some brand new heat in my email this week from my brother, AKIR, as it's been a long time since I've heard from him.  In case you're not familiar, AKIR (acronym for Always Keep It Real) made his mark as the touring partner of the revolution advocate emcee, Immortal Technique.  Once signed to Viper Records and eventually to Babygrande, he released his debut LP Legacy in 2007 which featured Hasan Salaam, Immortal Technique and Jean Grae.  My familiarity with AKIR runs deep back to our time as members of the underground "supergroup" The Reavers.  Recruiting artists from many major New York City hip hop crews such as Wu-Tang, Monsta Island Czars (MF Doom), Immortal Technique, and Def Jux - The Reavers dropped Terror Firma and was highly praised amongst critics and fans alike.  After the LP and a few mixtapes, the crew was not heard from again.  Much was the same for the Buffalo native and Howard University.  After Legacy and some mixtapes, AKIR had been silent.  Until now.

The video for "Soul" was shot entirely in the Netherlands, but does not lose any of the the street imagery of life in NYC that runs constant throughout the lyrics.  AKIR handles the production of this track as well as bringing his lyrical style that combines the timbre of Nas, and the political discontentment of Immortal Technique with the delivery of Lupe Fiasco.  The track is dark, but not overbearing - primarily serving as the backdrop to feature the vocals in the forefront.  The strength of AKIR's music has always been in the message, and the message here is clear: He refuses to compromise his standards or sell out.  The fact that AKIR is not more widely known to this day is a true testament to how much music business has shifted.  Being written up in The Source Unsigned Hype section as well as XXL clearly doesn't mean what it used to.  I've always felt that AKIR was one of the more talented emcees the New York underground scene had to offer, and I'm happy to see that my brother is still going hard.  Stay posted for news of AKIR's upcoming EP, Focus, by following his twitter page here.