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Akrobatik
Wednesday, 3rd September 2008
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Rust (Perceptionists Tour), Copenhagen, Denmark
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As a decade-in-the making, the stalwart of independent hip-hop's orb, Akrobatik does it again. Akrobatik's varsity rhyme career emerged in 1998, when his first single, "Ruff Enuff, " dropped on Boston's Detonator Records. In addition to introducing fans to Ak's accessible intellectuality, the album paired him with collaborator Mr. Lif for the first time on "The Fat Sh*t ". By 2000, Ak had scored national college radio hits with "Say Yes Say Word " and the jovially derisive "Internet MCs, " the latter of which was released by New York's Rawkus Records. Heads were finally turning and Ak capitalized on his buzz with a self-titled EP that moved more than 10, 000 units. With indie labels everywhere showing interest, Ak signed with New York start-up Coup D 'Etat in 2003 for his full-length debut, Balance.
Anchored on contemporary rap classics including the famously enlightened "Remind My Soul, " the record launched Akrobatik into the global arena and won him first prize in the prestigious International Songwriting Competition. Back home, he received what would be his first of two Boston Music Award trophies for Best Hip-Hop Act, and won the esteemed Boston Phoenix Readers Poll for Best Hip-Hop Album. After years of regional rap stardom and underground acclaim, Ak penetrated hip-hop's greater critical consciousness as one-third of The Perceptionists with Mr. Lif and DJ Fakts One. Their 2005 Def Jux release, "Black Dialogue, " became the only indie rap project to register on Rolling Stone's Top 50 Records of the Year list.
Ak's tracks have appeared on television shows like HBO's The Wire and ESPN's Playmakers. His tracks have also appeared in films such as Date Movie and Wholetrain, and in video games including NBA Live '06, Amplitude, Frequency and Need for Speed Most Wanted. Akrobatik has also appeared on BET's Rap City to remind people that real hip-hop still exists and delivers daily "Sports Rap-Up " freestyles covering local and national sporting news on JAM 'N 94.5's Morning Show. On the heels of the segment's success, Ak was drafted by NFL playmakers to tape a commercial campaign that will run throughout the 2008 football season.
Ak's Fat Beat Records debut, Absolute Value, features guests Little Brother, Bumpy Knuckles, Chuck D, B-Real, Talib Kweli and Willie Evans, Jr. Add on production from J-Zone, Therapy, Hezekiah, Illmind, 9 th Wonder, J Dilla and the Beatminerz, Absolute Value promises to land Akrobatik into a new echelon.
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