The Evolution of the Emcee: Akala at TEDxSalford

Akala is a renowned English rapper, poet, and journalist. Emerging from London's hip-hop underground, in 2006 Kingslee 'Akala' Daley) won the MOBO 'Best Hip-Hop' award for his debut album "It's Not A Rumour". Since then he has released his second album "Freedom Lasso" and toured extensively in the UK and around the world. He has also found the time to take his own energetic and original workshops all over the country working for clients such as the BBC, London Metropolitan Archives, Times BFI London Film Festival and various schools/youth clubs around the capital.
Breaking down the culture of cliché and stereotype that smothers the genre he loves is a major part of the mission he's taken on, and gives impetus to this third album of pointed, perceptive hip hop music from the convention-defying emcee. Akala has performed at various UK festivals including V Festival, Wireless, Glastonbury, Reading and Leeds Festivals, Parklife and Isle of Wight.
Credits:
Camerawork: Nathan Rae & Team - nathanrae.co.uk/
Post production: Elliott Wragg - / eiliott
Audio restoration : Jorge Polvorinos - jorgepolvorinos.wordpress.com
Head of IT and Design: Vlad Victor Jiman - / vladjiman
Intro: Mike Wood - www.completeedits.co.uk / completeedits
In the spirit of ideas worth spreading, TEDx is a program of local, self-organized events that bring people together to share a TED-like experience. At a TEDx event, TEDTalks video and live speakers combine to spark deep discussion and connection in a small group. These local, self-organized events are branded TEDx, where x = independently organized TED event. The TED Conference provides general guidance for the TEDx program, but individual TEDx events are self-organized.* (*Subject to certain rules and regulations)

[@writerjames8284]

I am a 58 year old white guy and think I have just begun to like hip-bop

[@67CRAIGYBHOY]

Akala is someone i respect highly, educates youth spreads truth

[@spareaccount1969]

Akala is one of them people that make you wanna read. Knowledge is power👏👏

[@StateMindOfMine]

Wow.. This is insightful, hearing the roots of Hip Hop within the African continent and exploring the different genres which has influenced Hip hop.. Thank you Akala! Peace and love

[@Dinojong]

Dark Angel He is not wrong actually. This is what has been told for years. Just because you have a beef with Bambatta and his molestation does not mean Akala is incorrect.

[@StylistecS]

@@Dinojong If he is saying hip hops roots came from within the African continent, he is in fact incorrect.

[@1anre]

This guy is what you call wise.

[@netteundgut]

Lanre Oladejo yes man

[@nexusdrexus9361]

Not wise it is called being intelligent, being a intelligent human beings and not televised zombies product's.

[@allyroxy1]

fire in the booth akala will change you mind on positive movments in music and what the industry feed us

[@RyanGiggsOBE]

People who think that hip-hop is just mindless idiots making music for other mindless idiots need to open the mind. There are some real poets in the genre, Akala being one of them. They create really powerful music with strong and positive messages that inspire others. Eyedea & Kristoff Krane being my personal favourite and rather philosophical Everything Akala says here and his songs is spot on.

[@JhonDollar21]

+RyanGiggsOBE Agree 100% brother.

[@agewmankush-pharoah8049]

What a man... long live for Akala!

[@johndoa4839]

I’d never heard of akala until I saw him at this event and it blew my mind, followed his work ever since

[@lccoleman3]

Brilliant brother!!!

[@pswagner]

Knowledge is power! Thank you!

[@kojomensah7474]

Each one one teach one you never stop learning until you hit six feet

[@NomSon3]

i love everything about him! He knows

[@k2d10tode11]

if only u had ur own chanel Akala! i would have subscribed right away! just wow!

[@donovanriva4267]

Akala Music

[@jeffknott4081]

I saw Akala live in Manchester UK he was awesome! Very clever rhymes!

[@MsNsangou]

Respect Akala... Thanks a lot for these insights.

[@avedic]

9:00 Wow! Hearing something that obviously sounds like hip hop from the 1930s is pretty mind blowing. Music is awesome....

[@hostiletoes1145]

Bruh its not safe knowing this much akala.

[@bertramdavis7120]

You should never be afraid to show your worth! This is what oppression is .

[@mopthefloorezard4699]

I didn't know people were using bruh in 2016... ...BRUH

[@MrSoulx5]

This is very deep bro. Blessed soul☝️

[@itchfm]

Knowledge Is Key

[@rtleeson]

This is amazing.

[@inspektahdeck1554]

knowledge is power

[@jacksmith4460]

Yeh this vid is ace, this type of culture (oral story tellers) actually runs through ALL cultures (obviously Hip hops direct roots run through African culture) but in Europe it was the Bards, who performed the same role and also had aspects of musical poetry, if you follow the roots of folk music it ends up in similar equivalent roles , I think that's one of the reasons its so popular, everyone can relate to it. Cool to hear someone extend that history back from the 70's and tie it conclusively to African tradition really cool talk

[@johnwalter5875]

respect

[@dannyzee4]

Inspirational guy. Gotta get reading if I'm gonna catch up with all that knowledge.

[@winstonmiller9649]

Hi ya. Indeed I am awed by Akala's wisdom. He is very natural in his truth. I wouldn't try to catch up with him. Just take things from where you are now and go forward . What do you think? I think it would be hard to say, let me try catch up to A male. I'm twice his age and probably a quarter of his education. But he's not all about education, knowledge is not all about book learning, it's partly about your vision, what you want, how you want to see the world progress and change...

[@Dinojong]

winston miller Don’t be awed, just research and read.

[@mikeltruss9695]

Oh lordy lord!!!! I need the 2hr version!!!!

[@Mrvanyz]

I love hip-hop. It's part of my daily life. But I never butchered to explore the roots and history of hip-hop. Akala inspired me to investigate hip-hop and its essence.

[@stevebb2915]

the gospel of hip hop by KRS1 is the book to start with

[@Sackboy612]

Enjoyed that video, subbed

[@Henbot]

such a shame it hasn't got more views really interesting stuff.

[@Trixstart]

Wow! A true master of ceremony. You rock my small world. Knowledge is power!

[@SurferSteve]

What a Legend!

[@starvoyager523]

Akala, thank you for sharing your knowledge. And thank the powers that be that brought KZbin into my life because it brought me you. 🙏🙌😍

[@JackHollandBartlett]

Such an inspirational guy, speaking sense.

[@CSFREERUNNING]

I wish there was more stuff like this from Akala.

[@rens0n]

right on prof. akala

[@DNice5865]

Love love

[@jasonharvey4028]

Peace god. Positive Energy Activates Constant Elevation. Provo born, Hip-Hop vibrates through my soul.

[@judbakilam]

Wu is forever

[@darylp2280]

One of my favorite quotes from the Grave Diggaz album

[@dnyl1488]

PEACE

[@Mikado33]

Dayummm, Akala is power

[@OgbeniAde]

Akala is the truth. 🔥

[@DJMJRyder]

Interesting to see all the references in his rhymes broken down and explained

[@jyoungswag]

Dope!

[@georgerothery]

Custodians of the knowledge......, Akala is this.

[@Greengyal]

Big!!

[@Trixstart]

That would be epic.

[@suzetteinjessuhumphrey885]

THIS IS MALCOM X ALL OVER AGAIN A BRILLIANT MIND...

[@2timesforthewestside]

His knowledge is astronomic! Is the rapping at the end made just for the video or was it part of his songs? Someone please inform me

[@jacobfeldman8724]

that jacket though!

[@Taste3339]

May you give some of your sources and images. Really keen to delve into some of the historical African social organisation and civilization.

[@itchfm]

Dope

[@pongtrometer]

SUPERB

[@nkrumahsfootstepz2.0bibini36]

Brilliant mind

[@supersharpshots]

Wow this

[@b3nzione909]

If you have not heard Sona Jobarteh...please have a listen. She is a beautiful soul and a grandmaster of west African music! Love to Akala as always. Listen, we need a new political party in the uk, Akala could be the basis for this.

[@rapuzle]

BIGUP

[@superZEUSTER]

to me akala is the professor brian cox of music...

[@patrykbielecki1949]

Akala make some tracks pleasee thats talent

[@sholaebofin6090]

teaching us the roots

[@sholaebofin6090]

Ok sis

[@danieleduardomontoyamirand6096]

subtitulado por favor!

[@anomalyramirez]

✊🏽

[@Michelle23MissRiot]

TRUTH TRUTH TRUTHHH

[@Eddierocket2010]

when was this???

[@Thatwestcoastdude]

Hahahah man 30 seconds in I love this video.

[@jacobhanson5205]

What was the program Akala was talking about with Muhammad Ali?

[@ikonuk]

I'm not sure. I was trying to find this out also

[@aasimyaqub8718]

www.amazon.com/Ali-Rap-Muhammad/dp/B000I0RNWA/ref=pd_sim_14_1/156-8499926-6303830?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=B000I0RNWA&pd_rd_r=K287CH7GKT5FGEYFNST5&pd_rd_w=IbUuA&pd_rd_wg=iGcqB&psc=1&refRID=K287CH7GKT5FGEYFNST5

[@barefacefilms]

Some interesting comments and analysis of a genre I love Hip Hop 1/5 of it is the Emcee element. Check out Hip Hop & the Mixtape Culture for a comprehensive well researched piece on Hip Hop and longstanding History. Its relevancy in todays society and how US has lost its way, but Hip Hop Globally is on the rise. The voice of the common man

[@gunafella]

Does anyone know what book those drawings are from?

[@AD-jt7bd]

Before the Slave Trade: African World History in Pictures

[@HarryO632]

Cleopatra Anthony x

[@Ibnafrika]

+Johnny Quid The drawings were made by Olmert Dapper.

[@Ibnafrika]

Olfert

[@Untoldscape]

No way I live near the uni and akala was in salford =[ guy is a genius

[@ukmlmmlmmlm]

Akala You should travel to Iran too!

[@Ziggy246]

theres a 2hr version?? lol

[@tinyspeaker]

Yeah in terms of music i hold it up, people of African origin undoubtedly make the best music in the world and always have. But things like mathematics and science started for real in ancient India, China and arabia.

[@penjamin5037]

Lol. Mathematics was started on the dark side of the moon

[@laurelledubois]

He can talk me straight into his bedroom 😍

[@illizcit1]

n elle Yes, girl!

[@BurkeLCH]

Why did they change it to black and white?

[@360TizZle]

I think it's supposed to represent how this hip-hop more closely represents it's roots.

[@TheKondinho]

I know right? Not even freestyling or a song, just them 3 discussing some shit. Their different perspectives of life.

[@MrTinTooting]

No need to feel sorry for me blud; it's bare cajj. Man's always on the grind. I even keep my bread in the fridge - so my life's not boring @ all, get me?

[@tannercollins9863]

Really good and very interesting! A little confused, hip hop culture is really old and rap it's self is from the 70s? I couldn't really follow all of it, I'm American and couldn't understand all of his words.

[@louissimmonds5509]

Gravitas personified

[@phy29]

the real formula is E=1/(sqrt(1-v/c))*mc²

[@sexyrose93]

Hip-hop or rap music and culture is a mixed between Black Americans and Caribbean immigrants.

[@seyramkulewosi4611]

And it all came from Africa,Gyedu Blay Ambolley from Ghana recorded the first rap music before the Bronx commercialised it into hiphop in the 70's.

[@kyraocity]

seyram kulewosi can you provide a link here?

[@c.mstizzy]

More importantly...where are his jeans from???

[@penjamin5037]

Chanel Mba what are thooooose ?

[@user-rq3gr8pj8t]

James brown

[@bengermain8310]

Knew a guy like this from school, sadly he's gone nuts and carries a knife with him everywhere he goes. Even to Church...Josh Hooper from Southampton is his name, spot him and tell the police! Even if it's a Sunday!

[@KillahManjaro]

But I guarantee you listen to some variant of Rock, jazz, Blues,Hip hop. As for math, Africans created that first. Ishango Bone. watch?v=VX90lN8VSME

[@specb37]

rap is on the rise hip hop is on the decline due to commercial shit rap ala lil wayne,2 chains,birdman pure unadulterated rubbish.

[@veganath]

More importantly Akala is VEGAN, distancing himself from causing unnecessary suffering to other living beings... Real peace

[@ikonuk]

Like like like

[@biggrhymees88one]

f that vegan ish

[@judbakilam]

cool but u still can be ate.

[@judyjupiter7404]

i seem to recall an interview he did about veganism that implied he does it mainly for health benefits (skin, energy, & feeling more in-tune with his body)

[@jimchorley]

Judy Jupiter why ever one chooses to become vegan is their own personal choice...but what cannot be denied is that whether it's firstly for health or for animals either way it's a win...

[@lizzyjohnstone]

Shock horror, a bloke from Camden doesn't speak in RP.

[@PGLEINAD]

I hear the word REAL Hip-hop thrown around alot and the music that is being taking about is definately a disgrace to hip-hop.

[@almundy975]

Hey Nope, Got Meth?

[@LeTuckShop]

And European whites. Akala being mixed with white too.

[@avedic]

Not really. At all. Unless you're 70 years old or have a VERY limited understanding of creativity.

[@bowzar07]

Pure Babbling

[@tinyspeaker]

Cool story about Africa bro and all the great things you invented but unfortunately the ancient Indians and Chinese did it ALL first

[@MrTinTooting]

pseudo-intellectual babble and garbage...he paces the stage well, though

[@akino.3192]

Thomas O'Titty Dude... seriously? Onus is on you to prove any falsities he might have uttered. Otherwise, your comment comes across as quite idiotic.

[@CoreySenderson]

@Martien de Jong I dont think he is saying the griot is a rapper from many years ago. He is more so showcasing the idea that the culture was there many centuries before the birth of hip hop. That culture being someone who is a musician/singer as well as a "social commentator" as Akala describes them.

[@CoreySenderson]

Do you mind quoting somthing he said which you disagree with, and providing facts to back up your argument? I'm curious about the topic of the birth of hip hop and you clearly must know more than him.