I’m sure a lot of you are already familiar with Idi Akz but just in case you aren’t, I’m about to put you on…

I came across Akz’s music not too long ago through a TikTok of ‘Tell You Suttin’. Although a lot of the comments were in favour of his new sound, some of his OG listeners used this opportunity to express how they didn’t like this new sound which is interesting because you would think supporters would understand sticking to one genre leads to creative stagnation. Experimenting is necessary to discovering unleashed potential and staying true to the ever-changing journey that is music no?

If you still disagree after reading this then I guess Akz can’t rap.

---

megan:”give me a brief description of how you became ‘idi akz’, tell me about your background and if your background has had any influence on your music, how you got into music and chose your specific genre?”

AKZ: “For as long as I can remember, I’ve always been someone who took an interest in music; it was something I was surrounded by…

Coming from a Nigerian Christian household and being born in Nigeria, gospel music was always around me, and I was often encouraged to sing. 

Growing up in England, I joined school choirs, sang in church, and competed in talent shows. Although I didn’t have the best voice, teachers and peers could see I was very passionate. From that point onwards, my musical consumption increased, and my brother and I started to get into rap music, which we used to have to hide from our parents.

Once I hit the early stages of puberty, I lost my passion for singing and began looking for another music-related hobby to pursue, which ended up being rapping. I taught myself how to rap and used artists my brother and I had discovered as references and to draw inspiration. I faced backlash and had little to no support for several years, but fortunately, I had enough self-belief to continue.”

megan:”recently, you dropped a single titled ‘tell you suttin’ and faced some criticism for experimenting with your sound, how have you dealt with this and has it effected your work at all?”

AKZ: “I knew that me having a more experimental approach to my music would come with negative feedback due to the fact that for some consumers it feels so far from the music I had been making years prior. Despite the negative feedback, I have managed to alter my mindset and make music that I enjoy creating all while developing as an artist. There have been a handful of people who have gotten behind the release and expressed how they wish for me to continue down this avenue, which is what I plan on doing after ‘Akz Can’t Rap.’

Many people overlook the alternative rap scene in the UK, but I personally have been listening since the middle of 2022 and since then knew this was the music I’d want to be making.”

megan:”tell me about your new and upcoming project, ‘akz can’t rap’, talk me through the writing process, studio sessions and potentially any features you’re excited about?”

AKZ: “My debut album, ‘Akz Can’t Rap,’ is a body of work showcasing my songwriting and storytelling ability in the bpm range of 140-155.

Whether the title is true or not is subjective to the listener, the reason I chose the title was because I like to highlight the importance of the listener’s opinion and also as a way for me to prove myself. This is the 6th draft of this album. I have rewritten, altered, removed, and added so many songs to this project over the course of 2024, and it has undergone a lot of change, but I’m finally at a point where I’m proud of it. It includes some of the best songs I have written and recorded in 2024. The majority of these songs were recorded in Baby People Studio located in Derby, England, and the remainder were DIY recorded by myself in university studios, university accommodations, and other spaces I was able to find. From the beginning I knew I didn’t want to have any other artists feature on this album. I wanted it just to be me and really push myself to maintain a certain standard, allowing listeners to understand me more as an artist and really showcase my ability. 

May I also add that this album was created solely by myself and executively produced by my two closest friends.”

megan:”how would you say this project, and our music has developed from your debut ep ‘leave this city’?”

AKZ: “I personally believe that there’s a big improvement in the lyrical content of ‘Akz Can’t Rap’ in comparison to my debut EP ‘Leave this City.’ I was 2 years younger, had a lot less experience, and had a completely different approach to creating a body of work. My music now has a more mature approach, and the tracklist conveys a larger range of topics, emotions, and experimentation.”

megan:”which song is most meaningful to you and why?”

AKZ: “The most meaningful song has to be the title track ‘ACR.’ This song highlights personal problems with self-belief and lack of support from loved ones and gives an insight on how music has been for me since I officially began. I wrote this song in a way that feels relatable but also includes unique experiences I’ve had, which is something my fans are used to me doing.”

megan:”if you had to describe ‘akz can’t rap’ in three words, which words would they be?’”

AKZ: “Three words to describe ‘Akz Can’t Rap’ would be insightful, lyrical, and detailed.”

megan:”is there anything else you want to tell your listeners about what to expect from not only this upcoming album but anything else that you have coming up next year?”

AKZ: “And finally, I would like to tell the supporters to expect shorter songs, more music than ever before, consistency, and a lot more alternative rap songs, and to look out for the rollout for the next project. I’m going all out!”

---

‘ACR’ OUT ON THE 15TH!

@idiakz on all platforms.

Hope you guys enjoyed reading as much as I did writing,

Until next time,

Megankamangawrites.