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"One!" MC | Producer, New York www.myspace.com/akir Page 1 | 2 Lee: For those reading about you for the first time, where are you from and take us back to the first track you ever put together that made you recognize your potential as a song writer/mc. In what respects do you feel you have grown as a song writer/mc from that first song? Akir: "New York’s my stomping ground but Americas my neighborhood" I've lived up and down the east coast but New York has always remained my home. One stop on my journey was Massachusetts where I attended high school and met Southpaw. We had a radio show and he kept trying to get me to rhyme. We jacked some kids 4track and I beat boxed the Electric Relaxation beat. Then I wrote my first joint. That verse was only about 10 bars, since then I've studied song composition rhyme schemes, worked on intonation and of course paid attention to all the hip hop legends between that, performing live and songwriting for other artists I think I've developed into a much more solid songwriter. L: The Street Edition is laid out as a two volume set. What was the reason behind the decision to release two volumes within one cd? A: We released volume 1 as an EP to test the market and provoke response. Instead of releasing another volume, which would also be an EP, we decided that not enough people had responded to volume 1 for it to be an independent project. By compiling the two EP's we created a full length cd to give people more bang for their buck. L: “Best Friend” is a track that hit real close to home poetically, especially with the hook, “my best friend is music, the sheets are the street, the pen is my game and the beat is my heat.” On the track you also talk about the meaning/essence of being an mc. Could you expand on that and how you feel this track applies? A: An emcee is responsible for moving the crowd. Back in the day it was just getting the party hype for the DJ, shortly after it became a platform for artists to express their personal views about their surroundings and/or why they deserve to be where they were headed. I wrote "Best Friend" because music (especially my personal music) had always been an outlet for me. Many times it was the only counseling that I had. I also wrote "Best Friend" out of frustration for those emcees who had "made it" and were more preoccupied with selling then with making music with good content. L: The first time I heard “One”, was actually the remix, off of Immortal Technique’s Revolutionary Vol. 2. Could you give us some information on the development of the original version which is featured on Street Edition Vol. 1 and how it developed into a remix and became incorporated into Immortal Technique’s release? Also, what sort of relevance does this track have in terms of the label you represent, One Enterprise? A: First off One is our company anthem. If you listen to the lyrics it basically explains from my standpoint as an artist and CEO, what we stand for. It also gives an inside look at what we've been going through on the way to achieving our dreams. The song actually recorded at Daddy’s House (Puff Daddy’s studio) in one of the booths that Biggie recorded in. During the recording of the song I was filled with such emotion, not only because of my personal investment in that song but also because of the honor of recording in such a legendary surrounding. Immortal Technique must have noticed the intensity of that song and contacted me about doing a remix. I'm glad we did it. To date it is one of my most recognized songs. L: Who were your influences production wise 10 years ago, and who do you admire today? A: 10 years ago... Primo, Large Professor, Pete Rock, Ali Shaheed Mohammed, Marley Marl, and Dr Dre. Now... The Neptunes, Timbaland, Knotts, Jay Dee, Havoc, and Rich Harrison. Thats just a sample of my real list. L: On the album that I received the production credits consists of Nfinit, Southpaw and yourself. Which tracks did you produce? A: I produced "Cant Touch Him", "This is your life", "State of the enemy", the hidden track "2001", and co-produced for "Rat Race". L: What are your thoughts on sampling? A: I wouldn’t be a producer if there were no sampling. I might not even be a recording artist. I didn’t know anyone who was a musician at the time down in DC nor did I have money to record a band if I had. I began producing out of necessity and samples helped me do it. L: I loved the production on “Stop Playin’”. Who produced that track? A: Southpaw produced "Stop Playin." L: What other tracks did he produce? A: Southpaw produced "Survive, "One", "2003", "4daluv", “Number Song”, “Rat Race”, “Stop Playin”, “Got 2 Go”, and “Earthquake Hits."
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