Akira the Don
| Akira the Don | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Background information | |
| Birth name | Adam Narkiewicz |
| Also known as | Splash Thompson, Adam Alphabet, AK Donovan, A Zilla |
| Origin | UK |
| Genres | Hip hop, pop, indie, dance |
| Occupation(s) | Rapper, Producer |
| Years active | 2004–2014[1] |
| Labels |
Living In The Future (2009-2014) Something In Construction (2004-2009) Interscope (2005-2006) |
| Website | www.akirathedon.com |
Akira the Don (real name Adam Narkiewicz) is an independent British musician. Born in West Bromwich and raised in North Wales, for most of his career he has lived in Hackney, East London. In 2014, he relocated to Los Angeles.[2]
His music and production traverses the boundaries between pop, hip-hop, indie and dance. He lists influences including Ice Cube, Adam Ant, Morrissey, Big Bang, Leonard Cohen, David Bowie and the Wu-Tang Clan. His debut album When We Were Young was produced in collaboration with Danny Saber (U2, Black Grape), James Brown (Nine Inch Nails, Ash) and Emile (50 Cent).
In May 2011, he released his second LP, The Life Equation. The album is co-produced with Stephen Hague and features collaborations with Gruff Rhys (of Super Furry Animals) and Envy.[3]
In March 2014, Akira released his final LP titled A.T.D.R.I.P..[4] He played his final gig in London on May 19.[1]
Production
Akira has produced songs for a number of artists including two top forty hits for Lethal Bizzle,[5] along with songs for Newham Generals' Footsie,[6] Big Narstie,[7] Envy,[8] G-Mane, Littles, Marvin The Martian, Issue, and Time.[9]
Akira rapped on and co-produced a remix of a track called "Bang" with Temposhark in 2008 which appeared on an XLR8R magazine covermount CD.[10] Recent credits include a remix of "Great Britain" by dan le sac vs Scroobius Pip with regular collaborator Joey2tits.[11]
Discography
| Release Date[12] | Title | Release Type | Additional Info |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 2004 | Akira the Don's First EP | EP | |
| May 2005 | AAA EP | EP | |
| Oct 2005 | "Clones" (Featuring Bashy) | Single (CD / 7") | Samples Alice Cooper's "Clones" |
| Feb 2006 | Five and a Half Songs About Love | EP | |
| Sep 2006 | "Oh! (What a Glorious Thing)" / "Boom (Smash Stuff)" | Double A-side single | Featuring Why Lout? |
| Nov 2006 | When We Were Young | Album | Debut LP |
| Dec 2006 | All I Want for Christmas Is You (and World Peace) EP | EP | |
| Mar 2007 | "Hypocrite" (Radio Edit) | Single | |
| Jun 2007 | Stunners 130 | Mixtape | Featuring Wade Crescent |
| Feb 2008 | Thieving | Mixtape | |
| May 2009 | The Omega Sanction | Mixtape | Featuring Martin Carr |
| Oct 2009 | I Am Not Dead (YEAH!) | EP | Featuring Gruff Rhys |
| Nov 2010 | The Kidnapping of Akira the Don | Album | Featuring Joey2Tits |
| April 2011 | Living in the Future [13] | Compilation Album | Tracks picked by fans. |
| 16 May 2011 | The Life Equation | Album | Co-produced and mixed by Stephen Hague.[3] |
| 11 Sep 2011 | "Babydoll" | Single | Featuring Chilly Gonzales on the Remix |
| 19 Dec 2011 | Saturnalia Superman: Akira the Don Salutes the Majesty of Christmas | Album | Revised edition released 17 Dec 2012 |
| 18 Feb 2013 | "One More Pope to Go" | Single | |
| 24 Jun 2013 | "Games for the Thrones" | Single | Featuring Newham Generals' Footsie and Big Narstie |
| 10 Jul 2013 | "Ballistic" | Single | Featuring Darick Robertson on guitar. The official theme song for Darick Robertson and Adam Egypt Mortimer's comic Ballistic [14] |
| 4 Mar 2014 | "Rain in England" | Single | |
| 11 Mar 2014 | A.T.D.R.I.P. | Album |
Guest Appearances
| Year | Title | Artist(s) | Album |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 | "All The Wrong Places" | Mothboy | The Fears |
| 2006 | "Jerusalem" | Bravecaptain | Distractions |
| "I Can See Cities" | Mothboy | Deviance | |
| "Down" | Mothboy, Jeres, The Son Of King Rebel, & Soraya Mir | ||
| "Oh! (What A Glorious Thing)" | My Super Ex-Girlfriend (Soundtrack) | ||
| "Oh! (What A Glorious Thing)" | In The Hands Of The Gods (Soundtrack) | ||
| 2007 | "Diamonds" | Big Narstie | Hey It's That Fat Guy! |
| "Still" | |||
| 2010 | "Great Britain (Akira the Don Vs Joey2Tits Remix)" | Dan Le Sac Vs Scroobius Pip | Great Britain / Sick Tonight EP[15] |
| "Johnny Nemo" | Mothboy | Bunny[16] |
External links
- Akira The Don's official website
- The Akira The Don Myspace Profile
- Akira The Don biography from BBC Wales
- MusicTowers.com interview Akira the Don
- CMU's Chris Cooke interviews Akira the Don for The Beats Bar - thebeatsbar.co.uk
- Akira the Don's Animated Videos on Newgrounds.com
References
- 1 2 http://akirathedon.com/blog/akirathedonlately/
- ↑
- 1 2 "THE LIFE EQUATION". Akira The Don. Retrieved 16 May 2011.
- ↑
- ↑ Lethal Bizzle - Back to Bizznizz | Akira the Don
- ↑ Footsie - End Of The Road
- ↑
- ↑
- ↑
- ↑ Bang (Akira the Don Remix) | XLR8R
- ↑
- ↑ Music Archives | Akira the Don
- ↑ "Living In The Future: Preorder Now!".
- ↑
- ↑ Sick Tonight / Great Britain EP out now!
- ↑ Mothboy - Johnny Nemo | Akira the Don
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