TEDxAldeburgh - Akala - Hip-Hop & Shakespeare?

Akala demonstrates and explores the connections between Shakespeare and Hip-Hop, and the wider cultural debate around language and it's power.

MOBO award-winning hip hop artist 'Akala' is a label owner and social entrepreneur who fuses rap/rock/electro-punk with fierce lyrical storytelling (think Wu-Tang Clan and Aphex Twin meets Rage Against The Machine). With Akala's latest record, convention-defying album DoubleThink, Akala has proven himself as one of the most dynamic and literate talents in the UK. Inspired by the likes of Saul Williams and Gil Scott Heron, Akala has also developed a reputation for stellar live performances with his drummer Cassell 'TheBeatmaker' headlining 5 UK tours and touring with everyone from Jay-Z, Nas & Damian Marley, M.I.A. and Christina Aguilera to Siouxsie Sue and Richard Ashcroft, appearing at numerous UK / European and US festivals (Glastonbury, Big Chill, Wireless, V, Hove and SXSW) also partnering with the British Council promoting British arts across Africa, Vietnam (the first rapper to perform a live concert in Vietnam), New Zealand and Australia. In 2009, Akala launched the 'The Hip-hop Shakespeare Company', a hotly-tipped music theatre production enterprise which has sparked worldwide media interest since its inception. Previous collaborators include: British actor; Sir Ian McKellen, actor/musician; Colin Salmon and Royal Shakespeare Company Voice Director; Cicely Berry. 2011 sees the launch Akala's latest endeavour 'Illa State Productions' to garner his budding scriptwriting talent alongside TV presenting and as a music composer for various TV and Film projects.

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Category:

Entertainment

Tags:

• United Kingdom
• English
• TEDxAldeburgh
• Entertainment
• Culture
• Education
• Media
• Drama
• Aldeburgh
• Aldeburgh Music
• Akala
• TED
• TEDTalks
• Shakespeare
• Hip-Hop
• Hip-Hop and Shakespeare

[SelinaP95]

Genius! I'd look forward to school if there were teachers like Akala!

[idiiiiii]

I love this guy :)

[g1churchboy]

Brilliant.

[MrVVWWVVW]

@SplurtaBeats speaking my mind!

[Ms90sBabiix]

Truly Amazing!! xx

@SelinaP95 I could not agree more. If I had a teacher like that I know I would have been attending all my lesson. Maybe If I had his positive influence I would have made better and wiser choices whilst at school.

[l334nn3]

@BrooklynJEW7 SHARE IT! I'm about to.

[BrooklynJEW7]

My only complaint is that only 20,000 people have seen this.

[SplurtaBeats]

the education system is corrupt. what they teach you in history classes is painfully untrue. I hated school what they taught us was bs, and no I was not an underachiever I got very good grades. Educate yourselves people, that is true education. Don't believe everything someone tells you, read a book or find the truth for yourselves on the internet

[hannahkells1234]

so happy to find akala. so inspiring and intellectual, and passionate about what he does, wanting to create a positive impact through music but also just a great guy trying to make a change!

[SplurtaBeats]

@SelinaP95 realest comment

[Uzzyy9mm]

i never realised akala was such a great speaker, gonna find more speaches by him, just great

[ZiddersRooFurry]

Sciencedaily(dot)com(slash)rel­eases(slash)2012(sl)01(sl)1201­26152129(dot)htm Great article on how hip hop rhythm has inspired a new implant, a medical monitor that can help prevent aneurisms or incontinence due to paralysis