September 16, 2016
Illa State Ltd
Ahead of the release of the retrospective '10 Years Of Akala' album on 23rd September, 'Mr Fire In the Booth' himself drops a brand new track taken from the album via a radio premiere with Mistajam on his BBC 1 Xtra show this Monday. This track's credentials as a party banger are clearly evident, coupled with a deeper social message from Akala & Kabaka, a feat rarely achieved since the days of Public Enemy. The pair also announce that Kabaka Pyramid will be joining Akala for a live performance debut exclusively with Toddla T on his BBC 1xtra Carnival Stage (29th August]. Watch out for carnival-inspired visuals to accompany the track dropping next month. Long time fans of each other's work, it was a mutual respect that drove the Akala & Kabaka together after Akala had started working on the track with London-bred producer, singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Marshall. "The track came about as a collaboration between myself and Marshall and when I reached out to Kabaka Pyramid, who ironically had just listened to my Fire In The Booth Pt. 4, he understood the concept of the track and was eager to lay a verse, despite being in the midst of a USA/European tour." Paying homage to the legendary figures that have helped paved the way in so many ways in communities across the world. Akala explains: "Giants is a track about pioneers and foundation-layers, those who have paved the way politically, culturally and musically in a positive way for the world that we inhabit today." We also get a taste of what to expect from Akala's next album "The reggae-inspired musical direction of this song gives a nod to what isto come from a future Akala album".