Haastattelussa Kalifornian East Palo Altosta kotoisin oleva räppäri A.K. Hän ja hänen kaksoisveljensä Mac julkaisivat debyytti-EP:nsä ‘Westbound (Riders Only)’ vuonna 1996. A.K. on tehnyt urallaan yhteistyötä useiden tunnettujen rap-artistien, kuten C-Funkin, Mac Mallin, E-40:n, Chunkin, Scoot Doggin ja Sean-T:n kanssa.
- What’s up, A.K? How are you today?
What’s up, man? Just working on some music and other projects. Doing great, what’s poppin’?
- I’m doing great as well. Please introduce yourself and tell us a little about your background.
I’m from East Palo Alto, a well-known hood in the Bay Area. I grew up with four other siblings, including my fraternal twin brother, Eric, aka Mac Gordon.
- What was the role of music in the early years of your life?
Music was very influential in my life. I grew up listening to the Isley Brothers, Curtis Mayfield, and Isaac Hayes. I loved the guitars, bass, and the sound of live music. Once rap music hit the scene, I was hooked. My first inspirations were Run-D.M.C, KRS-One, Kool G Rap, Ice Cube, N.W.A., The D.O.C., Big Daddy Kane, and Rakim.
- What was the first rap album you bought?
The first album I bought was Eazy-E’s debut, “Eazy-Duz-It.” I heard “We Want Eazy” and knew I had to have that album.
- When did you start creating music, and why?
My brother Mac was in a group called Black Jack, and I used to go to the studio with them. Soon after, I started writing rhymes. I actually did a song with them, but it didn’t make it on the album. It was a posse cut. It was dope—I was rough and raw, but I had a good voice, so my twin brother pushed me to keep writing. Eventually, he left the group Black Jack and asked me if I wanted to form a group, and that’s how Mac & A.K. came about.
- How did you come up with the name A.K.?
My original name was Smooth K, but that didn’t fit my style. I thought about my style, which doesn’t have any breaks—it just flows without pauses. That’s how I came up with A.K., because it represents a fast, straight flow with no gaps in my bars.
- Where do you find most of your inspiration?
I found inspiration by looking at the violence and life in East Palo Alto, which was the murder capital of the United States in 1992. I drew inspiration from what was going on around me at the time. I like to have the beat playing loud in a quiet room or in my car and craft my rhymes on a notepad on my phone. Back in the day, I had hundreds of actual notebooks where I’d write freestyles and come up with concepts for songs.
- How would you describe the music that you typically create?
I like music with a live feel, featuring live bass, guitars, scratching, keyboards, and drums. I prefer to get away from samples and create original compositions. This way, I’m bringing something unique to the table, and I also don’t have to pay for sample clearances.
- Who would you say are your all-time favorite rappers?
My all-time favorite rappers are Scarface, Rakim, Conway The Machine, The D.O.C., Ice Cube, Kurupt, Method Man, Nas, Tupac, E-40, Rappin’ Ron and Ant Diddley Dog, Canibus, Rass Kass, MC Breed, T.I., Black Thought, Common, Inspectah Deck, Locksmith, Snoop Dogg, Spice 1, Mr. Mike, Eightball & MJG, Big Daddy Kane, Redman, Busta Rhymes, and other guys with amazing bars.
- How did you get connected with Mac?
Well, most people don’t know this, but Mac is actually my fraternal twin brother. We were very close growing up, and we stayed that way until he passed away in November 2013.
- Tell me about the recording process for your debut EP “Westbound.”
With “Westbound,” we were signed to Tommy Boy Records in New York, but we hadn’t yet put out an album. “Westbound” was seven songs taken from a 20-song album called “Drastic Measures.” We’d go to G-Man Stan’s studio in Hayward. My brother would make the beat, and we’d write the song in the studio. Mac, who produced all the beats, would create a bunch of tracks, and we’d write them at the house, then go to the studio and lay them down. We’d write all the verses and then come up with the hook. Stan played live bass and guitar on every song.
- Can you tell us a little about your and Mac’s latest single “Gasoline”?
Well, as I mentioned, Mac and I were very close. After he passed away, for many years, I couldn’t listen to his voice. But eventually, I got to a place where I could, so I decided to remix all the tracks we were working on before he passed. “Gasoline” is one of those songs. The full-length album is called “Only The Strong Survive,” and the title track features Planet Asia.
- Do you have any new releases lined up that we can look forward to?
“Gasoline” is the first single, followed by “Don’t Play With Me,” which features King Cydal and Money $Mont aka Mr. Fetti. The next single will be “King of The Grind,” and I actually did a 3D animated video to bring my twin brother Mac back to life. The album, as mentioned, is called “Only The Strong Survive” and includes features by King Cydal, Dem Hoodstarz, Planet Asia, M-Dash, Jet Black, and some other heavy hitters.
- What do you like to do in your downtime?
I like to create, work out, learn about effective digital marketing and running a label, travel, kick it, hit up a lounge to listen to some live music, and smoke a nice premium cigar every now and then.
- What’s the main focus for 2022?
The main focus for 2022 is to bring back the name Mac & A.K. as a brand so that everybody knows about us and to rep Mac Pacino till the death.
- Any last thoughts?
Just be on the lookout for several videos, singles, and projects coming from Mac & A.K. The first release in early 2022 is “Don’t Play With Me,” featuring King Cydal and Money $Mont aka Mr. Fetti. The video was filmed late in 2021, so that’s coming. Expect big things from E&K Music Group and Mac & A.K.
Haastattelu: J-P / Fileerausveitsi
