Here we meet Ah-Kim.

Location: Outside the Five Guys in the Rockville Town Center.

People: Ah-Kim , Eric (The African) and Myself.
So the breakdown to this piece is this : Ah-kim is a dude that i've known for a tad bit of time who has something to say. Everyone wants to rap this day and age , yet Ah-Kim proves that only a set group of those people can make quality songs.

So , you actually go by your government name when rapping un-like most. Why?

Motherfucka thats me , I already think my name is unique already. I think my government name is the perfect name already , it sounds like a real hip-hop MC instead of Shawty Lo anything like that. I toyed around with names when I was young , I just think its unique within itself. To be real with you , it keeps me focused on what im doing now. I rhyme my reality. When you use a stage name its like you're making up shit.

But your not saying , MC's who use names other then their government are corny are you?
Oh no , not corny at all. (eric) It's just your own personal preference? (eric) I dont think it's corny , just when you use a stage name .... sometimes you fade away and stick with that story. Say that came from a nicnkname which was given to you , it's a tad bit different.
So what inspires you to do this thing called "rap"?
Poetry. Bottom line , poetry. I started writing poetry first. My first thoughts about writing poetry wasn't to convey feelings but to tell a story. (eric) So poetry bottom line? (eric) I started writing rhymes soon after. I realized after writing poetry that I could expand on to rhyme.
How long have you been rapping?
For 3 years.
Who have been some of your musical influences?
Im going to keep it to the point. Whats the word? (eric) Consise? (eric) Yes , three. As far as my style. Jay-z because of his swagger. Eminem for his wordplay. Nobody puts words together like him , he can make words and phrases rhyme that you would'nt think could. And Talib Kweli for his conciousness , and him being socially aware.
(eric) Thats it? No specific genre? Some rappers get outside influence besides rap and hip-hop(eric) 'Jazz standards' Because they tell average joe stories with a lot of heartfelt emotion. They engage you by vocal delivery.

How did you start?
When I started writing poetry. Dont get me wrong , poetry taught me to think outside the box. Hearing fresh ass beats and being able to put words together just did it.
Motivation. What draws it? Thoughts or ideas.
(eric) What captures it? (eric) Just common everyday life.
Favorite song of all time , Any genre , and why?

Rap song? (eric) Any song (eric) Damn son , I wanna go with hip-hop. I'd say "Passing Me By" , by The Pharcyde. (eric)Why?(eric) Number #1. They didnt use a lot of metaphors. They used simple vocabto tell a story. They did'nt try to get all metaphoric and shit. They told a simple story , that was real from all four corners. And I related to it. My favorite verse was the last verse. (eric) Do you remember any of it?(eric) Yea. And there she goes again..... :starts rapping: ... the dopest ethopian...
What in your head / mind describes the rap game as of now?
How can I say it. A waste of time. (eric) Hah. (eric) Wack beats. Songs that lack substance. No MC's and a bunch of motherfuckas just getting rich. Just a complete waste of time , it almost seems like a waste of time trying to be a rapper.
With that said , why do you continue?

Why do I continue? Because I have this false belief , that real hip-hop will be important again. (eric) You dont think it will ever be? You hoping to make it? (eric) Yea , but its unrealistic.
(eric) Yet , you continue to try? (eric) (nods) Shit is fun.

What do you think are a couple songs that should have gotten more radio play?
Two. "Be Somebody" by Producer Dre fr. Cool and Dre and "Dont forget em" by Consequence.(eric) I love that joint , most people dont remember or have'nt heard it. What do you like about each song? (eric)The lyrical content in "Be Somebody" and just the emotional feel in "Dont forget em". The hook , not just the hook...the way they sang the hook.(eric) You seen that video? (eric) Yeah. (eric) Consequence is underrated. (eric) He got four mics on his album....(eric)Mic ratings nowadays....(eric) ..dont mean shit.
Do you hate that so much trash is on the airwaves as we speak?
Yeah. Thats a self explanatory answer.
If you could change something about the genre , (Hip-Hop / Rap) what would it be?
Thats a good fucking question..If I could change something about the genre. Nothing actually at all. Everybody has a right to make the song that they want and present it how they want. But I think that fans and the listeners should have higher standards of what they want to hear.
On your Black Hands mixtape I absolutely love Track #2 (My Name is Ah-kim), "listen to the track dude , you wishin on a black dude , my love is whispering to me , get up on that jackmove". I love this line because it shows that times have been hard in the past for you. Unlike most rappers who try to glorify a life they havent ever lived. Its honest. Its refreshing. What were you trying to say with those lines?
It's like , put it this way...Rap is like.. Rap got they hopes on this concious black male rapper. I'm like the great white hope of rap. I'm saying that "my love is whispering to me , get up on that jackmove". Its just like everyday stress. Every verse I like to make a reference to the common , average , everyday joe. I just think that if you are born rich , a person like that can't touch the masses ... you can't touch the masses ... you can't relate.
On Vibe w/ me from Demo-lition you said "Yo I refuse to be like anybody else , and i refuse to lose to boughie people sitting on the shelf , rockin a coogi and a kufi , you don't need to buy my album , man cop the bootleg on the streets i'm still going platinum". Explain.
Well , i refuse to be like anyone else. I dont bite. Boughie people are like record executives. It's like you get signed to a record label and they sit you on the shelf. They sell you dreams , they sign you , and sit you on the self. Coogi and the kufi , I always make references to black conciousness.I think without my black conciousness ... my black conscious is the core of me. It's real rap , real hip hop. You dont need to buy the album , you can cop the bootleg on the streets....basically I could sell them out my trunk.
Whats the number one thing you love about Hip-Hop. We aint speaking Rap , Im talking about good ol' fashioned Hip-hip.
The realate-ability. I dont care. If you drop a classic hip-hop song , everyone will bump their head. Some bar , some verse , realated to everybody.
By the way what do you consider to be the difference between "Hip-Hop" and "Rap"?
Rap is just rhyming words over a beat and putting a hook to it. You know what im saying? Rap is just making a song. Hip-hop is making music. It's completely different. Rap you know , you need three verses , lines to rhyme. Hip hop , there is a presentation. Motherfuckers are making music...I need this beat to match this mood. Hip hop , it comes in parts. You have the beat that sets the tone. You got to establish the message you're trying to send , then the motherfucking hook ...Fuck the hook.The beat sets the tone , you decide the message and then you gotta deliver the message saying whatever I want them to know. You have to choose the delivery that will convey the message. No emphasis , no cadences...
Track #12 on demo-lition . This song is dedicated to Kurtis Blow : Shit. Thats something , a whole song dedicated to one of this music's forefathers. What did Kurtis Blow embody to you?Be honest , Did you ever want a jehri curl? Hah.
Nah , I used to want a shag like new edition though. (eric) So , the song....what's it all about? (eric)
Number one , it was just the first rap tape that I ever had and the first time I ever listend to rap. And what I remember was Kurtis Blow had fun , bottom line. He wasnt afraid to make songs with substance. It wasnt hard work , was'nt something he got angry about...

God all these references , you're going to hate me. Heh. Track #13 on Demo-lition you say "all because im outspoken , im flat broke again". Explain.
I don't kiss ass. And I ain't afraid to tell a person the truth. And when you do that , it puts a target on your back. The person then sees the power that you have. They look at you as a threat. A great leader is going to tell you the truth whether you want to hear it or not. Basically , that line right there was telling motherfuckas that "im flat broke again , im fired" .. i've lost jobs because of it.
Allright , due to all my greivances w/ woman im forced to ask every male I interview a question about women. Hah. Do you think pussy is power? Dont front.
Nah , actually i don't. (eric) Hold up , I got to intervene....how so? (eric) Oh because , if you hit the shit right of to no bullshit.... First of all , sex is overrated. And as quick as a man can get pussy whipped , a woman can get dick whippped. (eric.)So are we talking about pornstar dick , or casanova dick? (eric.) I'm talking average joe dick. Off the bullshit , all you got to know is how to fuck.
I must say. I absolutely love your music. No gimmick , no soulja boying. None of that nonsense. It must make you smile?
No doubt. (eric) No doubt , thats it? (eric) No doubt. : nods :
Whats your next body of work?
I'm going to do one of two things. I'm going to either do another mixtape type joint and just spit. Like Jay-Z said , keep the jumpshot fresh and see if I have a new crossover.Or i'm going to do another album w/ orginal songs and focus more on my hooks. Focus on the musicology...(eric) Musicology is a word? (eric) Prince used it. (eric) So if Prince uses a made up word , it's all good? (eric) Yes , because Prince is a musical genius , bottom line. You cant go wrong.
Any things you want to get off your chest?
Nah , I do that shit with the motherfucking music.
How about some closing thoughts and ideas?
No.(eric) No? (eric) None. (eric) ...what a dick. Heh. (eric)
Thank you the chat. I look forward to your next project. Anything else to say?
Nah thats some sweet shit.





Contact Ah-Kim at :
http://www.myspace.com/towerofpower27