- Artist
- Akira The Don
- Label
- Sic
- Release date
- 6th November 2006
- Genre
- Rap
There's a remarkable spark of originality running through this great debut album from the boy from the (Welsh) valleys. Blending the lyrical intelligence of Eminem and The Streets with the deft touch De La Soul, Akira The Don gathers about him a pot pourri of styles to great effect.
Whereas with some acts in the same field - Audio Bullys spring gazelle-like to mind - the copycat disease has struck with considerable career-stunting effect, ATD's delivery and melodic nuance has a refreshing swerve on urban tales set to beats and samples.
Songs like Bankers - cockney rhyming slang taken to its ultimate destination - and Oh! What A Glorious Thing are laced with humour and only occasionally do things descend into cheese, as on the lighter-waving "epic" Back In The Day, where the kiddy choir's backing vocals a la Jay Z are a "luxury" the tune could have well done without.
