AKiLLES Music

A Review of Our TLA Performance

2010-08-08T08:48:00.000-07:00

Ya, it was dope... Click the title to read the article.

Photos from the TLA Performance

2010-08-08T08:43:00.000-07:00

Interview with The Crew - VMAD Productions

2010-05-23T12:49:00.000-07:00

out in the sun after the Auf x Fresh Melt Water Pop up shop. Shoutz to VMAD Productions.

AKiLLES Live w/ Lee Mekhai for Cinco De Mayo!

2010-05-03T17:18:00.000-07:00

Word, so this Wednesday for Cinco de Mayo, I'll be performing with the lovely miss Lee Mekhai for the first time ever.

Admission is free, and the Coronas and maragaritas are $3.00 all night at the Rox Box this Wednesday at 9:00.

We're about to throw down, so come out and have a good time with us, bueno?

Dice Dilla Pregunta

2010-04-15T19:09:00.000-07:00

R&S Music & The Philadelphia Record Company Present the Dice Dilla Pregunta Mixtape.
Features: The Roots, J Dilla, Dice Raw, Charles P Bailey, Rick Friedrich, and Yameen Allworld.
Engineer: Fabian Thompson
Executive Producer: Rick Friedrich
Cover Art: Dewey Saunders
Thank you all for your support.

Get Back, Just a Tease

2010-03-29T11:34:00.000-07:00

Pork Fried Productions
Design by Dewey Saunders
Animation by John F.

Rubix Arrogance

2010-03-25T14:14:00.000-07:00

AK Chronicles v2.0

2010-03-01T08:26:00.000-08:00

Word, so life has completely changed since me and my job parted ways. After the initial "I'm Free... Actually Free!! Never Going Back, Suckas!!" parade came to an end, I had some difficult realities that I had to face. Besides the obvious financial uncertainty, I was forced to look at my music career as my sole business and means for survival. Many sleepless nites, and irritable days followed with seemingly no justifiable cause. And then, it hit me... I had to ask myself one question:
Am I happy with where my music career is at this point in my life?
The answer was a resounding, NO. So what now?

It's funny how everything you'd ever need is usually right in front of your face. For quite a while now I've had the opportunity to go work as an engineer, at the biggest, most notably successfull studio in Philly (for no compensation of course). It's like music industry bootcamp. 12-17 hour days (mostly nights), 3 artists a day, 5 songs a day....pwhew! but everyday I get to learn from the hottest producer in the city, and listen in on meetings between the producers and management team of the most successful hip hop band in the world (hint). It's all so familiar, yet so foreign.

I must have been in The Studio thousands, literally hundreds of times before, but never like this. For the first time, I am the "button pusher"...the participant observer of the producer making the music, the recorder of the artist singing their songs. I honestly don't think that the people I work with everyday have any idea that I make music, and do my thing, nor do they particularly give a shit. This is the Big pool, and I wana be a Big Fish! But for now, I'll be the "record it again" guy. But know that my time is coming... Tick Tock.

Signing off
AK da Rula

AKiLLES Live @ The Note

2010-02-19T09:34:00.000-08:00

Word, so we're gonna hit the stage at The Note on Saturday, March 6th in West Chester. Come check out your friendly neighborhood hip-hoppery performing live at The Note in West Chestser with Rufus J. Fisk, Soul Cannon, and Sam Doom

Now is the time to buy your tickets for $8 before they get sold out! Hit up the website at the link above so you don't miss this hip-hop line up featuring yours truly.

Ooooh I'm Back!

2010-02-02T11:29:00.000-08:00

Yea, i know its been real absent round hurr. Im getting it together and gona be hitting yall in less than 24 hours.

"No man has everything he wanted, and he's trapped inside his own head...and now he must get back...to make up for what he lacks."

AK & The OddiCY in Manhattan

2009-12-10T13:57:00.000-08:00

Word, so this is our first show in Manhattan and we couldn't be more excited (this is my excited face). Check out Sullivan Hall

AK with Bodega at Phrequency's Jam

2009-12-09T15:08:00.000-08:00

Word, so I'm gona be rocking with Bodega on some solo improvness! Come check out this one time only affair sponsored by the homies at Phrequency.com, im gona CRUSH!
Here's the link to pick up tickets.

AK @ Superdope Tonight!

2009-12-01T13:47:00.000-08:00

Word. So, keeping it short, tonight I'll be performing as a guest at Superdope, the hottest weekly party in Philly. We started the month out with a bang, and there's more to come, beeeotch.

Signing off,

AK da Rula

AK Chronicles V1.3

2009-11-13T09:48:00.000-08:00

Ok, it's been a few days since ive updated this life of mine so you know I been on the grizzie (*grind for those not so hip on the urban vernacular) and now its time to reflect. Well, we had our first all ages show in Brooklyn last Saturday, and it was dope. By far the smallest stage ive ever performed on. I almost impaled myself with Rah's bass like 5 times but it twas all good. I love and hate these out of town gigs. I love playing for new people because they always lose their shyt since nobody's ever seen anything like us. Also, seeing the die hard supporters that drive from Philly or wherever anytime we play, feels great. I hate losing money, my personal funds, everytime we leave the state. Travel expenses for multiple cars kills me, even on a short trip to the city. But I say "don't blame me, blame your manager!...Oh wait, that's me, sheeeit". Brings me to a great point...I NEED A MANAGER, BOOKING AGENT, WITCH DOCTOR, SOMETHING! Help a brovenor out, if you know anyone that can actually do something, connect us. I'm looking for paying gigs, or free gigs opening up for bigger acts, and that's my spiel.

Now on Wednesday, Phrequency had their 1 Year Anniversary and I was definitely there for this who's who of the Philly Indie music scene. I hit the stage for an impromptu raw ass drummer & DJ set, which people were really digging. I will perform for food, on the real, it really doesnt matter to me, the exposure is a necessity.

And we finished up our 4 song sampler for Chicken Wing Tumble Weeds. They would be the new songs to the right==>. This is a taste of what we been brewing, I feel the clock ticking but I'm trying to make it in my favor. 'Tighten up the belt and take a chance cuz you don't got shyt to lose'is how im goin for the new year...getting it started early.

And today's unneccesarily racist cartoon...

AK da Rula, Signing off.
Peace

AK in BK: Philly vs. New York! (ALL AGES)

2009-11-02T09:01:00.000-08:00

We are having our first all ages show in NY this Saturday and it's gonna be pretty ridiculous. There is a different air about the band now that we are all officially full time on the music tip. We still have fun and joke, but the preparation is all business.

You don't want to miss this!

AK Chronicles V 1.2

2009-10-30T08:52:00.000-07:00

"We wish Fabian the very best—his last day at The Food Trust was October 19. We know he will go far with his many talents, passion and dedication – to music and children’s health!" So my home gurl sent me this from a work email I assume. I really Purrciate that. Teachers, colleagues, and friends have been calling and writing me all week. For some reason people think I could be depressed or on suicide watch...must be that whole recession thing I keep hearing about. Maybe they are right and Im just too focused to realize that my life is spiraling out of control...or something.

For my people, I am fine. Pork Fried is stronger than ever. Ricky is losing his mind in a great way, he's talking 100 bangers before February and I believe it. I'm finally learning what it is to be an artist "If you gotta spray paint out your butt onto a canvas to create your art, then that's what you gotta do to give people yourself." No anal paint shop for me though, but I am debunking some of the myths of the Modern Day Rapper/Singer/Reggae man. Im gonna have alot of really good music for people soon, and those tough times will have to be dealt with when they arrive.

On another note, STOP BREAKING INTO Rah's Car, ASSHOLE. The illest bassist in the city, and my homey has had his car broken into like 3 times in the last three months! Nobody's luck is that bad, some degenerate is following him and breaking into his car at gigs. Now, we as performers have a responsibility to promote our shows and generally let our fans know whats up with us. We shouldn't have to be concerned about being vandalized or robbed because we are public figures. We're still broke, this ain't MTV man,that kind of shyt sets us back and makes us uneasy about doing the thing we love...so stop it.

That be all for the day,and remember...Support your local rockstars!
AK

AK Chronicles V 1.1

2009-10-29T07:49:00.000-07:00

So, this is what I would call the wonderful uncomfortable struggle. I have been a full time studio rat for one whole week. I have been writing my songs, co-writing and co-producing for other artists, assisting Ricky as an engineer, and confirming our first all ages show in Brooklyn next Saturday. All the while filing for unemployment and applying for day gigs on Craigslist, but no sign of my last paycheck!...and the first of the month is hurdling towards me. I know it'll be here but they making a brother sweat.

Anyways, I have been toiling away with 12 hour work days, cutting on my record (Chicken Wing Tumble Weeds), engineering for singer/songwriter Jeremy Grenhart (who is the truth by the by), and writing SONGS! My theory is proving true so far, I look forward to working every morning...I just dont look at my wallet anymore, lol. I have these moments of doubt that confound me but I refuse to be stifled. People believe in me and want it to work so it must. I always say that I am not afraid of failure, but I just realized that I also must not be afraid of success.

Keeping it short today, gotta get back to this grindage. If you see me in the street gimme a good word.

John Fitzpatrick is the shit!

2009-10-28T11:10:00.001-07:00

This is the homey John Fitzpatrick. Multi-talented Phamous Philly artist does great work. Look him up.

AK Chronicles V 1.0

2009-10-23T15:41:00.000-07:00

Word, so I was fired on monday from my job of two years. I know that doesn't sound like a particularly long time but when you are doing something that you do not love every single day, it can feel like an eternity. I didn't have it bad honestly, I was an educator running the nutrition program in 5 schools in the Philadelphia School District. I taught thousands of kids and had become a respected member of these school communities, but my double life had finally caught up with me.

Every morning I was stumbling awake grasping for air at the crack of dawn and mindlessly going through all the motions of the good working boy, then coming home to work on promoting my events, in the studio on my album, or hosting open mics, or band rehearsals, or performances till 2,3,4 in the morning and then it's WAMP WAMP WAMP WAMP!!! 6:30 again and my alarm is blaring. After a couple years of this I felt like I had gone through a frontal lobotomy. I worked nonstop every day but never actually felt like anything was getting done.

So, when my supervisor (who I have to assume is either jealous of my life, or in love with me) said, "You're Fired," I was like hmm 'I wonder what's about to happen right now, am I gonna start throwing chairs and go all angry black man in this place??!' No, I am actually... relieved. I packed up my shyt, gave/received hugs, kisses, and well wishes from my good ladies over there, and walked out the door.

So... back to the studio, but this time, theres NO paycheck coming next week, NO health, NO dental, NO sick days or vacays. As a matter of fact, NO guarantee of earning another dollar for the rest of my natural born life. Needless to say, I am not fucking around, time to reach my potential or...

Modern Day Rapper- Live!

2009-09-27T21:30:00.000-07:00

This was the last song we did at AK in BK 2. I've never felt closer to death...in other words, I never felt so alive.

Saturday, September 19th...A Night with AKiLLES & The OddiCY!

2009-09-11T18:34:00.000-07:00

Baby AK says it all. This is our return show to Philly after two months of performances in NY. You Don't want this to pass you by.

An Introduction to The OddiCY

2009-09-11T18:29:00.000-07:00

Much appreciation to Perry Lassin for bringing this vision to the masses. This be us doing our thing in Brooklyn and Philly!

AK in BK!!! pt. 2 with Talib Kweli & Premo!

2009-08-22T12:23:00.000-07:00

Word. So this is by far the biggest deal yet. We were not only asked to return to Brooklyn to play on Saturday September 5th but we also will be opening up for two legends in the game. We get absolutely no money for this show, kinda saulty but no good deed goes unreturned.

People are starting to recognize...

AK dropping it at Kuf Knotz's Open Mic

2009-08-13T18:16:00.000-07:00

We right here with some freestyle verses and El Smooth on production. Oh my!

AK in BK!!!

2009-08-03T08:38:00.000-07:00

Our first full band performance in Brooklyn, New York. If you're in the area you should definitely come thru. We are going to melt faces.

O yea...we are playing with a Hip Hop legend....sweet.

Panda Bar/ Bag of Balloons Madness

2009-08-03T08:35:00.000-07:00

Word, we had two amazing shows this past weekend and I wanted to make sure the people get to see whats up. Shouts to Perry Lassin for some amazing work.

Hip Hop & Sushi Promo Video

2009-07-27T10:23:00.000-07:00

Word. I wanted to do a promo video for HH & S, but I needed to add my own flare. Enjoy. Shoutouts to Perry Lassin

Hip Hop & Sushi!!!

2009-07-08T19:47:00.000-07:00

Oh Sh*t...Hip Hops, Tuna Rolls, and more! Giveaways and Open Bar Hour. Do not miss this.

AKiLLES with The Elliot Garland Ensemble

2009-07-08T19:17:00.000-07:00

So if you been to a show then you know the funky keyboardist/percussionist Elliot Garland. He had his first show with his band, The Elliot Garland Ensemble. It was so dope that I had to get down!

The whole night was swimming in buttery awesomeness, shout outs to Perry Lassin for some dope photos as usual.

Photos from show with Elevator Fight at Silk City

2009-07-01T10:05:00.000-07:00

Click the title link.

Through all the businesses, I forgot to post these dope photos by Phrequency.com. This is from April's show with Elevator Fight, shout outs to my home girl Zoe.

Phrequency: Patty and AKiLLES Open Panda Bar in Style

2009-06-27T15:09:00.000-07:00

Tore it down! Check out this dope review of the Panda Bar grand opening @ Phrequency.com.

[photo courtesy of James Johnson]

AKiLLES Interview with Patty Crash

2009-06-19T00:50:00.000-07:00

Yea, chilling on the green couches with Patty Crash, Mcjawn in the house!

Photos by Perry Lassin

2009-06-13T23:09:00.000-07:00

Rehearsal at Pork Fried for the grand opening of Panda Bar Saturday

Wicked vibe dig me.

John F will be killing the body art Saturday, June 20th

2009-06-12T07:59:00.000-07:00

So, it occured to us that maybe the people dont know about John F how amazingly dope body art is. Here are a few slices of body composition for your viewing pleasure. And remember, this all goes down for free at the grand opening of Panda Bar, 40th & Walnut, Saturday, June 20th....do it.

AKiLLES with Patty Crash at the grand opening of Panda Bar!

2009-06-03T21:06:00.000-07:00

So this show is gonna be the shyt. Pardon my lingo but we have the grand opening of a new music venue in Philadelphia, Panda Bar. Patty Crash is opening, DJ Phsh spinning, John Fitzpatrick is doing body art all nite. We will rage and the network will be strong!!!

2009-05-27T22:31:00.000-07:00

Shirts are available now! Contact us with your size, and favorite color. More items to come.

"War" from a cell phone

2009-05-27T21:01:00.000-07:00

Photos from 5/21/09 @ Doc Watsons

2009-05-27T15:51:00.000-07:00

Click on the link, gimme some feedback.

AKiLLES Interview with McJawn 5/21/09

2009-05-24T09:55:00.000-07:00

Click on the title. Shoutouts to McJawn and company.

Doc Watsons - 5/21/09

2009-05-18T14:49:00.000-07:00

Silk City - 4/28/09

2009-05-18T14:47:00.000-07:00

Marbar - 3/28/09

2009-05-18T14:45:00.000-07:00

North Star Bar - 1/31/09

2009-05-18T14:42:00.000-07:00

Daily News - 1/30/09

2009-05-18T14:37:00.000-07:00

Video: To Stay

2009-05-11T11:50:00.001-07:00

Blurb in Phrequency

2009-05-11T11:46:00.000-07:00

Click here to read The Article...

Interview Link: No Rest For The Weary

2009-05-11T11:42:00.000-07:00

Click here to read the interview...

Video: War & Interview

2009-05-11T11:36:00.000-07:00

A BRIEF History-Act 2

2008-08-12T12:26:00.000-07:00

We began honing our talents...Ricky was developing his production prowess and I was busy fine-tuning my phonetical flow, ya dig? Seriously though, these were the days that counted. We used each other to constantly motivate to the next step, whatever that step was at the time. I would have an idea for a hook, and Ricky would realize that he had to step up with the right beat, then I would have to really step up with the verses just to be able to do the beat justice. I would come back with the verses and it would be so hot that rick would have to beef up the beat just to match...etc. We recorded several small projects, each owning its own unique moment in time but nothing really worth mentioning. We weren't shy about letting people hear where we were at, but we just weren't on the level yet. Then came the album: JYAN Music

Now came the performance. We assembled a band of the most talented musicians we knew at the time and began playing for the people...

We kept playing, and more and more people started coming.

Producing music was fun, recording it was rewarding, but my true love was the stage. I've spent my whole life training to be an entertainer and I never knew it.

It came natural to us...so we kept doing it.

...And the people loved it because we loved it, and that's all it ever really takes.

How Does AK pay the bills?

2008-07-30T15:23:00.000-07:00

So...the music business doesn't påy the bills. If it was about the money I'da quit a long time ago. Everybody's got their hussle to pay the rent, put food in mouth, etc. I had a choice between drug dealer and teacher (although I guess everyone has that choice) and long story short I am now Mr. Fab, the Nutrition Teacher. This is my day job. It keeps the lights on and I can think of worse ways to make a living.

This money (lyrics)

2008-07-27T02:01:00.000-07:00

Long as I can remember I have been a creator,
an innovative writer, and a musician persuader
One who actually gives a shit about the world I live in
native of the USA my momma payed her way to brooklyn
Talk about life changing in front of your eye
from a farm in Barbados to a flat in Bedstuy?
She hussled all her life, smiled in spite of the strife
never much success in love, married the wrong guy.
had a baby, 84 way before my time
I had realized this world was ill, by the age of nine
momma working days & nights& weekends, overTime-
-I began to see the fallacies of working 9 to
we were still broke without a dime

***This money make this world go round...if you want, get down
Just try forget who you are, and go and get you a job***

Nothing wrong with hard work in this world but who you working for?

Ricky's out!

2008-07-27T01:06:00.000-07:00

So our boy, Ricky is all growns up and has officially left for his first tour. We dropped him at the airport yesterday morning and he should be about halfway through his 2-stop flight to Johannesburg, South Africa. He will be touring with Musiq Soulchild and Chaka Kahn for the next two and a half months. We're so proud...
When it finally hit me that Ricky was really going I was almost nervous (which is not really my style). I realized that I really need to step it the fuck up. We're all hovering around the right places, we got talent, but our recognition is not there yet. That level where the people know who we are and what we are about is something that takes constant work, and unyielding dedication. Now Im all fired up!... What Now?

I CAN'T EAT FRIED CHICKEN EVER!

2008-07-16T20:25:00.000-07:00

So I sit down to eat at Silk City with Stein (It's Only Music) and Dewey (Unless) for our weekly meeting and I truly had a moment. I can be decisive when I need to be but for some reason deciding on what to eat is always a problem. I'm there going through my usual exhausting process when the fried chicken platter was suggested. I refused immediately, as I always do. Don't get me wrong, I love the shyt just as much as the next person but I could not pull the trigger in a public setting. My unyielding drive to never be caught in a stereotypical situation was more pressing than the possibility of the pristine poultry. I know it seems stupid and petty but Dave Chapelle and the mainstream media has ruined this one for me...Btw, I had the crab cake sandwich and it was decent.

Pork Fried Podcast Vol. 1

2008-07-14T20:48:00.000-07:00

Pork Fried Podcast Volume One: Hot Chocolate Coffee
So we had DJ Phsh come thru the Pork Fried Home Base and put together a podcast of new bangers for your listening pleasure. There are features from AKiLLES, Unless, Selina Carrera, Elise Queeley, and Truck North. Consider this a preview for those who are unfamiliar with what we do.

Pause for Poetry

2008-07-14T16:28:00.000-07:00

I believe in being direct with words in my music. I've always felt that the people can relate better to the music when they feel like the artist is speaking to them personally. But sometimes I just write abstract pieces that I've never made into songs. Enjoy...

Sitting...anticipating the rejuvenation of life. Not as a biological entity, nor as
an anatomical product of sexual reproduction. But a human, in its purest form,
inately entitled to happiness, exhiliration, anger, infuriation, lust, love, jealousy,
hate of and with self. Against my will, I have been stripped of my zest for
existence. The blissful ignorance that I grasped so tightly as a youth has been
usurped by a jaded overstanding of the inequities and injustices of my world.
But, it is because I am of my world that I can appreciate the perpetual possibility
of a life different to my own. I can revel in the realization that every passing
moment is an opportunity for change.

My mind sits...heavy in reservoirs of self-actualization.Cloudy. My thoughts

intertwine with cummilous clouds settling subtly above mountains of indignation.

Pristine horizons engulf my insecurities as rivers give way to an everlasting stream

of consciousness. Water runs like libations poured in rememberance of ignorance

and innocence. And yet, nothing of self is sufficient. Want and desire lay within the

realm of my very existence; reaching, clawing, pawing, yearning for that passionate

eclipse. The ORGASMIC instant of animalistic, primal oneness could not be uttered

by virgin lips. NO! it must be spoken is painful tounges of experience and tragedy.