You can find Akil Dasan walking the streets of Harlem, a guitar slung over his shoulder, his lips moving to a song that only he can hear. Whether he's hustling CDs in the subway or on a stage in front of 60,000, people respond to Akil's passion and unique skill set. Some people call him the godfather of beat-box guitar playing and his ability to produce, compose, freestyle, b-boy, sing, and memorize a vast repertoire of covers has made him popular in many different arenas of the music industry.
As an accompanist, he's played for Kevin Michael (touring with Maroon 5, appearing in 500 Days of Summer and Lincoln Heights, and sharing the bill with M.I.A., Lily Allen, Emily King, Sara Bareilles, Lupe Fiasco, The Roots, Little Brother, Jill Scott, Musiq, the Hives, N.E.R.D., Kanye West, Neyo, Sean Kingston,The Stefan Raab show, Taratataa with Yael Naim, Craig David, 50 Cent, James Blunt, etc.), Jaicko (sharing the bill with Jay Sean, Kevin Rudolph, etc.), "History Of The Word" (Musical Director, played in Detroit, New York, New Jersey, Wisconsin, Maine, North Carolina), "The Male Ego" (Musical Director, played in Connecticut, New York), "Literacy Takes A Bow" (Consultant, Musical Director, Author, played in NYC and Fire Island).
As a front-man he's performed and recorded with Us3 (two albums "Schizophonic" and "Say What?!?" touring to England, France, Italy, Holland, Germany, Finland, Russia, China, Japan, Belgium, Serbia, Bucharest, Czech Republic, Poland, Romania, Greece and Kaliningrad), with The Crowd (toured the Acoustic EP in France, U.S.), Starlight Orchestras (Corporate Events, Private Events, Hamptons, Midtown, etc.) and as a solo artist, Akil has been flown out for private gigs in Finland, Holland, Canada, was a top 5 finalist on Missy Elliott's Road to Stardom (UPN), is a Nuyorican Slam Champion Poet and has been across the U.S. playing in festivals and concerts and even in the street!
Akil also works as an educator affiliated with Uptown Down, Urbintel, Whitehorse Productions, Off-Broadway Booking, L.E.A.P., Playworks and as a private education consultant.
Making his living in the schools, in festivals overseas, in the clubs, and wandering the planet with his guitar, a beat and an arsenal of stories. A b-boy-poet-producer-musician, Akil embodies virtually every significant musical movement since the birth of the concept. All of this, combined with his amazing freestyle ability and improvisatory skills has proven that Akil Dasan can legitimately bridge the gap between instrumentalist and MC.
Starting off as a self-taught musician, Akil graduated from Central High School in Philadelphia and later got a scholarship to study music and creative writing at Columbia University. He continues to educate himself and others around him, grateful that each day holds the opportunity to learn something new.
Here are a few highlights from the past couple of years.
2005
* Top 5 finalist on UPN's Road to Stardom with Missy Elliott
* Wrote, Produced and Performed a Song for MTV2/Urbanworld Film Festival commercial
2006
* Recorded with London-based band, Us3, for their 5th album "Schizophonic"
* Toured Europe with Us3 (Poland, Russia, England, Belgium, Spain, Italy, Germany, Czech Republic & Holland)
* Featured in an article in Billboard Magazine promoting his talent as a rising star
* Featured in a Billboard Underground Live Music Showcase on July 26th in NYC
* Received glowing review of single "The Jawn" in Sept 2nd issue of Billboard
* Featured in Volkswagen Podcast for 2006 International Auto Show
* Wrote Music for Air France
* Provided Guitar and Beatbox accompaniment for Kevin Michael (Downtown/Atlantic)
* Performed w/Kevin Michael for executives at iTunes, Google, Fox, Atlantic Records,) Warner Music Group, Crispin Porter & Bogusky, Oxygen Media and a private show for Wyclef Jean
* Recorded again with Us3 for their 6th album as yet Untitled which will be released early
2007
* Featured in online video interview/performance for Billboard Magazine (http://billboard.com/bbcom/video
* Starring in independent musical / stage production called The Male Ego
* Writing music for The History of the Word a play being directed by actor Joe Morton (Terminator 2, Speed, Ali)
*Touring with US3 (Finland, Norway, etc.)
*Touring/promo with Kevin Michael (Maroon 5 Tour, Lily Allen Tour, Lollapalooza, France, Germany, Switzerland, Norway, Sweden, United Kingdom, etc.)
2008
* Gigs and Teaching Workshops at Freeport High School, LEAP at PS163, Pace,
* East Coast Gigs (Redhook Festival, Bepop to HipHop, La Esquina, Sesac Show at Rockwood,
* Pori Jazz Festival in Finland
* Featured in online video interview/performance for Billboard Magazine
2009
* Freeport High School, LEAP at PS163, SCSU
* East Coast Gigs (with Jaiko, Sophia Nicole, Kelly Jones, Joey Harris, Mistah Metro, Michelle Renee, Love Jones, DJ Scott, U. City, Tritone to name a few)
* Starring in independent musical / stage production called History of The Word and Male Ego
* Featured with The Crowd on BET - Wild Out Auditions 106th and Park and Blaze The Stage
* Radio Shows: Japanese Small Cast Radio Networks: Jazzy Hip Hop in NY
* Brooklyn Bodega "Show & Prove" Competition - First Place
* People En Espanol
* The release of The Crowd's first EP
* MUNY
* SESAC
* Touring with Planet Ubiquity (Canada)
* Touring with Us3 (Bucharest, Munich, Cologne, Koblenz, Russia, London, Zurich, France, China, Serbia, Japan, Spain)
2010
* Guest Appearance at Blue Wave - Manila, Philippines
* Featured with The Crowd in Paris Fashion Week - Paris, France
* Brooklyn Hip Hop Festival - Brooklyn, NY
* Us3 - Branicki Palace - Poland; Black Music Festival - Girona, Spain; Festival Pirineos Sur - Valle de Tena, Pyranees Mountains, Spain: TBA
* Red Bull Sponsored - Sounderground: First International Metro Musicians Festival - Sau Paulo, Brazil with The Crowd
* Male Ego - TBA
Akil is no ordinary hip-hop artist. A Philadelphia native, Akil is best known for effortlessly combining catchy lyricism, soulful singing, and vocal percussion with virtuosic musicianship.
An African Judaic blend of multiple ethnicities/cultures, Akil stands out from the crowd for an entirely different reason - he provides a blend of multilpe talents: rapper, singer, guitarist, DJ, writer, beat-boxer and breakdancer, Akil doesn't just perform hip-hop, he embodies everything that hip-hop is.
Influenced heavily by Stevie Wonder, Michael Jackson, The Roots, D'Angelo, Mos Def and Lauryn Hill, Akil combines jazz, blues, funk and classic soul with the neo-soul sound of today. And like Stevie Wonder, Akil plays all the instruments himself.
If you want to find out what Akil's music is all about, you'll just have to hear it for yourself.
