I'm not want who likes to tell people what to do but he spent all of 5 seconds talking about Nas and at least five minutes on what's wrong with education. Yet most of these comments are debating about the greatest rappers. I'm looking this guy up because I've just become a fan.
nas is known in intellectual and rap circles as one of the greatest of all time, his lyrics are studied as literature by universities and he is regarded as a top 10 lyricist frequently. tupac isn't nearly as lyrical but held to the same standard as a high level poet nas is easily capable of achieving that level of prestige
NGT4LIFE not the point, i'm trying to make nas's lyrics have also had an impact on the way people perceive inner city lifestyles of new york. seriously there are plenty of poets they teach about in school who do this when describing inner city life but if you want one who does it the best it's nas and his writing is of a high caliber.
i mean its his opinion on the subject but he does use facts. not everyone will agree on the next persons opinion not saying i agree or disagree on his views but thats the beauty of it, being able to disagree without hating or bashing a person and respect their opinion even if its different from yours
Skin bleaching is a complex issue, Akala has only just touched on it but it's nothing like White people tanning themselves. It isn't just people of African descent who bleach their skins but Asians too, so yes it's big business. You have to look into history to understand why it is so prevalent.
Im starting to think that too. A lot of people abroad dont just listen to today's hip hop they quite literally study it. They realize that Nas didnt live/hasnt left as big an impact or legacy as someone like Pac but lyrically you just cant compare the 2, Nas is a genius.
I wasnt planning on watching this whole video but what this guy is saying is very True. Wu Tang, Tupac & Nas spoke with such an Educated level of Lyricism & sweet poetry that for their Art form, they are on that Shakespeare level to Us. I'm a Poetic Rapper. I LOVED Shakespeare in school. I completely understood his poetry & wanted to speak like that. A lot of my poems were Renaissance style of writing. People need to Read & grasp the concept of Literature. it's very powerful. Glad I watched this video.
Reading the comments just proves this man's point, the lazy education system here has failed ours kids nightly. I think he was very well spoken and spot on in everything he said
Nas's skill set as a rapper was and is way superior then Tupac or Biggie...second to none. Was always slept on because of his content, but as you got older you realized no other rapper could touch him.
It doesn't need to take 400 years, unless you're waiting for Euro-elite validation. Nas is dat dude right now. Illmatic is an epic of modern American poetry.
This has probably been one of the best dialogues of the Wu-tang influence outside of the US I've seen so far. Akala explains this so eloquantly, I was instantly taken right back to '92, '93 and so on growing up in the Midlands. Best times!
Biggie only had two albums. The potential was there but he's not better than Nas. You can't win the championship twice n be considered the goat. It don't work like that..you buggin
+Brando Guzman where NAS at ? M.I.A god son was his last good album . Biggies albums are three times the weight . And don't get me started how much power pacs music has .
***** Hip Hop is American. Stop saying nonsense. Every culture has a musical version of Battle with Rhymes and lyrics. Even medieval bards, white dudes wearing skinny colorful pants in European castles, used to write down rhymes and challenge other bards to compete with them. Like i said, this is HUMAN BEHAVIOR present almost everywhere. But the concept of HH and all the cultural stuff gathered around it is perfectly identified. No need to try alternate theories.
***** No it's not. I dare you to give me supporting sources for this BS. I told you already. Most societies have in their musical culture lyricism used as a way to challenge themselves. HH is a culture mainly developed in the US East Coast and it's MORE than the music. Jamaicans have nothing to do with it. Stop saying nonsense. Tell me where the DJ and the Graphs are present in Jamaica?
where do you think those people's families on the east coast migrated from, and what do you think were their influences? caribbean MC's and soundsystem culture
From U.K. and never heard of him and couldn’t name a single song of his either, he ain’t that interesting to be honest.Just another half black pushing his own agenda with his misguided narrative.Strange how these biracial black white peoples seem to conveniently forget they are actually significantly white themselves.He comes from the U.K. where most people would not call him black, but call him half caste, mixed race, mixed or biracial.Almost like these people are embarrassed to be half white, well tough because they can’t actually change that either.About time these people found some backbone and stood proudly as biracial people in the U.K. instead of hide behind their black half they seem so proud of.
Pac is the most worshiped rapper in the UK. Every jail house, every estate, every car all you hear is Pac...They even teach his stuff in colleges and schools here...Its crazy, Nas is cool, but Pac is the most influential here and around Europe. People get stabbed and beat up for talking reckless about Pac here, dude is literally a god
mozart and beethoven composed classical masterpieces which are worth checkin out if you're into music. Back to my point. which you made my point. what proof that mozart and beethoven were white besides the fact white people say they were in history? You think the same thing can't happen with black entertainers, athletes, and certain profound public figures in 50-100yrs from now? You're crazy if you don't think so.
This man said he wrote all the verses to the Wu album and these cats in the US wonder why hiphip is appreciated more there then here. These kids don't take the time to study liner notes. We did when we was younger but I can't imagine a kid doing that today.
I dunno about hip hop being more appreciated here than in the US. As far as I can tell its about the same proportion of fans care about good lyricism, wordplay and all that good shit as do in the US. In grime there's more of a focus on actual ability to spit, but at the moment drill's kinda dominating the game. Its all about the gang gang stuff here too. Akala's very much a hip hop nerd.
I can assume so. However, I think we are further down the rabbit hole of it all. He may be a nerd now but in the 90's that was just how everyone was. Eventually, like now for example, if young cats can say they never heard Biggie or Pac they give them a pass like "oh, they're young". However, there are more ways to nerd out more then ever on anything because of the internet so why not just sit and listen to classic shit. Now people are so against being looked at like a lyricist, it's cool to say I've only been rapping (insert any time no more then 2 years). I would think rap would be like video games and kids would be on some extremely higher level due to technology, ease of access of recording, and the vast amount of quality reference and influence. In the 90's you couldn't go too far back to learn the game. It was being elevated in front of our eyes. That's why I feel in the UK they still have a infancy/newness to it all not much but it is still not she we are here. The rap game here is being used up by people who never cared about it
@@radthibideaux9978 Britain's gangs are a joke compared to the US. Do they have run by stabbings instead of drive by shootings? "Oh no a gang of ruffians is about would you like some tea?"
@@radthibideaux9978 Still think the same now? I think the gap for UK lyricism appreciation has died down but it's not dumbed down to US level. Even the typical rapper has a few metaphors
@@george4281 interesting to be reminded of this tbh, my opinion has definitely changed. I think the bar has raised slightly in the US with the rise in popularity of the likes of Freddie Gibbs and Griselda, J Cole collabing with guys like 21 savage and Lil Baby and they're trying to match his level rather than the other way round etc. Grime has kinda gone to shit and drill went good for a bit and has now gone oversaturated and boring besides a couple standout artists- the likes of M1llions, Headie etc. There's a lot to unpack with lyrical standards generally both in the US and UK tbh, its a constant back and forth.
I love his passion for the WU and for Hip Hop. I did the same thing back in 97 too, studied all their lyrics. I wanted to be a student of the game. Too bad no one does that anymore. Hip Hop can be used for so much more than just trap, drugs, misogyny, etc.
Akala is here with the knowledge. I feel like this kind of talk gets you labeled as corny in the hip-hop world. Like unless you have a very specific kind of swag people won't fuck with you.
for a minute there, I thought Vlad was going to say: 4:34 "you just mentioned Shakespeare... now I did an interview with him a while back and..." lmfao 😂
Its called high culture and proper education via the british system. US black culture is filth and the rappers are degenerates who spead filth ... u cant get conversations like this from a black rapper. Sad to say but its true
+Karl u say that yet this guy is hailing the works of Nas and WuTang making them akin to Shakespearean work. Lets face it, hip hop is apart of African American culture and it has had a global influence. Dont paint us with one brush because I'm sure wherever ur from, there's some dirt or grime on ur culture as well.
I literally fell in love with hip hop thanx to the 🐐 of 🐐s NAS.if ama have 95yrs or more on this earth,ama still play his records. Salute✊✊ #blackexcellence
infamous psymourn I agree yo NaS is the Goat of all goats I mean no disrespect to the rest and I know some of these people going to take it the wrong way but I'm sticking with my choice to the grave and beyond.
Akala, i'll challenge you on a couple things. I'm 24 years old, Wu Tang are in my top 3 inspirations musically. i come from Milton Keynes, where you recently performed. I make music myself. I make US Trap Music. I rap with a US twang on my words & a UK twang, mixing up US and UK Slang combining our cultures. Reasons for this are, although i was born in the UK, my background is St.Lucian and Ghanaian. My St.Lucian side has a heavy US influence, as my Mum lived in New Jersey between 18-28, 10 years. AT first when i started rapping everyone said "why are you rapping in a US accent, you're from the UK", my reply, was no, i am not from the UK, i was born here, my blood is a complete mixture due to slave history and migration, i am influenced culturally by my origins. To say that 8-10 students in schools would say a UK artist is their favourite "MC" might be correct, but what about "Artist", MC only classifies one type of delivery. i disagree with that, as depending on where you live would depend on the type of music you listen to anyway. Just because you're from or live in London does not mean your favourite artist is more likely to be a UK artist. HipHop is a universal language, an accent shouldn't matter. Through the continuation and never changing my "US Delivery style" i've made a name for myself because the music is undoubtedly of a high level. As i said, i make Trap music now as it's entertaining, but i believe there are way more younger people than you think that follow legends like Wu-Tang, it's just that we are not easily pleased by one traditionally sounding selection of songs.
I'm from the "Average inner city" south side Jamaica Queens NY and I'm 19 years old in 10th grade we studied Shakespeare it was a requirement . . . Maybe back in your day it was like that vlad but not anymore 😭😭😭😭😭
lol theres 3 interviews of "this man" dropping knowledge and your shallow ass comments about his pronunciation being different to yours. smh vlad tv really scrapes up the dummies of america.
He was on point with that Wu-Tang music description. When I was 12/13 and listening to them when they first came out, we had no clue what they meant, but the way the put all these crazy words together was funny to repeat them to each other. Now, some 20 years later, I look back on their lyrics and just think how genius they were. They really were like the NYC underground version of Shakespeare.
Yea that speech about the school makes sense. As we all want teachers who don't know what they are talking about and let the kids teach the teachers. Makes sense
this man's a legend! half glasgow half Kingston. has such a great understanding on race especially in the UK. I love the fact he reps scotland and understands both sides of his roots. he's right most mixed race people are confused and rightly so.
i disagree with the nas comment.. i think tupac will be looked at in that way simply because of the cultural impact and social impact that he had. as good of a lyricist as Nas is.. that's all he is.
Nah, to reduce nas to only a lyricist is strange. Nas has a huge conscious and cultural impact on top of one of the sickest MCs ever. Not to disrespect the late great 2pac but he is unfortunately known for his beefs and drama as much as his music.
Lol stop that shit and let's be real, RAKIM is the greatest EVER and he barely gets mentioned or given his props now a days. Nas is a fucking legend but 400 years from now he's just gonna be remembered for Illmatic if anything.
Just like most people only know Romeo and Juliet and maybe Hamlet from Shakespeare nowadays. Can't really be mad about 'only' being remembered for one album 400 years from now
Why is Akala not world famous, why is he not being spoken about as a Black icon for the UK, this man is a genius, his knowledge on so many subjects, I would put Akala on par with people like Christopher Hitchens who I believe was the greatest British Orator
Yep. Without London Posse there'd be no Akala, no Skepta, no Stormzy. Especially Rodney P. He is to UK Hip Hop is what Rakim is to US Hip Hop or what Dr Dre is to the West Coast. So many grime emcees don't know the roots of hip hop over here though and that's disappointing
I wouldn't say Rodney p is anywhere near rakim, I didn't know Rodney p till an adult, didn't shape my view on UK hip hop neither did London posse, first UK spittaz on a hip hop vybe for me was skinnyman and klashnikov
Nah I don't mean he's as talented as Rakim or Dre but he has the same influence over here that they had to US Hip Hop. London Posse pretty much established the UK Hip Hop scene and a lot of people don't know that they toured with Public Enemy and N.W.A.. Before them there was no UK Hip Hop scene and everyone here just imitated US rappers.
this dude is brilliant...its groundbreaking if what he says about eduCation and rhythm Can aCtually b implemented...I enjoyed this Clip thoroughly...he is 100% right about how NaS Can possibly b seen as Shakespeare in 400 years...brilliant observation
Did this nigga Vlad just compare Wu-Tang to Section Boyz hahahahaha DJ Vlad should be suspended from talking about Hip Hop for atleast a year for that foolishness
I would love like to see Akala and Marc Lamont Hill have a discussion together about various topics, as they are clearly both intellectuals and on the same wavelength. I bet they also have some opposing ideas which would make a great debate.
Vlad brings someone on with actual intelligence and serious credentials especially in regards to black history as well as hip hop, and all you ignorant yanks can do is slate him.
big up Akala...droppin different jewelz on these yanks..Wu tang where the shit back in the day..wu tang forever album was gettin bumped hard on the wing back in Notts HMP 🔥🔥🔥🔥🇬🇧💪😎
The yanks know one so solid member atleast 💯 the yardie in get rich or die tryin that 50 names his kid after is one of the main members of so solid crew 🇬🇧
+Jerome Beck Completely disagree. 36 Chambers came out the year after I was born and it's my all time favourite hip hop album. Has been since I was about 12 and I'm 24 now.
Vlad can you please educate your audience about the history of the UK rappers you bring on. A lot of these illiterate, ignorant fools have no idea about the level of sauce this guy has lol. Lord please provide 98% of the audience in the comment section some common sense and intelligence, to understand and disect a dialogue. Ameen
BUUUUUUUUULLSHIT!! Nas is no doubt a talented rapper, a talented lyricist, a talented composer, and more. BUT, let's not kid ourselves here, Shakespeare wrote extensive works and compositions that eloquently expressed all aspects and facets of human life from mortality to euphoria and much, much more. And written with the enough penmanship to give all of those things character and depth, a level that hasn't been matched ever since. So, I really don't think a rapper, no matter how lyrical or impressive, can honestly compare to Shakespeare. I still fuck with him though
Nicholas Matsvairo No haha, a dozen or two dozen or three dozen albums does not compare. Albums are at most 20 songs, average length of say 4 minutes, it's just not enough. He isn't prolific enough
First time ive heard vlad shut up and not interrupt. Salute to the intellect of Akala
I'm not want who likes to tell people what to do but he spent all of 5 seconds talking about Nas and at least five minutes on what's wrong with education. Yet most of these comments are debating about the greatest rappers. I'm looking this guy up because I've just become a fan.
this nigga need to start an on line class for man lol
Trust me. Man swear by trappers yet dont realise man like these spitting the truth to get ahead
He didn't interrupt Rico reckless either salute to the ignorance of Rico reckless😂😂😂
There’s something about Akala. He can make anyone shut up. Watch the video where he talks to the EDL leader
Nas is a lyrical genius hands down.
FACTS!
nas is known in intellectual and rap circles as one of the greatest of all time, his lyrics are studied as literature by universities and he is regarded as a top 10 lyricist frequently. tupac isn't nearly as lyrical but held to the same standard as a high level poet nas is easily capable of achieving that level of prestige
they have tupac classes in schools and colleges.Pacs lyrics are more powerful than nas,so his lyrics have had a bigger impact.
Pac was and still is the greatest.
NGT4LIFE not the point, i'm trying to make nas's lyrics have also had an impact on the way people perceive inner city lifestyles of new york. seriously there are plenty of poets they teach about in school who do this when describing inner city life but if you want one who does it the best it's nas and his writing is of a high caliber.
Yeah I've heard them study Jay and nas before. Also Nas is consistently mentioned in the top 5 list
Michael Gundersen agreed
we are blessed to have a voice like Akala, book and street smart. we need more role models like him.
Real ones know that Nas is the best rapper dead or alive. listen to his discography
Disagree. Top 5 or 10 though.
W
+Rad Thibideaux never less than top 3.
true. and the realer ones know AZ is right next to him
***** stop trolling
this dudes knowledge is dope
check out more of his interviews they're amazing. his music is also pretty dope. watch his fire in the booth 🔥🔥🔥🔥
Don't get me wrong, he's obviously a smart individual but the majority of his arguments on black 'oppression' today is completely flawed.
+StolenTech i disagree. Unlike most rappers, he uses facts to supports what he says. Actually, i believe hes a historian
i mean its his opinion on the subject but he does use facts. not everyone will agree on the next persons opinion not saying i agree or disagree on his views but thats the beauty of it, being able to disagree without hating or bashing a person and respect their opinion even if its different from yours
Skin bleaching is a complex issue, Akala has only just touched on it but it's nothing like White people tanning themselves. It isn't just people of African descent who bleach their skins but Asians too, so yes it's big business. You have to look into history to understand why it is so prevalent.
Nas work speaks for itself, I'm not surprised people say this about him.. 🙌🙌 salute 🐐
This interview is too intelligent for Vlad's audience
truss
Init man all claiming they're victims of racism and then calling vlad a dirty white Jew
Dooblé standards
+Bits Rep you sound just as stupid lol
Wanna explain how?
L
Take It In Blood by Nas is one of the most underrated hip hop songs of all time. The knowledge he kicked on that song blows my mind still.
damn shame people take hip hop more serious globally than here locally.
Im starting to think that too. A lot of people abroad dont just listen to today's hip hop they quite literally study it. They realize that Nas didnt live/hasnt left as big an impact or legacy as someone like Pac but lyrically you just cant compare the 2, Nas is a genius.
Most Hip-Hop legends say they prefer performing in Europe and Africa, because they respect and get the culture more
its true in europe hiphop aint mumble rap and the young rappers respect the us ogs
goleador 9 So true, if you go to a hip-hop cypher in the UK spitting that shit you would get beat up
theres plenty of mumble rap here. and most of the youths here prefer rap in their own language to us rap
I wasnt planning on watching this whole video but what this guy is saying is very True. Wu Tang, Tupac & Nas spoke with such an Educated level of Lyricism & sweet poetry that for their Art form, they are on that Shakespeare level to Us.
I'm a Poetic Rapper. I LOVED Shakespeare in school. I completely understood his poetry & wanted to speak like that. A lot of my poems were Renaissance style of writing. People need to Read & grasp the concept of Literature. it's very powerful.
Glad I watched this video.
Trae Fittz Great reply homeskillet!
Everything he's saying is 1000 percent accurate. I've thought the same thing for years. Tupac & NaS will be viewed as the Shakespeare's of our times.
Vlad is not even remotely articulate or intelligent enough to understand the knowledge coming out of this talented brothers mouth.
koolbreezeuk 😂😂😂😂
koolbreezeuk all Vlad wanna know is, nigga have u shot anyone 😂
trust
@@marvindube3572 true
Reading the comments just proves this man's point, the lazy education system here has failed ours kids nightly. I think he was very well spoken and spot on in everything he said
Nas's skill set as a rapper was and is way superior then Tupac or Biggie...second to none. Was always slept on because of his content, but as you got older you realized no other rapper could touch him.
It doesn't need to take 400 years, unless you're waiting for Euro-elite validation. Nas is dat dude right now. Illmatic is an epic of modern American poetry.
His sister Ms dynamite was one of the biggest artists from the uk💯🙌😏👍
Never heard of that bitch
him and ms dyanmite are related? I remember her
love the video best one in a long time
And you're gorgeous! ;-)
***** i never knew.. thats hella cool.
I'm from the UK and very proud of this man. Big Up Akala - Nuff RespeK.
anyone not fimiliar with akala his sister is a dope mc her name is ms dynamite UK legend
Oh shit...I remember her from back day
Yes love her
fuck off I did not know that I just him individually of his own merit
I'm from the UK and didn't know that..damn
If you check out Gordon Ramsey hells kitchen Ms dynamite was in that and you see akala when she leaves.
He's sister is a legend in the UK
Oh and he's really loved and respected
His*, you're are saying "he is"
OMG. I didn't know his sister was Ms. Dynamite. That's so cute.
The black Natasha and Daniel Bedingfield.
Oooooo. Nasty.
thats disrespectful
This has probably been one of the best dialogues of the Wu-tang influence outside of the US I've seen so far. Akala explains this so eloquantly, I was instantly taken right back to '92, '93 and so on growing up in the Midlands. Best times!
No doubt Nas is the greatest MC of all time.
OriGinal Bosnian Nah just Nas.
Yea just Nas
Biggie only had two albums. The potential was there but he's not better than Nas. You can't win the championship twice n be considered the goat. It don't work like that..you buggin
+Brando Guzman where NAS at ? M.I.A god son was his last good album . Biggies albums are three times the weight . And don't get me started how much power pacs music has .
OriGinal Bosnian Yea Biggie din't do enough plus i honestly think Big Pun was a better MC.
The smartest rapper interviewed by this channel isn't American. Lol.
*****
Hip Hop is American. Stop saying nonsense.
Every culture has a musical version of Battle with Rhymes and lyrics.
Even medieval bards, white dudes wearing skinny colorful pants in European castles, used to write down rhymes and challenge other bards to compete with them.
Like i said, this is HUMAN BEHAVIOR present almost everywhere.
But the concept of HH and all the cultural stuff gathered around it is perfectly identified. No need to try alternate theories.
*****
No it's not.
I dare you to give me supporting sources for this BS.
I told you already. Most societies have in their musical culture lyricism used as a way to challenge themselves.
HH is a culture mainly developed in the US East Coast and it's MORE than the music. Jamaicans have nothing to do with it.
Stop saying nonsense. Tell me where the DJ and the Graphs are present in Jamaica?
where do you think those people's families on the east coast migrated from, and what do you think were their influences? caribbean MC's and soundsystem culture
Word.....
Sam P. | interesting...what Caribbean country can I visit that this culture was taken from, and why is it in an American accent?
Shout out to all who have never heard of rappers from across the pond.
From U.K. and never heard of him and couldn’t name a single song of his either, he ain’t that interesting to be honest.Just another half black pushing his own agenda with his misguided narrative.Strange how these biracial black white peoples seem to conveniently forget they are actually significantly white themselves.He comes from the U.K. where most people would not call him black, but call him half caste, mixed race, mixed or biracial.Almost like these people are embarrassed to be half white, well tough because they can’t actually change that either.About time these people found some backbone and stood proudly as biracial people in the U.K. instead of hide behind their black half they seem so proud of.
@@peterpereira3653 why are you here if you didn't listen to what he had to say
Pac is the most worshiped rapper in the UK. Every jail house, every estate, every car all you hear is Pac...They even teach his stuff in colleges and schools here...Its crazy, Nas is cool, but Pac is the most influential here and around Europe. People get stabbed and beat up for talking reckless about Pac here, dude is literally a god
Haha. Maybe on your estate and in your car, but the the majority of the UK population has more taste.
Idiot
@Kim Kardashian’s Chair lmao pac is a legendary artist you do know pop isn’t the only music that exist right?
@@raydelarosa4992 no you can’t
We get it you a Pac Fan, but stop talking this nonsense!
50 yrs from now Nas will be a historical white male figure who's praised by his artistic white urban musical genius.
Funny you say that when there are blacks trying to steal Beethoven and Mozart. I don't see whites trying to steal Tupac or Nas.
Who tries to steal Mozart WTF!!!!
Prophecy95 Any one who is famous and talented, they try to seal.
Increase Peace I know right.
mozart and beethoven composed classical masterpieces which are worth checkin out if you're into music. Back to my point. which you made my point. what proof that mozart and beethoven were white besides the fact white people say they were in history? You think the same thing can't happen with black entertainers, athletes, and certain profound public figures in 50-100yrs from now? You're crazy if you don't think so.
Wow the number of people who didnt realise he listed mcs and didnt just say Nas is actually scary
"Wu-Tang is the reason why I stayed in school" POWERFUL!!!!
"800 Years from Now Slim Jesus will be Looked at like Shakespeare"
-Vlad
"2016 years from now Slim Jesus will be looked at like Jesus"
- Vlad
"69 years from now Slim Jesus will be looked at as Vlad" - Vlad
loooooooool
I miss waking to new interviews of him
I can just remember him taking little baby sips out of his sprite bottle. Good ol times
***** W pleighboy
This dude is smart, solid convo
Nas is the GOAT imo, lyrically anyway.
Section boyz being compared to wu tang is disgusting
I know talk about dumbing down...
Uk Rap is garbage.....
lol, he's not comparing ability wise tho
+C.things 1 if u could ignore the accent, some of are dope. But still old school usa hip hop was rap at its finest
truss meeee😂
Danny you're everywhere g
This man said he wrote all the verses to the Wu album and these cats in the US wonder why hiphip is appreciated more there then here. These kids don't take the time to study liner notes. We did when we was younger but I can't imagine a kid doing that today.
I dunno about hip hop being more appreciated here than in the US. As far as I can tell its about the same proportion of fans care about good lyricism, wordplay and all that good shit as do in the US. In grime there's more of a focus on actual ability to spit, but at the moment drill's kinda dominating the game. Its all about the gang gang stuff here too. Akala's very much a hip hop nerd.
I can assume so. However, I think we are further down the rabbit hole of it all. He may be a nerd now but in the 90's that was just how everyone was. Eventually, like now for example, if young cats can say they never heard Biggie or Pac they give them a pass like "oh, they're young". However, there are more ways to nerd out more then ever on anything because of the internet so why not just sit and listen to classic shit. Now people are so against being looked at like a lyricist, it's cool to say I've only been rapping (insert any time no more then 2 years). I would think rap would be like video games and kids would be on some extremely higher level due to technology, ease of access of recording, and the vast amount of quality reference and influence. In the 90's you couldn't go too far back to learn the game. It was being elevated in front of our eyes. That's why I feel in the UK they still have a infancy/newness to it all not much but it is still not she
we are here. The rap game here is being used up by people who never cared about it
@@radthibideaux9978 Britain's gangs are a joke compared to the US. Do they have run by stabbings instead of drive by shootings? "Oh no a gang of ruffians is about would you like some tea?"
@@radthibideaux9978 Still think the same now? I think the gap for UK lyricism appreciation has died down but it's not dumbed down to US level. Even the typical rapper has a few metaphors
@@george4281 interesting to be reminded of this tbh, my opinion has definitely changed. I think the bar has raised slightly in the US with the rise in popularity of the likes of Freddie Gibbs and Griselda, J Cole collabing with guys like 21 savage and Lil Baby and they're trying to match his level rather than the other way round etc. Grime has kinda gone to shit and drill went good for a bit and has now gone oversaturated and boring besides a couple standout artists- the likes of M1llions, Headie etc. There's a lot to unpack with lyrical standards generally both in the US and UK tbh, its a constant back and forth.
I love his passion for the WU and for Hip Hop. I did the same thing back in 97 too, studied all their lyrics. I wanted to be a student of the game. Too bad no one does that anymore. Hip Hop can be used for so much more than just trap, drugs, misogyny, etc.
tupac already getting looked at like a Shakespeare imagine in 400 years
Nas was a better lyricist than Pac.
not really
yes he was
Pac is trash foh
saying pac is trash is just dumb.youve probably only heard a few of his songs.
Vlad be silent. saying, "This aint a nigga infront of me."
what?
danny garcia don't worry, it's a black thing
You do realise Vlad is white?
Jake Taglienti Hmmm...oh dear...well what I said went totally over your head. Just tumbleweed. Shame but nevermind
pentz1 yup it did :')
And in 2000 years folks are still trying to decipher Lil Yachty's and Chief Keef's lyrics like hieroglyphs
I could listen to Akala all day.
Please Nigga...
400 Years From Now..
They'll Say Vanilla Ice Started This Shit..
And Eminem Was The Greatest..
FuccOuttaHere
No they wont. And they already got classes about Nas and other legends.
Tony Montana. 😂
In my eyes, NAS is the greatest rapper of all time.
Akala is here with the knowledge. I feel like this kind of talk gets you labeled as corny in the hip-hop world. Like unless you have a very specific kind of swag people won't fuck with you.
"400 years from now Slim Jesus will be looked at as Shakespeare."
-Vlad
for a minute there, I thought Vlad was going to say:
4:34 "you just mentioned Shakespeare... now I did an interview with him a while back and..." lmfao 😂
man like Akala got the tshirt matching his hoody he be cold af
London swag G
did vlad just just compare the fucking section boyz to the wu tang
He actually did. fucking idiot
Anesu Mutsau crazy aint it im english and even i know section are fucking shite
CJHenry the only thiing they have in common is that hey have more than one person in the group and that they are black
Just compare that interview to the two showed at the end and sigh
uno
Its called high culture and proper education via the british system. US black culture is filth and the rappers are degenerates who spead filth ... u cant get conversations like this from a black rapper. Sad to say but its true
+Karl u say that yet this guy is hailing the works of Nas and WuTang making them akin to Shakespearean work. Lets face it, hip hop is apart of African American culture and it has had a global influence. Dont paint us with one brush because I'm sure wherever ur from, there's some dirt or grime on ur culture as well.
No it's not, even he said the british system sucked. I'm from London so I know his right.
.
Is no one but me gonna pull him up on the fact he shitting on Redman?? Diss 21 savage all you want but have respek for Red he's an OG
I literally fell in love with hip hop thanx to the 🐐 of 🐐s NAS.if ama have 95yrs or more on this earth,ama still play his records. Salute✊✊ #blackexcellence
infamous psymourn I agree yo NaS is the Goat of all goats I mean no disrespect to the rest and I know some of these people going to take it the wrong way but I'm sticking with my choice to the grave and beyond.
Dope. Akala vids are now your bread and butter to attract "urban" and "inner city" youths, Vlad. you didn't think I caught you saying that, did you??
yoooooo much love for the london posse reference
and the manchester reference
I just happened upon this guy...no clue who he was. It's been a great hour, you are awesome! Best wishes to you!!!
his accent is cool
Nasir Jones
The greatest of all time 🐐🐐
aaaand then it ends with 21 savage -___-
He said the word actuality. Be proud
emerald white 😂😂😂😂😂😂
Funny you should mention him here😆
Akala, i'll challenge you on a couple things. I'm 24 years old, Wu Tang are in my top 3 inspirations musically. i come from Milton Keynes, where you recently performed. I make music myself. I make US Trap Music. I rap with a US twang on my words & a UK twang, mixing up US and UK Slang combining our cultures. Reasons for this are, although i was born in the UK, my background is St.Lucian and Ghanaian. My St.Lucian side has a heavy US influence, as my Mum lived in New Jersey between 18-28, 10 years. AT first when i started rapping everyone said "why are you rapping in a US accent, you're from the UK", my reply, was no, i am not from the UK, i was born here, my blood is a complete mixture due to slave history and migration, i am influenced culturally by my origins. To say that 8-10 students in schools would say a UK artist is their favourite "MC" might be correct, but what about "Artist", MC only classifies one type of delivery. i disagree with that, as depending on where you live would depend on the type of music you listen to anyway. Just because you're from or live in London does not mean your favourite artist is more likely to be a UK artist. HipHop is a universal language, an accent shouldn't matter. Through the continuation and never changing my "US Delivery style" i've made a name for myself because the music is undoubtedly of a high level. As i said, i make Trap music now as it's entertaining, but i believe there are way more younger people than you think that follow legends like Wu-Tang, it's just that we are not easily pleased by one traditionally sounding selection of songs.
what Akala was saying about the education is so real. American schools haven't been updated in over 100 years
I'm from the "Average inner city" south side Jamaica Queens NY and I'm 19 years old in 10th grade we studied Shakespeare it was a requirement . . . Maybe back in your day it was like that vlad but not anymore 😭😭😭😭😭
Oh Yes That's true 400 years from now Nas will be looked at as Shakespeare 👌
Well I hate Shakespeare, the boring Bard, is definitely one so overrated.
Shakespeare didnt even write his own shit tho
Lol he had ghost writers yeah?
so drake?
Partynextdoor wrote Shakespeare's shit .
You are missing the point.
Lol how so?
Bloody Hell, Akala knows his shit.
In 400 years it will be MF DOOM that people still listen to.
Peter Hardie lupe fiasco
Nas, mf doom is dope but way too goofy.
finally, you interview somebody with brains
LMFAO This man said rapping about "timber land boots"
😂😂
That's what there called
Timber - land is how everyone in England says it.... is that wrong? Lol
lol theres 3 interviews of "this man" dropping knowledge and your shallow ass comments about his pronunciation being different to yours. smh vlad tv really scrapes up the dummies of america.
fuck outta here bitch we in america put our own twist to everything so we call them Tims not "timberland boots" lmaooo
He was on point with that Wu-Tang music description. When I was 12/13 and listening to them when they first came out, we had no clue what they meant, but the way the put all these crazy words together was funny to repeat them to each other. Now, some 20 years later, I look back on their lyrics and just think how genius they were. They really were like the NYC underground version of Shakespeare.
the best interview on vlad in a long time
Yea that speech about the school makes sense. As we all want teachers who don't know what they are talking about and let the kids teach the teachers. Makes sense
The title is kind of misleading😂😂😂 He mentioned quite a few artists...
this man's a legend! half glasgow half Kingston. has such a great understanding on race especially in the UK. I love the fact he reps scotland and understands both sides of his roots. he's right most mixed race people are confused and rightly so.
i disagree with the nas comment.. i think tupac will be looked at in that way simply because of the cultural impact and social impact that he had. as good of a lyricist as Nas is.. that's all he is.
That's not all he is. Nas wrote the hip hop bible. Best rap album EVER!
Nah, to reduce nas to only a lyricist is strange. Nas has a huge conscious and cultural impact on top of one of the sickest MCs ever.
Not to disrespect the late great 2pac but he is unfortunately known for his beefs and drama as much as his music.
that makes sense
Mikel Trus.... everything you said is true, Nas was better lyrically than Pac and has influenced great lyricists
Chris Brown by non hip hop heads anyone who truly loves hip hop doesn't have pac over Nas
Pac's songs are resonating with the youth today because of everything that's going on in the country
Lol stop that shit and let's be real, RAKIM is the greatest EVER and he barely gets mentioned or given his props now a days. Nas is a fucking legend but 400 years from now he's just gonna be remembered for Illmatic if anything.
W
bruh you reaching
I would argue illmatic is better than paid in full.
Just like most people only know Romeo and Juliet and maybe Hamlet from Shakespeare nowadays. Can't really be mad about 'only' being remembered for one album 400 years from now
RAKiM'S flow was ahead of its time
Why is Akala not world famous, why is he not being spoken about as a Black icon for the UK, this man is a genius, his knowledge on so many subjects, I would put Akala on par with people like Christopher Hitchens who I believe was the greatest British Orator
London posse is the shit!
Yep. Without London Posse there'd be no Akala, no Skepta, no Stormzy. Especially Rodney P. He is to UK Hip Hop is what Rakim is to US Hip Hop or what Dr Dre is to the West Coast. So many grime emcees don't know the roots of hip hop over here though and that's disappointing
I wouldn't say Rodney p is anywhere near rakim, I didn't know Rodney p till an adult, didn't shape my view on UK hip hop neither did London posse, first UK spittaz on a hip hop vybe for me was skinnyman and klashnikov
Nah I don't mean he's as talented as Rakim or Dre but he has the same influence over here that they had to US Hip Hop. London Posse pretty much established the UK Hip Hop scene and a lot of people don't know that they toured with Public Enemy and N.W.A.. Before them there was no UK Hip Hop scene and everyone here just imitated US rappers.
KaizerMan
You right bro, salute!
truss
this dude is brilliant...its groundbreaking if what he says about eduCation and rhythm Can aCtually b implemented...I enjoyed this Clip thoroughly...he is 100% right about how NaS Can possibly b seen as Shakespeare in 400 years...brilliant observation
800 years from now Young thug will be look at like Shakespeare 😊
hell nah foh
L as Fuck.
fax
thank fuck i'll be dead then
"horses dont stop they keep goin"
When Akala talks, you listen
Pac was like Jesus and NAS wrote the bible!
Reasons I like buying music in CD and vinyl form,is I get to see the lyrics. I'm still a major WU TANG fan.
Did this nigga Vlad just compare Wu-Tang to Section Boyz hahahahaha DJ Vlad should be suspended from talking about Hip Hop for atleast a year for that foolishness
I love the way Vlad tries to downplay our intelligence.
who is "our"
black people...u fool
😂 Dude really compared Section to Wutang...Your opinion on music loses credibility with each interview Vladimir. Fix up look sharp.
I would love like to see Akala and Marc Lamont Hill have a discussion together about various topics, as they are clearly both intellectuals and on the same wavelength. I bet they also have some opposing ideas which would make a great debate.
Vlad brings someone on with actual intelligence and serious credentials especially in regards to black history as well as hip hop, and all you ignorant yanks can do is slate him.
Akala is a genius Americans not ready. Knowledge is Power.
He's talking nonsense...Ice T, Ice Cube, NWA, Public Enemy etc. were all huge in the UK years before Wu Tang
big up Akala...droppin different jewelz on these yanks..Wu tang where the shit back in the day..wu tang forever album was gettin bumped hard on the wing back in Notts HMP 🔥🔥🔥🔥🇬🇧💪😎
The yanks know one so solid member atleast 💯 the yardie in get rich or die tryin that 50 names his kid after is one of the main members of so solid crew 🇬🇧
I agree Nas is cool. He made it teaching rap at Harvard!
Vlad listens to Section?!
Correction...Nas is currently looked at like Shakespeare
vlad is out of his depth loool
Rhythm as a mnemonic device is very true. That's why most oral history is mostly done in form of poems and songs
"you listen to me! you do what I say!"... "ohh wait but hold on what if your chatting shit"... this is me in school
Nas, Cole and Kendrick will be timeless
Wu tang Forever is better than 36 Chambers in my opinion.
NEVER!! Not at all...36 Chambers broke the mold
If you werent into hip-hop or too young to experience 36 Chambers when it came out....you will NEVER UNDERSTAND
+Jerome Beck I agree with your second Comment but what part of In my Opinion don't you Understand ???
+Jerome Beck Completely disagree. 36 Chambers came out the year after I was born and it's my all time favourite hip hop album. Has been since I was about 12 and I'm 24 now.
Yeah I prefer WTF too but 36 Chambers is more consistent given it's only 12 tracks
There's something incredibly sexy abut his passion and his mind.
Vlad can you please educate your audience about the history of the UK rappers you bring on. A lot of these illiterate, ignorant fools have no idea about the level of sauce this guy has lol. Lord please provide 98% of the audience in the comment section some common sense and intelligence, to understand and disect a dialogue. Ameen
I like this brother and I am a huge Nas fan. Nas touched on many things that are timeless and Wu tang forever was a special time when it was out.
BUUUUUUUUULLSHIT!! Nas is no doubt a talented rapper, a talented lyricist, a talented composer, and more. BUT, let's not kid ourselves here, Shakespeare wrote extensive works and compositions that eloquently expressed all aspects and facets of human life from mortality to euphoria and much, much more. And written with the enough penmanship to give all of those things character and depth, a level that hasn't been matched ever since. So, I really don't think a rapper, no matter how lyrical or impressive, can honestly compare to Shakespeare. I still fuck with him though
jeees I got to check out Shakespeare
can it be flowed in rhythm tho
And a dozen albums is not a big enough body of work? You're sounding like the elitists lol
A dozen albums doesn't compare to Shakespeare's work. It's not elitist to say Nas doesn't compare.
Nicholas Matsvairo No haha, a dozen or two dozen or three dozen albums does not compare. Albums are at most 20 songs, average length of say 4 minutes, it's just not enough. He isn't prolific enough
You definitely need more people like Akala on here, Lowkey, immortal technique, M1, people that have something interesting to say.
No, he won't.