AK – Like I Got

By starrymag | May 15, 2019

By: Lisa Steinberg

 

 

Q) How would you describe your sound?

 

A) Unique. There are so many different sounds in music that I like, especially when it comes to melodies and cadence. For as long as I’ve been doing music over the years, I’ve focused on taking all that influence and working it into one sound.

 

Q) Who are some of your musical influences?

 

A) J. Cole, Kendrick Lamar, Big Sean, Akon, Young Thug

 

Q) Talk about the story behind your new song “Like I Got It.”

 

A) I was in my room working on a song based off of a super unique concept that I came up with. While I was playing it back I was thinking to myself, “Damn, nobody has done some shit like this yet.” That’s basically what sparked the idea for the hook, “Ain’t nobody got it like I got it.” So, right there, I started a new project in Logic, wrote the rest of the hook and ran with it.

 

Q) What do you think it is about the song that fans connect to?

 

A) I feel like the energy of the song itself is contagious. On the road, this is one of the craziest songs at every show. Shit is bananas. Everyone at some point gets a rush of confidence where they feel like they’re untouchable and this song allows them to tap into that side of themselves.

 

Q) You also have the tracks “Why Would I” and “Deja Vu” out. How did you select these to be your latest releases?

 

A) “Why Would I” was a surprise release. There wasn’t a huge plan for it. It was the type of song where I just wanted fans to hear it once I finished it.

 

“Déjà vu” was a highly anticipated song after fan videos of me performing it for the first time caught solid traction on YouTube. So, when I announced a new single dropping on Valentine’s Day, everyone had a pretty good idea what it was and were so stoked to hear the complete song

 

Q) What is your song writing process? Do you need music before you can create lyrics?

 

A) It varies. I write lyrics whenever they come to me no matter where I’m at. When I first started writing, I would write the whole song without a beat. Then, I’d go on YouTube and look through different beats until I found one that fit the lyrics I wrote. So, once I started writing with a beat to go off of it just fueled mad inspiration because now there’s more than just what I’m thinking about. It opens up a lot of new doors creatively.

 

Q) How much of hand do you have in the production of your music?

 

A) I’m super hands-on with all of my production. I’m not afraid to tell a producer I’m working with if I don’t like something or if I want to make changes to something – because at the end of the day these songs represent me and who I am. So, I want to make sure my vision is connected to each song. I’ve also been heavily working on learning how to produce myself. I have some self-produced music on the way, so stay tuned.

 

Q) You are currently out on your No Rest Tour. What can fans expect from a live AK performance?

 

A) Very high energy. Every show is a turn up. My fans and I feed off of each other’s energy every night. I love performing. One of my favorite aspects of my career.

 

Q) Will there be a full EP or album coming out in the near future?

 

A) We got things in the works…

 

Q) Where are some of your favorite places to perform and what makes those locations so significant to you?

 

A) I haven’t gotten deep enough into tour to really know for sure. This is my first time ever on the road. Jersey will always be one of my favorites though, since that’s home for me.

 

Q) Who would you most like to collaborate with on a song in the future?

 

A) J. Cole 100%

 

Q) What album/band are you currently listening to and why do you dig them?

 

A) Lately, to be honest, I’ve listened to so much of my own stuff trying to get things set to release while being on the road, but my playlist would probably surprise a lot of fans. I listen to a lot of Young Thug, Roddy Ricch, J. Cole and NBA YoungBoy.

 

Q) You are a part of social media. Why is that such an important way for you to connect with your fans?

 

A) I can reach fans so easy through it. I keep up with as much as I can when it comes to social media, but I stay conscious of how much time I spend on it. I’m not tryna miss out or under appreciate things that are going on around me because I’m worried about what’s happening online.

 

Q) What would you like to say to everyone who is a fan and supporter of you and your work?

 

A) I love and appreciate y’all. There’s so much more we are going to accomplish as we keep growing and evolving. Shits ‘bout to get crazy.