Akala

Before committing to music, Kingslee Daley explored several paths, having served as a youth-team defender for Wimbledon and West Ham, earned straight-A grades, competed in athletics, and managed a restaurant—all prior to his twenty-fifth birthday. His most lasting mark, however, came within Britain’s rap and grime circles under the name Akala, a Buddhist term denoting immovability. In May 2006 he issued his debut album, It’s Not a Rumour, which earned the 2006 Mobo Award for Best Hip-Hop Artist and secured him a support slot on the UK dates of Christina Aguilera’s tour that same year. As head of Illa State, Akala also oversaw production of mixtapes and videos. In 2007 he followed with the album Freedon Lasso, which he promoted through extensive live performances and touring. Akala/Kingslee Daley is furthermore the brother of Ms. Dynamite, a connection that supplied him with greater firsthand insight into the workings of the scene than most newcomers possess.