1. A lot of people know AK as a dancer. How were you able to make the transition into being an emcee?
I feel like as a dancer you're everybody's puppet. Every time you go somewhere and someone knows you can dance they’re like: “Oh sh*t! This guy is an ill dancer. Bust-a-move, show me something!” I didn't like the attention, it wasn't what I wanted. Around 2007, we dropped the “I Get Money remix” with Mugz, Fly Doh, One Shot, Kid Ninja and that's when I started taking rap seriously.

2. Sean “Diddy” Combs is a another person who made the transition from dancer to artist. Another thing you two have in common is your emphasis on style and presentation. How important is that to you?
That's probably the most important thing, image and presentation. The way I go about saying things means a lot to me and I try to make that evident in my rhymes, because its not always what you say its how u say it.


3. a) At just 20 years old, you represent a new generation of artists that weren't directly influenced by 90's legends like Tupac and the Notorious B.I.G. I'm curious what do those names really mean to you and you're generation?
They're the pioneers of this. They paved the way and they influenced a lot of my favorite artists. I'm not a Pac fan but I enjoy listening to some of his music because he spits things that people can relate too. B.I.G. is arguably the GOAT.

b) Now is that something you really believe or is that just something you heard so much from older heads that you've just adopted it as your own?
That's actually how I feel. I got schooled on it and had to go do my history. For example, I hadn't ever heard Illmatic until 2009. It's not just because people say Hov's the best or B.I.G. or Pac, I went back and actually believe it.


4. As a leader of the new school, what do you think is the criteria for a dope emcee in 2010?
I think it takes originality, being real, believing in yourself and having a lot of confidence. Be yourself, don't rap about things you don't do or thing you don't have. Being real has a lot to do with being a rapper in the new generation.

AK is currently working on a mixtape and can be heard on One Shot's single “Life I Chose” off the True Colors mixtape. Video directed by Ali Faghfouri from Paragon Pictures coming soon...

Don't forget to vote for Ak's track "I’m The Man" on the Real City Countdown.

AK
4 for 4
(Just to Get By - AK)