Doublethink

I can honestly say that this is probably my joint favourite Akala album along with 'It's Not A Rumour' (Admittedly there have only been 3 so far).

Upon first and second listens I was really taken aback by the direction and feel of this album. Akala explores many issues, including consumerism, race, social conditioning, religion and more. What makes this such a great album are the inspirational sprinkles of influence throughout the lyrics and production. From Rage Against The Machine, Radiohead and Public Enemy to George Orwell!

The production has a mature, experimental and bold direction, along with a strong core of social commentary throughtout; "Tired of everyday filling up my car and knowing that I'm paying for the bombs in Iraq/Tired of pretending like it don't hurt my heart, of wanting change but not knowing where to start". Akala explores the ideologies of dystopia and it's a real eye opener when you hear him speaking on various issues that are never normally broached by rappers. The influences are vast and varied and you can really feel the development of Akala as an artist on this album. His ongoing maturity is evident on the track 'I Don't Need'; "Maybe I'm getting old but I feel like it's ok to be vulnerable, to be upset, to admit that I ain't the biggest man on the planet."

If you are used to listening to mainstream Hip-Hop, then you will be shocked by the unique and 'different' sound that emerges. The honesty here is penetrating; "The oppressor must suffer like the oppressed, though I pretend I'm in control of this mess/By inflating my ego, puffing my chest I see my weakness and need to show strength/For what we think strong is cos if were honest, true strength is the strength to be honest" and can surely only be rivalled in the mainstream by artists such as Eminem.

The track 'What is Real' although not one of my favourite tracks musically, has a great message in which Akala imaginately debates with the rappers he believes are selling out by playing to stereotypes. "Pop champagne, corporate chain, act like you've got no brain."

'It's Not That Serious' is a hilarious ending to the album, that genuinely made me laugh out loud the first time I heard it; "It's just not that serious, go to a comedy show, take a bubble bath or buy a pink dressing gown/I don't know, just do something crazy that people wouldn't expect you to do." Would you ever hear a mainstream US rapper saying things like that? Refreshing.

There's not many albums that I listen to (or appreciate) skits, but this is one. The skits assist with the pacing of the album and genuinely add to the 'journey' of the listener.

It's an album that has been crafted, no doubt. To call it 2010 poetry would be fitting in my opinion.

Personal standout tracks;

Find No Enemy
Welcome to Dystopia
Marathon Man
Yours And My Children
It's Not That Serious
What is Real?

This is what Hip-Hop is all about; challenging beliefs, challenging the mainstream, and making you think outside of the box. Akala is Top 10 UK, no doubt.

"You can keep the charts, all I want is your hearts"

At points Akala's new album "Doublethink" really translates his anger and energy but has instrumental interludes inbetween to break it up, making this a really intense album.

The tracks on this album are varied in style (using piano pieces, electro beats, spoken word parts) and also varying in speed from the slow "Peace" or "Find No Enemy" to fast-paced such as "Thick Skin", and in this way is less uniform than the previous album Freedom Lasso.

The lyrics are brilliant, interesting, personal, and designed to make you think.

I laughed during psycho where he says "I know what it is that's got me so violent lately... it's all this classical music I've been listening to!" What a joker.

Akala's 3rd release is confident and every track's quality. Many different influences on show... he's not just your bog standard grime artist. Some tracks are heavy and Prodigy-like, others have elements of nu-metal... while others are very melodic. But it's in the lyrics and delivery that Akala really does stand out from the crowd. The album may not be as commercial as many others out there - but the album deserves multiple listens. Stand out tracks are: Psycho, Xxl, Yours and My Children & It's Not That Serious.