He tackles different issues in society such as a corrupt elite, racism in education, and the prejudice of the national press.Īkala’s first book Natives: Race and Class in the Ruins of Empire, can be seen as a comprehensive extension of his Fire in the Booth performances, exploring uncomfortable and hard-hitting truths about the toxic relationship between race and class in Britain. He is known for his four-part stay in Fire in the Booth with Charlie Sloth. Named Kingslee James McLean Daley at birth, the 35-year-old was born to a Scottish mother and a Jamaican father. The likes of Immortal Technique, Mos Def, and Nas have inspired a wave of similarly socially conscious rappers in the UK, including Akala. More recently known for his compelling lectures and journalism - he has been awarded an honorary degree from Oxford Brookes University and the University of Brighton, written for the Guardian, Huffington Post and the Independent, and spoken for the Oxford Union and TEDx - Akala has gained a reputation as one of the most dynamic and articulate talents in the UK.The US hip-hop scene is familiar with socially-conscious MCs, who rap about their experiences of marginalisation, racism, and poverty in society. He is a radical for our times.' Marcus Rediker, author of THE SLAVE SHIP: A HUMAN HISTORYĪkala is an award-winning hip-hop artist, writer and social entrepreneur. 'Akala's singular voice speaks to us with deep wisdom about the past, righteous anger about the present, and stubborn hope about the future. 'A potent combination of autobiography and political history which holds up a mirror to contemporary Britain' Independent

In this unique book he takes his own experiences and widens them out to look at the social, historical and political factors that have left us where we are today.Ĭovering everything from the police, education and identity to politics, sexual objectification and the far right, NATIVES will speak directly to British denial and squeamishness when it comes to confronting issues of race and class that are at the heart of the legacy of Britain's racialised empire. By Akala, John Murray, paperback, 352 pagesĪ searing modern polemic and Sunday Times bestseller from the BAFTA and MOBO award-winning musician and political commentator, Akala.įrom the first time he was stopped and searched as a child, to the day he realised his mum was white, to his first encounters with racist teachers - race and class have shaped Akala's life and outlook.

Natives by akala review