Akes

"Been through the aches and pains," West Midlands penman Akes asserts on the autobiographical title track from his latest EP. It's a direct nod to the inspiration behind his stage name-growing up with cerebral palsy, he's all too acquainted with its physically taxing nature; plus the alias speaks to the 'pains' of testing times, too. Born 93, the Wolverhampton rapper has spent the past few years making his mark at both a local and national level, drumming up support from titans of the industry including BBC Radio 1Xtra, Complex Magazine and TRENCH as well as his hometown's very own Express & Star. Renowned for his soul-baring approach to lyricism and his fearless ability to tackle myriad genres - encompassing hip-hop, grime, dancehall and beyond - Akes already boasts an expansive back catalogue, and has previously found collaborators in local hitmaker Preditah, ad-lib king Flirta D and members of trailblazing London crews including N.A.S.T.Y's Nasty Jack and Roadside G'z affiliate Alan B, to name but a few. With a knack for spirited storytelling and a growing archive of live performances under his belt, Akes has found himself firmly on fans' radars as one of the scene's most charismatic exports, going on to rub shoulders with the likes of Jme and Jaykae on sets. This year, expect more surprises around the corner as this rising star goes international. In 2022 Akes makes his debut in his acting career as his stars in the upcoming film, 'Becoming Mylo' alongside Mylo Gregory, Deadly R3al, K Koke, Kish Kash and many more.