Kingslee James Daley AKA Akala made a triumphant return to The Bodega in Nottingham in support of his most recent album, Knowledge is Power II, where his mix of rap, spoken word and poetry were combined to provide a show that was a refreshing change from the usual gigs that Bodega often host. Playing to a sold-out room, Akala took to the stage with just a drummer and a keyboard but these were all he needed to captivate the crowd. Akala has always made a name for himself for his insightful lyricism and departure from some of the superficial, misogynistic rap that unfairly gets far more airplay than tonight’s star. There were shout-outs to everyone from Malcolm X in Malcolm Said It and Wu Tang Clan in a mash-up of their work which sat alongside done of Akala’s finest tracks like Murder Runs the Globe. Don’t Piss Me Off was a light-hearted addition to the set which got the crowd chanting and bopping along. The most interesting part of the set came when Akala took a break from the music and started reciting some poetry from him book; a testament to the power of his writing and his ability as a storyteller was the silence that stunned the room as everyone hung on his every word. Finishing the set with a freestyle session and Roll Wid Us mash up, Akala explosively said goodnight to the crowd before returning a couple of minutes later to greet the waiting fans
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