Dreams can come true: an interview with Oakland rapper Acktup

by Minister of Information JR

l_bb8837be9cbc4c8aa56d81be8ed025cf1, Dreams can come true: an interview with Oakland rapper Acktup, Culture Currents Acktup, one of Oakland’s newest and rawest talents, has been rocking everything from community centers to clubs over the past two years. Hardworking is an understatement when you talk about Acktup, who has released a new album every three months since he started releasing music. All of his albums have sold at least a thousand copies a piece, with “1000 Degrees” selling 3,000 copies. “No Competition” and “King Mentality” is currently in stores, while he is still in the lab cookin’ up “Mobbin Like Me,” which is due out in August. With his notoriety up from Sacramento to Los Angeles, this golden state warrior is on the grind to be the next world wide hip hop success. Y’all better look out for my little cousin (blood cousin). Here Acktup in his own words …

M.O.I. JR: Can you tell the people a little bit about yourself? Where did you grow up at?

Acktup: My name is Efrem “Acktup” Fleming. I’m 23 years old and never had a father figure in my life. I have four kids and a music dream. I grew up in Oakland, Vallejo and in LA.

M.O.I. JR: When did you start rappin’? Who or what song inspired you to start rappin’?
Acktup: I started rapping in the eighth grade at Vallejo Middle School. What inspired me to rap was I just loved making people listen to what came out of my mind and mouth.

M.O.I. JR: Can you tell us how you put out the enormous amount of music that you have, in such a short amount of time?

Acktup: The way I put out my music in a short time is because I push harder than everybody. I drop four albums a year. All I do is stay in the studio and record.

M.O.I. JR: For people who haven’t heard of you, can you describe your sound?

Acktup: My sound is my sound, get it. I don’t sound like no one but Acktup. I have several different styles I use in my music.

M.O.I. JR: What inspired you to do your song “I’m Just a Black Man”? Can you tell the readers what this song is about?

Acktup: The song “I’m Just a Black Man” came from the way of life – no matter what I do in this world, I’m just a simple Black man in a white man’s land. We don’t get credit for anything we do as Black people, even though whites copy us.

M.O.I. JR: What are some of the most pressing concerns that you are dealing with as a young Black man in Oakland, especially after what happened in the Oscar Grant and Lovelle Mixon incident?

Acktup: The most pressing concern that I have in Oakland is getting killed now by a cop, or by a person in the streets. It’s like it’s not safe anywhere in Oakland. My other concerns are of going to jail or one of my friends getting killed.

M.O.I. JR: Where do you see yourself in five years?

Acktup: I see myself in five years on top of the rap game outside of the Bay Area – I mean like worldwide. I think that I will blow within the next five years if I keep pushing the way that I am.

M.O.I. JR: What advice would you give a youngsta who wants the type of notoriety that you have in the Bay Area music industry?

Acktup: The advice that I would give another young artist is to stay focused, stay in the studio, stay out of trouble, write all of the time, stay positive, network with every other artist, and keep your myspace game up.

M.O.I. JR: Can you talk about your relationship with Hooker Boy Films?

Acktup: Hooker Boy Films is the company that does my flyers and videos and Dame, the owner, is also my cousin. We push together the same dream as a team.

M.O.I. JR: How can the people hear your music online? Where can they buy it?

Acktup: You can hear my music on myspace.com/Acktup, videos on YouTube and check for me at twitter.com/Acktup. You can buy my music from me, Rasputin’s, smoke shops and in local stores in the Bay Area.

Email POCC Minister of Information JR, Bay View associate editor, at blockreportradio@gmail.com and visit www.blockreportradio.com.

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