This is the title track to Akrobatik’s 2014 album Built To Last and the first video from the album. Troop with Ak as he treks back to his hometown after being rebuilt to find out what happened to the world he once knew. Beats by Reason of 4AR and cuts by DJ Reel Drama. An alternate version of the song is also featured on EA Sports UFC video game soundtrack, available everywhere.

On the heels of their European tour announcement, N.B.S. connects with frequent collaborators Snowgoons and veteran wordsmith Akrobatik to show fans the ‘Essence of Real Rap’.

‘Essence of Real Rap’ is a fan favorite cut from the third N.B.S. retail effort ‘The Dispensary’ (available now via Big Bang Records on iTunes and your favorite digital retailer).

The Dispensary places N.B.S. alongside Wais P, Esoteric, Reef the Lost Cauze, S.A.S., Virtuoso, Checkmark, Outerspace, and Blacastan with production by Snowgoons, Stu Bangas, Doc Ish, Blastah Beatz, Vanderslice, Aza, 6th Element, J-Beat, and OMB.

Starting on March 22nd, N.B.S. will embark on their second European tour in less than a year. Appearing alongside hip-hop legend Edo G and true school favorite Reks, N.B.S. are solidifying their position as the go-to hip-hop group for conscious street weathered hip-hop.

Tour Dates:

March 22, 2013 – Budapest, Hungary (Alongside Killakikitt)

March 29, 2013 – London, United Kingdom

March 31, 2013 – Madrid, Spain (Alongside Edo G)

April 1, 2013 – Barcelona, Spain (Alongside Edo G)

April 2, 2013 – Saint-Étienne, France

April 3, 2013 – Lyon, France (Alongside Edo G)

April 4, 2013 – Rennes, France

April 6, 2013 – Geneva, Switzerland (Alongside Reks & King Magnetic)

1.) “Bru-Tang Clan Ain’t Nothing To Puck Wit”
2.) “Radio Skit #1”
3.) “Triumph” (Game 7)
4.) “Fish” (Noseface Killah Anthem)
5.) “The Illest Team”
6.) “Radio Skit #2”
7.) “Protect Ya Net”
8.) “All That We Got Iz You” (Ode To The Fans)
9.) “Radio Skit #3” (Outro)

In just over a year and a half, Boston Bruin’s Left Winger Brad Marchand has won a Stanley Cup and has become a fan favorite among Boston Hockey fans. His cult hero status as a gritty player who doesn’t take himself too serious has been elevated with the embracing of his popular nickname “Noseface Killah” and his references to his teammates as “The Bru-Tang Clan.”

To celebrate all things Wu-Tang and his own growing aliases, Marchand has teamed up with The Boston Sports Apparel CO. to design his own line of gear and with Boston’s own Akrobatik for a FreEP “Enter Tha 63 Chambahs” (63 coincidentally being Marchand’s Jersey Number and the mirror of Wu-Tang’s debut album title). The six-songs featured on “Enter Tha 63 Chambahs” are all recorded over classic Wu-Tang instrumentals are surely the first hockey related hip-hop songs ever recorded (true “fight music”); and is a must listen for anyone (regardless if you follow hockey or not) and absolutely has to be heard in order to be appreciated.

Akrobatik aka The Bru-Tang Clan – “Enter Tha 63 Chambahs”

In just over a year and a half, Boston Bruin’s Left Winger Brad Marchand has won a Stanley Cup and has become a fan favorite among Boston Hockey fans. His cult hero status as a gritty player who doesn’t take himself too serious has been elevated with the embracing of his popular nickname “Noseface Killah” and his references to his teammates as “The Bru-Tang Clan.”

To celebrate all things Wu-Tang and his own growing aliases, Marchand has teamed up with The Boston Sports Apparel CO. to design his own line of gear. Principal members of The Boston Sports Apparel Co. have strong ties to the Urban Hip-Hop Music scene both in Boston and Nationally by way of now defunct record label “Grit Records”. Grit Records (who released songs featuring Soul Supreme, KRS-One, Pete Rock, Big Daddy Kane & O.C of legendary group D.I.T.C.) was founded by Mahlon Williams, winner of Spike TV’s second season episode of “Pros vs. Joes”. After appearing on the popular sports show, Williams decided to leverage his bevy of Comic Book and music industry connections and access to popular athletes to start a sports apparel and marketing company. The Boston Sports Apparel Company has done work for Shaquille O’Neal, Kevin Youkilis, Glen Davis and now resident Bruins player Brad Marchand. Their products are sold all over New England and are regarded as one of the top regional apparel companies in the North East having garnered national attention on ESPN, SNL, TODAY show and countless reality shows. In an effort to lend some “street cred” to the whole BRU-TANG CLAN concept and promote the gear, The Boston Sports Apparel Company has collaborated with renown comic book artist J.J. Kirby and underground legend Akrobatik to lend his voice to each BRU-TANG clan member.

The FreEP “Enter The 63 Chambers” (63 coincidentally being Marchand’s Jersey Number and the mirror of Wu-Tang’s debut album title) will be released in late February 2012. The six-songs featured on “Enter The 63 Chambers” are all recorded over classic Wu-Tang instrumentals are surely the first hockey related hip-hop songs ever recorded (true “fight music”); and is a must listen for anyone (regardless if you follow hockey or not) and absolutely has to be heard in order to be appreciated.

Boston-based indie label Leedz Edutainment has come together with The DJBooth and Coast 2 Coast DJs to bring listeners their latest compilation album, The Write Off Vol. 3. Hosted by Mr. Peter Parker, the project features 23 fresh records from a variety of the game’s hottest underground/up-and-coming emcees. Included are previously-featured, reader-approved leaks “From the Bottom to the Top” and “Stay Charged.” The Write Off Vol. 3 features contributions from such artists as Stalley, Apollo the Great, Slaine, Cam Meekins, Boom Vox, PackFM, Kosha Dillz, Torae, Akrobatik, Outerspace, Stu Cat and J The S. Beats come courtesy of Leedz, Matty Trump, Falside, Teddy Roxpin, Rob Whitaker, Ali the Great, Lightfoot, Ghetto Blaster, Don Benedetto, Saylor and Kno (of the Cunninlynguists).

Leedz Ent. Presents “The Write Off”

Boston emcee Akrobatik is in stable condition after open heart surgery that followed was is being described as “a massive heart attack”.  Mr. Lif confirmed his status earlier this weekend on Twitter.Here’s hoping he makes a speedy recovery.

Hip-hop legend Virtuoso is back with another display of his trademark tongue twisting lyricism over concussive production. This time he has enlisted the assistance of long time collaborators Akrobatik (of The Perceptionists) and Casual (of Hieroglyphics). “No Fear” is a sure-fire fan favorite combining two of Virtuoso’s closest collaborators over production from iconoclastic indie production powerhouse Blue Sky Black Death. “No Fear” is a cut off of Virtuoso’s latest full length release titled “The Final Conflict” (the third chapter of the “Word War” trilogy) which is available now on Big Bang Records.

LISTEN: Virtuoso – “No Fear” (Ft. Akrobatik & Casual)

Virtuoso – “No Fear” (Ft. Akrobatik & Casual)

One year after the earthquake in Haiti, Lif and Akrobatik reunite as the Perceptionists to speak on it. Grab the track or listen below via Bandcamp.

Nastee picks up Akrobatik and Burnt who are standing in the rain, waiting on the bus. They reveal to him that they just bombed Jake’s Pigpen (Police Headquarters). Always the revolutionary, Nastee is cool with it and they explain the whole story of coming up against the police, the system and the forces of evil.
 Also included is a trailer for “A 4word Christmas”, a holiday special debuting on this channel December 25th, 2010.

!Mayday! emcee Wrekonize brings the remix from his Soiree For Skeptics mixtape, featuring a whole host of guest emcees.

LISTEN: Wreckonize – “Groundwork (Remix)” (feat. Co$$, Akrobatik, Ras Kass, Rudi Goblen, & Saheed) (MP3)

Wreckonize – “Groundwork (Remix)” (feat. Co$$, Akrobatik, Ras Kass, Rudi Goblen, & Saheed) (MP3)

Hailing from Boston Akrobatik has been in the game longer than most that came out of his era.  We first heard Ak on the 1998 single “Ruff Enuff” and then he smashed college radio with “SayYesSayWord” in 2000.   Since then he dropped the critically acclaimed Balance in 2003 along with The Perceptionists (Ak, Mr. Lif, and Fakts One) in 2005.  Black Dialogue further solidified his position as one of the top emcees in or above the underground.

It’s now 2008, and his Fat Beats debut Absolute Value has hit shelves.   If you are wondering whether the newest album can sift through walking it out and supermanning no need to worry, it does.  The album starts with the slightly older 12” release “A to the K” with B-Real on the hook, over a nice piano chop by Illmind. “Soul Glo” is a new school Beatminerz track that every B-Boy and B-Girl could get down to.  “Put a Stamp on It” pairs Ak with the late great J.Dilla and Talib Kweli. It’s songs like this are where Akrobatik shines letting listeners know he is making his mark in hip-hop history.

Ak has never been one to shy away from politics or worldly issues and he continues his outspoken opposition to the war in Iraq on “Rain” with lines like “I seen white and black ladies/with crack babies in fact maybe selling them to get that buzz back baby/boys in Iraq shady dealing got them there in the first place/they put us on the frontlines to lesson our birthrate/the children of the poor fight the wars and when that shit is over they’ll be the broke ones in the stores/even though we all different/the little issues in life are seeming much less significant/so when the rain comes down on you/my question is what you gon do/from where I stand you can fold your hand and let your world crumble/or fight back and keep it on the humble/I know my choice.”

Little Brother and 9th Wonder make an appearance on “Be Prepared” over 9ths signature drums and soulful sampling.  J-Zone smashes the title track as Akrobatik kills it on the mic.  New comer Therapy gives a very a Beatnuts sounding track on “Black Hell Breaks Loose” while Akrobatik continues his lyrical assault.   One of the more poignant tracks on the album is the Chuck D assisted “Kindred”, where Chuck poetically breaks down the affects of slavery to black America in spoken word, while Akrobatik breaks it down in rhyme over a stripped down flute sample from Illmind.    Other stand outs are the beat box inspired “AK B Nimble” and the very personal “Back Home to You”

With all this good there has to be some bad right?  Not really, production, lyrics, and subject matter, Akrobatik is the whole package.  Absolute Value is the type of album every underground emcee is trying to make.   It’s very early, but we’re guessing you will see this album at the top of most album lists come year end. - Darin Gloe

Akrobatik:  Definitely doing good man, we just on the second leg of the 6 week tour the never-ending leg of the tour.

HHS:   Go ahead and introduce yourselves to those who don’t know who you are

Akrobatik:  We are The Perceptionists and my name is Akrobatik

Fakts One:  Fakts One

Mr Lif:  Mr Lif, and we represent Boston (laughter)

HHS:  That’s how it should be representing where you’re from, I’m going to talk to everybody.  So Mr Lif, How long have you been in the game and who would you say are your major influences?

Mr Lif:  I can speak for myself we all been in it different amounts of time.  I started writing in ’93 then recorded my first song at the end of ’94 doing in to ’95.  Influences I think I can almost speak collectively but everybody will have something different to add, you know?  BDP, Public Enemy, Ultramagnetic MCs.  Ask Fakts.

HHS:  Fakts how about you?

Fakts One:  Umm..I’ve been djing for way to long, I would say this is maybe my 10th year of professionally djing and going on the 11th.  I’ve been making beats for like 4 or 5 years.  But, as far as influences go, Gangstarr is probably the main one because they are from where I’m from, Edo G.   Umm….I would say for me growing up my biggest influence was the radio, you know not so much any one individual group but rap on the radio period, like I would just sit there and record and have tapes and tapes and tapes of shows.

HHS:  Akrobatik?

Akrobatik:   I’ve rhymed pretty much forever man, since like 4th grade 5th grade something like that.  I picked up on it real early but as far as in the game, quote quote in the game, I put out my first record in ’98 and started recording stuff for that in like ’96-’97.  I’ve been in it a better half of a decade so as far as influences go, I would probably say like KRS is definitely the first person to come to mind, umm Q-Tip, Jungle Brothers, Rakim, LL Cool J…just like….Kane definitely, of course.  Cats just all seem to be in their prime all at the same time man, you know what I’m saying?  Public Enemy I can’t leave them out neither.  The golden age, it sounds like a  cliché but it is really true if you look back at hip-hop to where it is now the time where there was the most dope artists all consistently putting out all hot shit was between ’88 and ’92

Mr Lif:  I just want to give a shout out to Run DMC in there too, cause that’s the first tape I ever had.

HHS:  Akrobatik, you and Mr Lif have put out numerous 12″s on different labels.  Meaning some projects you guys have put out are on different labels, explain that?

Mr Lif:  In short….labels are not usually good enough or worth to handle multiple projects.  For instance the reason I did like 3 solo 12″s and like 10 guest appearances before I even released an EP was because I knew I needed to find a good home for my records before I started releasing actual projects that had more than 3 cuts on them.  Because the worst thing is like, make and album or an EP and have a label not know how to put it out and have it flop, labels have to be able to reflect the effort of the artist, if they can’t match you with a business scheme that has the same intensity as what you put into the music you know what I’m saying.  Then, you don’t need to mess with them.  Most labels early in our career where only worth of getting a single from us here and there.

HHS:   The “Show Starter” 12″ was my first dealings with the Perceptionists, I know there were early projects, what were they and what label were they released under?

Fakts One:  I would say “Inhuman Capabilities” naw not really, I would say the “Show Starter” is the first legitimately Perceptionists project.

Mr Lif:  “Avengers” on Enter the Colossus

Fakts One:  Yeah, but before that we were always on records together in some sort of configuration, usually two out of three you know like it will be Ak and Lif on a song or it will be a beat I did for Ak or a beat I did for Lif or cuts I did for someone, but “Avengers” was the only song where it was all 3 of us.  But, from my first single for my album I wanted to really put the crew forward you know, just kind of set it off because we made a conscious decision to start doing things as a group so I wanted that to be known just put it out there like ok this is how it’s going down, you know?

HHS:  Now you are signed to Def Jux has a group, or they just decided to put out this 12″?

Fakts One:  We are in the process of being signed to Def Jux, the 12″ is something we did for DJ X3, kind of like a little teaser you know?  We are in negotiations for that right now, as we speak.

HHS:  But, Def Jux is the label that the album will be dropping on?

Akrobatik:  We are pretty much verbally committed we just haven’t inked the dotted line yet.  They’ve shown that they want put the record out, and by us being on this tour and holding down the entire tour we have pretty much shown our commitment to label too.  So you know it’s pretty much a go so you know?

HHS:   There is a Perceptionists Album coming, can you tell us a little about that?   Will there be any other producers other than Fakts and who are the guests?

Fakts One:  I will of course be doing some tracks, we have some tracks by Cyrus, El-P but you know it’s a work in progress.  We are literally doing songs on the tour bus, coming up with concepts and what not.

HHS:  Guest appearances?

Akrobatik:  Well, should I just let the cat out of the bag?

Fakts and Lif:  Naw, Naw they’ll have to wait and see.

HHS:  Ok Ok, I’m interested but I understand you guys wanted to keep that under wraps.

Akrobatik:  We’ll tell you off the record.

HHS:  As far as the album goes, it’s not done, but how many tracks would you say you have finished?

Akrobatik:  Here’s the thing, because we are not recording on the bus, we still have to go back home and record the album, but the album is more than half done in terms of conceptualization and it’s almost half done in terms of being written.  So we are getting there we have like 8 or 9 beats and the concepts.

Mr Lif:  I’ll say it is a new experience for me, I don’t know about Ak and Fakts but we are writing the songs then performing them before we record them.  I’ve always recorded then performed, so it is giving us a whole different slant on how the project is going, and letting us know the intensity that we need to approach our songs with in the lab and give it the overall live feel that we are going to want.  Because we intend to tour consistently for our records, that’s the thing we intend on being a touring animal and performing the songs before we record them gives the idea of how to make it translate well into the live show.

HHS:  That’s dope because in independent hip-hop you have to tour, you can’t live on trying to sell 12″s and LPs.   So Fakts what advice do you have for up and coming producers, how did you get your production heard.

Fakts One:  I actually learned to make beats from a friend, that wasn’t a part of the game I wasn’t actually exploring that part of the game in any way, shape or form it kind of stumbled on me by accident.  I just happen to know emcees some emcees, for instant I was playing a beat in my dorm room and Ak came in like “That’s kinda dope”, next thing I know I have a beat on a 12″ man, you know.  I would say take your time to hone your craft, like I’m just now starting to feel confident in the stuff that I do.  Don’t rush into like you got some joints, when you know you only have a couple of hot joints and listen to your stuff with an unbiased ear, that’s the hardest part.   Be open to hear other peoples unbiased opinions, play it for you mom who doesn’t really like hip-hop then play it for somebody who loves hip-hop and take their feedback into account.

HHS:  Lif and Akro, you guys have been doing this for sometime where do you see hip-hop going?

Mr Lif:  No Comment  (Laughing)

Akrobatik:  I would say there is not much to say about that, because I can’t predict the future.  But, I will say whatever is going to happen we are going to be there and hopefully we won’t be the only ones out that are talking some sense on some records.

HHS:  So you would say hip-hop is on a downward slide?

Akrobatik:  I would say it has leveled off at a low point, it’s not like it’s on a downward slide, and it’s not getting worse and worse.  It’s gotten about as bad as and it’s staying there.  Now, does that mean that everybody out sucks….no, because there are a lot of dope artists out there, but as far as what is being mass produced and what is being seen….I mean I saw some BET today and it made me like seriously want to gag.

Mr Lif:  Makes you angry

Akrobatik:  Yeah, it makes you violent and angry because it’s just so bad because it is hard to believe that people take it seriously and support it.  In a real sense that isn’t even really hip-hop, that is really just TV and marketing and advertising for pop music.  As far as hip-hop, I would like to see it revert back to the dope dope live show, like Freshfest, Public Enemy back then was playing stadiums, Run DMC stadiums, Beastie Boys stadiums.  We want people start to believing in the real shit again so we can start putting together those types of shows and everybody can have some fun.

 While this isn’t exactly the 2003 equivalent to J-Live’s All Of The Above, it comes damn close, as people will definitely call this perhaps the most honest hip-hop album of the year. Ak is focused, and the main theme that runs concurrent through the album is of course that hip-hop lacks a sense of balance, as he laments on the vibey title track, “you either a nerd or a thug.” But Ak’s here to walk that fine line with his commanding street-bred delivery and his classroom education, dropping jewels that both cats in the ghetto and geeks on the internet can relate to. 

  Ak shows his versatility on Balance, whether he is ripping mics with vicious battle raps along with Mr. Lif (“Wreckdem”), or subliminally weaving in a moral to the story (“Cooler Headz”). If it’s hard-hitting lyrics you are looking for, check “The Hand That Rocks The Cradle”, where Ak catches wreck over Edan’s horny horns sounding like a classic Beatnuts banger, or the hard-hitting Boston-banger “Bonecrusher”. Meanwhile, Ak respectfully salutes the ladies on, “Woman Part II”, a gorgeous narrative propelled by smooth Dres (of Black Sheep) sample and laid back beat. But Ak’s at his best when he’s in reflective mode – peep “Front Steps”, where Ak observes a day of goings-on in his neighborhood; also check the wonderful “Remind My Soul” a lusciously smooth joint that might make Mos Def & Talib Kweli jealous, where Ak laments “Remind my soul (about) the time we were great before the self-hate…”. ; and finally, the back-to-back tracks that examine what we do with our limited lifespan on this earth on each “Time” and “Here And Now “. Altogether, there is some great stuff on this project….

    However, Ak’s debut isn’t completely unblemished – since the man is such a diverse emcee (teacher, battle rapper, picture painter), at times, when the production changes up to match the mood he’s in, his debut seems all over the place. Other times, some tracks fall into mediocrity, such as the disappointing “Feedback” w/ Diamond, or the equally bland Beatminerz produced “Always Bet On Ak”. However, while Ak’s album may not change the face of hip-hop, this is a good enough album that it will get him the much deserved attention, and hopefully at least bring some Balance to the game.

Things changed with his second single, “Internet MC’s” (also included on the CD), a hilarious attack on keystylin’ hip-hop nerds who rock the chat rooms. Ak showed much more promise with this second single, and with the release of The EP, Ak could be ready to move on to the major leagues.

On “Internet MC’s” showed a battle emcee, and in his humble beginnings, that is how Akrobatik can best be recognized. Whether it’s his winning chemistry between his attitude and the track on on “Don’t Fear”, or flawlessly recreating the essence of D&D on on “Ruff Enuff (Remix)” (feat. Afu Ra) and on “The Flow”, this newcomer shines like an old pro.

Unfortunately, Ak’s debut is cut to less than 10 tracks, with not all of them shining bright. Naturally, he’s shown improvement from his earlier material “Say Yes Say Word” and “Militant Raw”, but sometimes strange production, as featured on both “Battle Royal” (feat. Esoteric) and “The Fat Shit pt. 2″ (feat. Mr. Lif), take away from his devastating mic skills.

While it may be hard for many to break from the bedroom backpack world to the street audience, Ak has the potential to do it, thanks to his intelligent lyrics and equal amount of street saavy. All that needs to happen is for an established artist to snatch him up (i.e. Dr. Dre & Eminem; Redman & Saukrates), and the road to success is only a hit record away.