AKINDE

Biography

Akinde has few equals when it comes to successfully blending the sounds of the Caribbean with that of the urban United States. A rich blend of reggae, soca, calypso and a generous serving of hip hop make up the ingredients of this explosive lyrical energy that is nothing less than absolute magic. An entrepreneur, social activist and fluent lyricist, this gifted son of Trinidad and Tobago has created a major stir with this hybrid form of music known affectionately as rapso (the rap of calypso).

HISTORY

Born into Trinidad's energy boom of the seventies, Akinde and as his and long time friend Omari Ashby grew up under the influence of their San Juan/ Barataria neighbourhood searching for truth and the positivity through music amidst the struggles of a depressed urban area. Heavily inspired by the music of Bob Marley, local musician Andre Tanker and the hip hop ensemble Arrested Development to name a few, they formed the group Kindred with the intention of creating a new urban youth sound to uplift the hearts and minds of their fellow youth in the area. Their dreams were soon blessed when they were assistance of prolific rapso poet Brother Resistance, and the often touted "good for nothing chirren" officially entered the local music scene in T&T with a musical signature that heralded the inspiration for a new generation of youth music .

Their debut single, “This Trini Could Flow” on the Trinidad based Kisskidee label and captured the favour of the nation with their conscious dance music and fluent lyrical ability. In 1996, their first album “Everything is Everything” saw them moving onto the larger cities of the world, affording them the experience of performing to audiences in London, Paris, Cannes, Cologne, and Miami. The second release on the album, a track entitled “Doh Stop” was quickly licensed to Virgin Records (France), with the club remix done by popular Euro DJ Milano, seeing many weeks on the French dance charts. However it was their sophomore album "Big Stone and Fire" that found the group massive local and regional success. The distinct track, “ Hotter Dan Fire (Kayah) ” swept through the local and international carnival scene and took the duo unto stages in California and Texas playing for crowds of 90,000 patrons.

With their dynamic rise to regional popularity, Kindred were catapulted to international television spotlight with showcase features on BET’s Caribbean Rhythms and VH-1’s World Beat, the latter of whom also billed them to perform on the World Beat Showcase in California. These significant achievements, accentuated by their music videos being aired across American cable television saw them catapulted to household names within their homeland. Even moreso, popular recordings with Monsterpiece of Barbados and Ricky General of Jamaica ensured that the name Kindred was known throughout the region. At this stage of their careers, the duo had matured significantly and started to focus more on their personal growth and development. Akinde began to search for his personal ideals, while Omari, began to gradually transform himself into the roles of music producer, arranger and musician.

After numerous requests from independent production companies and television stations, Akinde then went on to become heavily involved in onscreen work. Among the more popular television programs he has done, he hosted the Caribbean video magazine show aptly named “D Show” for three years, appeared in one of the Caribbean's most prominent soap opera's Westwood Park and has hosted the 2002 broadcast of the Caribbean Brass Festival for BET. Akinde began to truly dedicate himself to the perfection of his art and even began to teach/showcase at youth career outreach programs. An advocate in the fight against HIV/AIDS, Akinde has joined forces with poet and author Ronald Roach to form the Caribbean AIDS Initiative (CAI) in an effort to raise awareness of AIDS epidemic in the region. In 2003 they spearheaded the caribbean team of a tour throughout the New York area geared towards raising funds and awareness throughout the African American and Caribbean communities. The tour, organised by Health Jam.org, BET and Power 105 FM saw more than 10 college campuses participating and featured other artists such as Wu Tang alumni Killa Priest, Masta Killah and Cinque of BET.

With the subsequent dismantling of Kindred and the flourishing of his corporate and social ventures, namely the Third Degree production company and the CAI, Akinde then announced plans to become a solo artist. He debuted into the musical arena with such releases as Love Affair, Notes from A Small Island and the chronically addictive track, Passport. Already heavy into work for his upcoming album, due out on his Oakland based world music label Cocoyea Music, Akinde promises to do his part in changing the world through the loving vibration that is Trinidad & Tobago culture.

AWARDS AND APPEARANCES

• KINDRED - Award for Best New Artist

  Rapso and the Oral Traditions Association (Trinidad)

• HOTTER THAN FIRE (KAYAH)

  Nominated for Best Rapso Song Of The Year

  Copyright Organization Of T&T (Trinidad)

• HOTTER THAN FIRE (KAYAH)

  Nominated for Best Rapso Song Of The Year

  Caribbean Sunshine Awards (New York, USA)

• HA DA DEY

  Fourth Place in National Ragga Soca Competition

  Ministry of Culture (Trinidad)

• BET CARIBBEAN RHYTHMS

  Kindred is the main feature for an episode

  BET Caribbean Rhythms (Black Entertainment Television, USA)

• WORLD MUSIC BEAT VIDEO MAGAZINE

  Kindred is showcased as rising stars on the weekly video magazine

  VH1 World Beat Music Series (Video Hits One, USA)

•     Opening act for Nicki Minaj | Port Of Spain, Trinidad.

•     SXSW | Austin, Texas.

•     Reggae On The River | Humboldt County, California, USA.

•     World Beat Music Festival | Port Of Spain, Trinidad.

•     Opening act for Buju Banton | Port Of Spain, Trinidad.

•     Opening act for Maxi Priest | Port Of Spain, Trinidad. 

•     Opening act for Ziggy Marley | Port Of Spain, Trinidad.