Labtekwon
Labtekwon | |
---|---|
Birth name | Omar Akbar |
Also known as | Labtekwon |
Origin | Baltimore, Maryland, United States |
Genres | Hip hop Avant Garde Jazz |
Occupation(s) | Emcee, producer, Anthropologist |
Instrument(s) | Microphone, Turntables |
Labels | Ankh Ba Records |
Labtekwon (born Omar Akbar) is a Hip Hop artist and cultural scientist from Baltimore, Maryland.[1] His name is an acronym for "Lifeform Advanced Beyond Terrestrial Esoterics King Warrior Of Nubia."[2] By far the greatest emcee you never heard of and light years ahead of your favorite “pop rappers” and “top 10 emcees.” In the tradition of Sun Ra, Basquiat and Nikolai Tesla: an example of counter-culture genius that has been purposely suppressed by those who have sought to industrialize and castrate true Hip Hop culture. Labtekwon is the constant and obscure influence on mainstream music, by simply staying 10-20 years ahead of the rest: lyrically and musically. By simply checking the dates on his releases and hearing the music in context to the time he presents it: he is clearly the unsung pioneer of the milleniim. Labtekwon is the youngest son of soul singer Harry Young, Jr., also known as "Doc Soul Stirrer". He graduated from Douglass High School, following in the footsteps of the Baltimore group Z3MC.[2] He soon became one of the best-known MCs in Baltimore's underground Hip-Hop community, and the global underground with a long string of influential albums in his Labteknology series. He was invited to Los Angeles by the Project Blowed collective to perform in 1999.[3] In 1998, Baltimore Citypaper created the category “Best MC” for which Labtekwon would win several years between 1998 and 2003. A regular fixture in the Baltimore City Paper "Best of Baltimore" list.[4] Labtekwon has performed at the Lyricist Lounge in New York and Project Blowed in Los Angeles; both recognized as the ground zero of true school Hip Hop artists on both coasts. Labtekwon is also a champion of Zulu Nation Freestyle Competition in 1995. He is considered the greatest true Emcee to ever hail from Baltimore, Maryland. Labtekwon has shared the stage with Afrika Bambaata, Rakim, Kool Keith, MF DOOM, Psycho Les, A Tribe Called Quest, Brand Nubian, KRS-One, Black Thought, Aceyalone, Digital Underground and countless other Hip Hop artists that represent the pinnacle of lyricism and excellence. He has left his mark on over 40 releases including 29 full length albums on his own Ankh Ba Records. He has mastered the fusion of Skatepunk, Afrobeat, Jazz, Funk, spoken word, House Music and the pioneering efforts with the 410 Pharaohs on the first Baltimore Club Music/ Hip Hop hybrid album: 410 Funk, Labtekwon has the most diverse catalog of music in the field of Emceeing. Considered the "Thelonious Monk of Hip Hop" by Chuck D of Public Enemy. Labtekwon=Future Shock.
Discography
- The Ghetto Gospel (1993)
- Labteknology, Volume 0: Baltimoorish Science (1997)
- Labteknology, Volume 1: The Future's Now...What's Next? (1994)
- Labteknology, Volume 2: Ladies Night (Live From Hell)" (1999)
- Labteknology, Volume 3: Proverbs of Passion (1995)
- "Labteknology, Volume 4: Nile Child: King of Kings (1998)
- Labteknology, Volume 5: Da Dawn (1995)
- Labteknology, Volume 7: Da Helpless Won (1996)
- Labteknology, Volume 8: Justus On Da Horizon (1998)
- Labteknology, Volume 9: The Art of Love (1999)
- "The Piankhi 7 Papyrus" (2000)
- Song of the Sovereign (2002)
- Hustlaz Guide to the Universe: Post Apocalyptic Version (2003)
- Murdaland Volume Won: Classic Jack Moves (2003)
- The Ghetto Dai Lai Llama: Hood Mystic (2005)
- Avant God (2005)
- "Ghettoclectic: King of The Slowburn" (2006)
- Population Control: Wrath of The Black Eniggma (2006)
- 93,000,000 Miles Rising (Killa Kamillionz) (2006)
- Jazzhall: The Epitome of Epiphany (The Tao of Slick) (2007)
- Emmett Till's Revenge (CSD) (2007)
- 410 Funk (410 Pharaohs) (2008)
- Di Na Ko Degg: Soul Power http://ankhba.com (2009)
- "NEXT: Baltimore Basquiat and the Future Shock" http://ankhba.com (2010)
- Hardcore: Labtekwon and the Righteous Indignation-Rootzilla vs Masta Akbar http://ankhba.com (2012)
- Evolutionary: The Omar Akbar Album/State of the Art http://ankhba.com (2013)
- B.O.P.: The Theology of Timing/Tehuti and the Het Hero Cult http://ankhba.com (2014)
- Sun of Sekhmet: The Rejected Stone-Mahdi Music http://ankhba.com (2017)
- KHUNSU http://ankhba.com (2017)
References
- ^ Shapiro, Peter (2005) The Rough Guide to Hip-Hop, Rough Guides, ISBN 1-84353-263-8, p.219
- ^ a b Baghat Vinyl, Inc. (2007). "Labtekwon Interview". Retrieved 2008-01-19.
- ^ McCabe, Bret (2005-03-16). "Taking It Back". Baltimore City Paper. Retrieved 2008-01-19.
- ^ "Best MC". Baltimore City Paper. 2003-09-17. Retrieved 2008-01-19.