SHAKESPEARE

Alternative title

Freedom Lasso

Synopsis

'Comedy Tragedy History’ is the second release from London hip-hop artist Kingslee ‘Akala’ MacLean Daley’s critically acclaimed second album ‘Freedom Lasso’. Wth this track, Akala pays homage to the literary genius of the Bard, referencing 27 of Shakespeare’s plays over a dirty-electro house sample.

Language

English

Country

Great Britain

Medium

Audio

Year of release

2007

Duration

3:58

Credits

Cast

Akala

Additional Details

Production type

Sound Recordings(Commercial)

Plays

All’s Well That Ends Well; Antony and Cleopatra; As You Like It; Comedy of Errors, The; Cymbeline; Hamlet; Henry IV Part 1; Henry IV Part 2; Julius Caesar; King Lear; Love’s Labour’s Lost; Macbeth; Measure for Measure; Merchant of Venice, The; Merry Wives of Windsor, The; Midsummer Night’s Dream, A; Much Ado About Nothing; Othello; Pericles, Prince of Tyre; Romeo and Juliet; Taming of the Shrew, The; Tempest, The; Timon of Athens; Titus Andronicus; Two Gentlemen of Verona, The; Winter’s Tale, The

Subjects

Music

Keywords

Shakespeare, William (1564-1616); Rap music; Hip Hop

Related items

Twin B [18/11/2006]

Notes

Notes

Official website at http://www.akalamusic.com/ (accessed 12/2009)

General

The track was inspired by a live BBC 1Xtra’s radio show (Twin B ) in during which Akala was challenged to come up with an impromptu freestyle making use of as many Shakespeare play titles as possible.

History

The album was released on October 10, 2007.

Awards

2006 Mobo (Music of Black Origin) award for best British hip-hop artist.

Textual information

Lyrics at http://www.akalamusic.com/AkalaMusic.html (accessed 12/2009)

Reviews

"True to form, Akala spits furious lyrics set against a relentless electro sample from Baxter Baxter’s ‘Straylight’, with an orgy of genre defying demonic beats straddling everything from drum’n’bass to nu-rave, delectably seasoned with a live string quartet and live drums". According to Akala "it wasn’t that hard, you’d be surprised how much of our everyday language is made up from Shakespeare - ' the shirt off my back’, ‘method in his madness’ the list is endless, Shakespeare wasn’t just an amazing playwright - his insight into humanity was so crazy that he’s affected language 400 in his future!" (http://www.ilikemusic.com/hiphop/Akala_Comedy_Tragedy_History_Freedom_Lasso-4755, accessed 12/2009)

Production Company

Name

Illa State Records

Email

info@illastate.com

Web

http://www.illastate.com/ External site opens in new window

Archive

Name

British Library Sound Archive

Email

listening@bl.uk

Web

http://www.bl.uk/nsa External site opens in new window

Phone

020 7412 7676

Fax

020 7412 7441

Address

96 Euston Road
London
NW1 2DB

Distributor (Sale)

Name

Retail outlets