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Shakespeare
Akala Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

Nigger listen, when I spit on the riddem, I kill 'em
Raw like the Ball of Brazilians
You don't want war, 'cos the kids brilliant
Blood, I'm the heir to the throne

Not William, Akala, smart as King Arthur
Darker, harder, faster
Rasclaat, I kick the illest shit
It's like Shakespeare with a nigger twist

Lyricist, I'm the best on the road
Nitro flow, oh so cold, I'ma blow yo
Keep the hoes, I only want dough homes
Nobody close, I'm alone in my own zone

No no love for the po-po
Loco when I rock mics solo
I hope that you know, where you don't go there
Want it with Bolo? Must be coco

It's William back from the dead
But I rap bout gats and I'm black instead
It's Shakespeare, reincarnated
Except I spit flows and strip hoes naked

No fakin'-test my blood bruv
Its William, back as a tug 'cuz
So real the shit I kick now
Plus I don't rite, I recite my shit now

Straight from the top, expert timin'
On top of that now, the whole things rhymin'
No more tights, now jeans saggin'
If I say so myself, I'm much more handsome

Don't ever compare me to rappers
I'm so quick-witted that I split em like fractions
My shit, I tell 'em like this
It's like Shakespeare with a nigger twist

I get you pumped up
Feelin' like you drunk, drunk
When my beats bump, bump
Lyrics hit like skunk blunts blood, now

All the shit I kick, so crazy
There ain't no ifs and maybe's
Spit poetry so shady
For lords on road and my hood ladies

Pumped up, feelin' like you drunk drunk
When my beats bump bump
Lyrics hit like skunk blunts blood, now
All the shit I kick, so crazy

There ain't no ifs and maybe's
Spit poetry so shady
For lords on road and my hood ladies

I'm similar to William but a little different
I do it for kids that's illiterate, not Elizabeth
Stuck on the road, faces screwed up
Feel like the world spat 'em out and they chewed up

It's a matrix, I try and explain it
But on a real thoe still ready blaze 'em
No contradiction just face it
They so enslaved, they are worse than a agent

I grace stages, sharp as razors
Don't get cut 'cuz, keep ya distance
No artillery, tryna' be militant
Y'all dudes killin' me, think that ya killin' it

It's embarrassing watchin' you babblin'
Keep spittin' ya darts, mine is javelins
The hood Tiger Woods too milly
Number 1 for so long, it's just getting silly

Shit kinda like Bruce wit da knuckles
Like the first time ya ever saw Ali shuffle
You don't trouble, left layin' in a puddle
Bruv you are havin' a bubble

I'ma whole different kettle of fish
Thou shall not fuck with dis
My shit, I tell 'em like this
It's like Shakespeare with a nigger twist

I get you pumped up
Feelin' like you drunk, drunk
When my beats bump, bump
Lyrics hit like skunk blunts blood, now

All the shit I kick, so crazy
There ain't no ifs and maybe's
Spit poetry so shady
For lords on road and my hood ladies

Pumped up, feelin' like you drunk drunk
When my beats bump bump
Lyrics hit like skunk blunts blood, now
All the shit I kick, so crazy

There ain't no ifs and maybe's
Spit poetry so shady
For lords on road and my hood ladies

To be fair, no MC close to the man
Little just come youth's jumpin' out of they pram
Everybody badman, behind a mic stand
It's not creative, one bag of hype
And if you buss a ting, where's the mash?

Move so much food? Where's the cats?
These dudes ain't real, they just rap
I don't spit what I don't know
Just the facts, no talks of rocks I ain't sold

Shots I ain't blown, so cold and I own my own
My business ridiculous, Sick with it, quick witted
Companies head to head an liquidate it
Welcome to illa state, meet ya fate mate

Talk truth but we don't play games
Move sick, look sample techno
Never pull a ting, if it ain't gonna let go
That's that, rap track, clap ya like a black gat

Back chat, crack back
I'm the nigger, that's that
The rest of these kids is irrelevant
Don't compare me to him

That's just beggin' it, I'm on my own shit
Dicks ain't spit, it's no democracy, dictatorship
So dicks hate my shit, I'm sick, raise ya spliff
I'm swift, blaze em quick, my hits, major shit

I flip phrases quick, my sick razor shit
Give thick grazes quick and chicks say he's Cris
It's not a rumor that kid Akala
No, not Ackala, beg ya pardon

Don't get it twisted
Your on the sideline like a mistress
I'm the whizz kid with the sick shit
My shit, I tell 'em like this
It's like Shakespeare with a nigger twist

I get you pumped up
Feelin' like you drunk, drunk
When my beats bump, bump
Lyrics hit like skunk blunts blood, now

All the shit I kick, so crazy
There ain't no if's and maybe's
Spit poetry so shady
For lords on road and my hood ladies

Pumped up, feelin' like you drunk drunk
When my beats bump bump
Lyrics hit like skunk blunts blood, now
All the shit I kick, so crazy

There ain't no if's and maybe's
Spit poetry so shady
For lords on road and my hood ladies

I get you pumped up
Feelin' like you drunk, drunk
When my beats bump, bump
Lyrics hit like skunk blunts blood, now

All the shit I kick, so crazy
There ain't no if's and maybe's
Spit poetry so shady
For lords on road and my hood ladies

Pumped up, feelin' like you drunk drunk
When my beats bump bump
Lyrics hit like skunk blunts blood, now
All the shit I kick, so crazy
There ain't no if's and maybe's
Spit poetry so shady
For lords on road and my hood ladies

Overall Meaning

In "Shakespeare," Akala proclaims himself as the new heir to the throne with a raw and aggressive flow. He acknowledges the greatness of William Shakespeare but claims to be even smarter and darker than the legendary playwright. He also declares himself as the best lyricist on the road with a nitro flow that's so cold it could blow anyone away. The song is a display of Akala's superior rap skills, boasting his ability to rhyme effortlessly and creatively. He also touches on themes of racism and police brutality, challenging the status quo of the rap game and society as a whole.


The use of "nigger" in the song is a deliberate choice to reclaim the word from its racist history and turn it into a term of empowerment. Akala uses it as a marker of identity and defiance against those who seek to oppress him. The Shakespearean references in the lyrics serve as a way for Akala to elevate and validate his own artistry. He compares his rhymes to Shakespeare's poetry, providing a historical context to his work and placing himself in a lineage of great writers.


Overall, "Shakespeare" is an ode to the power of words and the ability of art to challenge authority and inspire change. Through his music, Akala confronts the harsh realities of the world while also celebrating his own brilliance as an artist.


Line by Line Meaning

Nigger listen, when I spit on the riddem, I kill 'em
Pay attention, when I rap on the beat, I dominate and defeat my opponents


Raw like the Ball of Brazilians
Unfiltered and intense like the energy of Brazilian football


You don't want war, 'cos the kids brilliant
You don't want to compete with me because I am exceptionally talented


Blood, I'm the heir to the throne
I am the rightful successor and leader in the game


Not William, Akala, smart as King Arthur
I am not Shakespeare, but Akala, as intelligent and cunning as King Arthur


Darker, harder, faster
I am more intense, powerful, and swift


Rasclaat, I kick the illest shit
Damn, I deliver the most amazing and mind-blowing lyrics


It's like Shakespeare with a nigger twist
My style of rap is reminiscent of Shakespeare's literary genius but with my own unique perspective


Lyricist, I'm the best on the road
As a skilled writer of lyrics, I am the top artist in the industry


Nitro flow, oh so cold, I'ma blow yo
My rap flow is explosive and incredibly cool, I'm going to impress you


Keep the hoes, I only want dough homes
I'm not interested in women, I'm focused on making money


Nobody close, I'm alone in my own zone
No one can match my skills and I stand out in my unique style


No no love for the po-po
I have no respect or love for the police


Loco when I rock mics solo
I become crazy and energetic when I perform alone on the microphone


I hope that you know, where you don't go there
You should be aware of the consequences if you enter certain areas or confront me


Want it with Bolo? Must be coco
If you want to challenge me or my crew, you must be crazy


It's William back from the dead
I am back like William Shakespeare, but reinvented for the modern era


But I rap bout gats and I'm black instead
However, I rap about guns and street life, representing the black community


It's Shakespeare, reincarnated
I am the rebirth of Shakespeare, bringing his poetic abilities to contemporary music


Except I spit flows and strip hoes naked
But instead of writing plays, I deliver incredible rap verses and seduce women


No fakin'-test my blood bruv
Don't doubt my authenticity, my brother


Its William, back as a tug 'cuz
I am William, back as a tough individual


So real the shit I kick now
The lyrics I deliver now are so genuine and authentic


Plus I don't rite, I recite my shit now
I don't write my rhymes anymore, I perform them from memory and recite them


Straight from the top, expert timin'
Starting from the beginning, I have impeccable timing and delivery


On top of that now, the whole things rhymin'
Furthermore, the entire song is flowing smoothly and rhythmically


No more tights, now jeans saggin'
I no longer wear Shakespearean attire, now I represent the streets and urban fashion


If I say so myself, I'm much more handsome
If I may say, I am exceptionally good-looking


Don't ever compare me to rappers
Never associate me with other mediocre rappers


I'm so quick-witted that I split em like fractions
My intelligence and cleverness easily surpasses them, I defeat them effortlessly


My shit, I tell 'em like this
The way I present my lyrics is just like Shakespeare, with a twist of my own style


I get you pumped up
My music energizes and excites you


Feelin' like you drunk, drunk
You feel intoxicated and overwhelmed with excitement


When my beats bump, bump
The rhythm of my beats is so intense and captivating


Lyrics hit like skunk blunts blood, now
My lyrics hit you hard, just like the strong and euphoric effects of smoking marijuana


All the shit I kick, so crazy
All the lyrics I deliver are incredibly impressive and mind-blowing


There ain't no ifs and maybe's
There is no uncertainty or doubt about the quality of my music


Spit poetry so shady
I deliver poetic and dark lyrics that evoke emotions and reflection


For lords on road and my hood ladies
My music is relatable and speaks to both influential individuals and women in my community


I'm similar to William but a little different
I share similarities with William Shakespeare, but I have my own unique style


I do it for kids that's illiterate, not Elizabeth
I create music for young people who may struggle academically, not for the upper class


Stuck on the road, faces screwed up
Trapped in difficult circumstances, with frustrated and unhappy expressions


Feel like the world spat 'em out and they chewed up
They feel as though they have been rejected and mistreated by the world


It's a matrix, I try and explain it
Society is like a complex system, and I attempt to comprehend and articulate it


But on a real thoe still ready blaze 'em
In reality, I am still prepared to confront and challenge the problems we face


No contradiction just face it
There is no contradiction, we must confront the truth


They so enslaved, they are worse than a agent
People are so mentally and socially controlled, they are worse off than government agents


I grace stages, sharp as razors
I dominate stages and perform with impeccable precision


Don't get cut 'cuz, keep ya distance
Don't get hurt, stay away from me and my sharp abilities


No artillery, tryna' be militant
I have no weapons, but I still aim to be powerful and assertive


Y'all dudes killin' me, think that ya killin' it
You guys are making me laugh, thinking you're impressive


It's embarrassing watchin' you babblin'
It's embarrassing to watch you stumble and struggle with your words


Keep spittin' ya darts, mine is javelins
You continue to rap weak lyrics, while I deliver powerful and impactful verses


The hood Tiger Woods too milly
I am like Tiger Woods of the neighborhood, successful and rich


Number 1 for so long, it's just getting silly
I have been at the top for a long time, it's almost ridiculous


Shit kinda like Bruce wit da knuckles
My style is similar to that of Bruce Lee, fierce and powerful


Like the first time ya ever saw Ali shuffle
Just like witnessing Muhammad Ali's legendary footwork for the first time


You don't trouble, left layin' in a puddle
If you don't back down, you'll end up beaten and defeated


Bruv you are havin' a bubble
Mate, you must be joking or delusional


I'ma whole different kettle of fish
I am completely different and unique


Thou shall not fuck with dis
You should not mess with me or my music


My shit, I tell 'em like this
I express myself and deliver my message in this way


To be fair, no MC close to the man
Honestly, no other rapper comes close to my skill level


Little just come youth's jumpin' out of they pram
I am still young and energetic, full of life and potential


Everybody badman, behind a mic stand
Many people try to act tough and intimidating when they perform on stage


It's not creative, one bag of hype
Their performances lack originality, they are just full of false excitement


And if you buss a ting, where's the mash?
And if you use a firearm, where are the consequences or casualties?


Move so much food? Where's the cats?
If you sell drugs, where are the actual profits or customers?


These dudes ain't real, they just rap
These individuals are not authentic, they are just pretending in their music


I don't spit what I don't know
I only express and rap about what I truly understand and have experience with


Just the facts, no talks of rocks I ain't sold
I only speak the truth, not making false claims about selling drugs


Shots I ain't blown, so cold and I own my own
I haven't fired any shots, I am still cool and in control of my own destiny


My business ridiculous, Sick with it, quick witted
My business ventures are incredibly impressive, I am talented and clever


Companies head to head an liquidate it
Various companies compete with each other and struggle to stay afloat


Welcome to illa state, meet ya fate mate
Welcome to an unsafe and dangerous environment, where you will face your destiny, my friend


Talk truth but we don't play games
We speak the truth, but we don't engage in trivial or deceptive activities


Move sick, look sample techno
We move skillfully and effortlessly, like observing a dance performance or techno music


Never pull a ting, if it ain't gonna let go
We never brandish a weapon unless we intend to use it


That's that, rap track, clap ya like a black gat
That's final, this rap track will metaphorically attack you, as if it were a gun


Back chat, crack back
Don't talk back or make disrespectful remarks


I'm the nigger, that's that
I am the black man, and that's the way it is


The rest of these kids is irrelevant
All these other rappers are insignificant and unimportant


Don't compare me to him
Don't associate me with those lesser artists


That's just beggin' it, I'm on my own shit
That's just being desperate, I have my own unique style


Dicks ain't spit, it's no democracy, dictatorship
These individuals can't rap, there's no room for democracy, it's a dictatorship


So dicks hate my shit, I'm sick, raise ya spliff
These mediocre rappers hate my music because I'm talented, light up your joint to relax


I'm swift, blaze em quick, my hits, major shit
I'm fast and decisive, my songs are incredible and make a significant impact


I flip phrases quick, my sick razor shit
I rapidly change my lyrics, delivering sharp and impressive verses


Give thick grazes quick and chicks say he's Cris
I leave a strong impact on listeners, and women admire me like a glass of champagne


It's not a rumor that kid Akala
It's not merely a rumor, I am the real deal, Akala


No, not Ackala, beg ya pardon
No, it's not Ackala, please excuse the mistake


Don't get it twisted
Don't misunderstand or misinterpret what I'm saying


Your on the sideline like a mistress
You're just an observer or spectator, like a mistress in a relationship


I'm the whizz kid with the sick shit
I am the young and talented artist with the impressive and creative music


My shit, I tell 'em like this
This is my music, and I present it in this way




Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: ROBERT BORRMANN, EDMUND LOUIS CLEMENT, KINGSLEE MACLEAN-DALEY, ANDREA MONICA MARTIN, IVAN MATIAS, REZA SAFINIA

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
To comment on or correct specific content, highlight it

Most interesting comment from YouTube:

Ratchet Medic

HalleluYah! Praise to Yah for your life! Yahuah is the Creator of the heavens and the earth(Genesis 1:1 In the beginning Elohim created the heavens and the earth) and Yah gave His only brought-forth(begotten) Son, Yahoshua ‘Yah is Salvation’ Messiah(John 3:16 “For Elohim so loved the world that He gave His only brought-forth Son, that everyone who believes in Him should not perish but possess everlasting life.) to sweat blood(Luke 22:44 And being in agony, He was praying more earnestly. And His sweat became like great drops of blood falling down to the ground.) and be brutally murdered on a stake(cross) and be resurrected on the third day for the sins of all of humanity!(1 Corinthians 15:3-5 For I delivered to you at the first that which I also received: the Messiah died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He was raised the third day, according to the Scriptures, and that He was seen by Kêpha(Sha’ul who is also called Paul), then by the twelve.) (1 Corinthians 15:3-5 For I delivered to you at the first that which I also received: the Messiah died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He was raised the third day, according to the Scriptures, and that He was seen by Kêpha(Sha’ul who is also called Paul), then by the twelve.) Follow Yahuah’s 7 easy feast of remembrance and keep Yah’s Sabbath(Day 7; Day of Rest)!

Yahshua literally means ‘Yah is Salvation’ and His death and resurrection gave us the Gift of the Set-Apart Spirit to be our Guide and Helper to do what is right in Yah’s eyes!
Elohim is plural for ‘Mighty Ones’ and Eloah is singular for ‘Mighty One’ and the Arabic word for ‘Elohim’ means ‘Judges and Rulers’ or ‘Judges or Rulers’!
Hallelujah is properly spelled ‘HalleluYah’ which literally means ‘praise to Yah’!
Yahshua literally means ‘Yah is Salvation’!
HalleluYah! Yahshua is the Messiah!
“Jesus” is Greek for ‘hail Zeus’ and ‘Iesous/Iasous’ is four(4) deities/idols/mighty ones names combined, including the ‘Zeus’!
‘Lord’ is Hebrew for ‘Ba’al’ in every real Hebrew translation!
“Christ” is the Greek deity/idol/mighty one ‘Christos’!
“God” is “god” is “Gade” is “Gad”, “Ghode” is “Gawd” is the Pagan deity/idol/mighty one of “fortune”!
Yeshua/Yehoshua when directly translated from Hebrew to English is Joshua!



All comments from YouTube:

MITCHELL HUDSON

Year 8 or 9 pleating this on the bus ride to school. 13 years later my evolution has been unreal looking back, nearly at the end of my MSc Biomed degree and this was a nice reminder of where it began. So has yours Akala. Bless. You are an inspiration and a proven polymath! Thank god i found this banger too, 4.45 and I’ve been binging Oxford lectures... glad the last one was Akala’s. 👊🏽

Suzie Clarke

Akala!!!!! If you ever see this comment I think you should do a 2021 remix of this legendary track...This is beyond brilliant and would still bang today given the rightful exposure you deserve..thank god for reaction channels these days where us fans can push for your music to be spread around the world..where it belongs for everyone to hear..LOVE YOU 😍😍😍

Alistair Shand

16 years later and never gets old, remember the first day i listened to this tune!!

James carman

If he dropped it again in 2020 everyone be like have you heard this guy, these bars don't age

Ollie Schefer

12 years later but can we get his music more recognition

SVR GARDENS UK 420

2 years later and still moving it

Ben Soan

This was an absolute banger, the amount of views is disappointing for how big this song was in my youth lol

Armado

14 years on and still some of the best rap ever.

Daniel Gardecki

The tiny amount of views and comments on this video, proves my point again, that there's too many kids on the Internet recommending the same stuff. This is a classic Akala track from his Channel U days, and probably one of his best. Yet just like all the other legends of early Grime, people only recommend his new stuff, and his Fire in the Booth's.

Rusty

Idk man as far as outright bangers go I recommend this all the time. An absolute classic from secondary school days, gathering around listening on some kids Nokia N95

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