Igwe Aka — artist
Nigerian-born, Northern California-based artist Igwe Aka blends Alternative, Hip-Hop, Reggae, Soul, Latin, and African influences into his unique genre-bending style. Born Anthony Chukwubuike Aka’Naizerigwe, he took the name “Igwe” from his last name which has multiple meanings including “King” and “The Heavens”. Igwe’s songwriting deals a lot with the realities of growing up in Northern California, covering topics like substance abuse, women, and the intense emotions that come with just being human. Influenced heavily by artists like Joey Bada$$ and Kanye West, Igwe feels that the content of his lyrics is just as important as the sound of the overall product and believes that real depth is what makes great music. Igwe has released 3 full projects so far, the most recent of which is his 7-track album titled “More Than A Man”, and has just released his first single of 2021, “Not The Hills”. “Not The Hills” (produced by BRYVN) lies somewhere between Alternative and Hip Hop, featuring powerful instrumentals and emotional vocals from Igwe. Describing a side of California that isn’t seen on the big screen the way The Hills are, Igwe paints a picture of the disparity between where he grew up and the famous home of wealth and fame. Igwe doesn’t glorify the lifestyle he grew up with, but wants to raise awareness for the reality that he and his community are living.