Akim Rubi is a 21 year old artist who grew up in Tanzania, East Africa. He was born in Rwanda, but moved shortly after, spending his first ten years in Tanzania. He remembers listening to artists like T.I., Shakira, and Lil Wayne because they were always on the radio. He says that since he did not grow up with an iPod, whatever was popular enough to be streamed on big media platforms was what they had to learn from. Akim says this not only helped him to learn English and be introduced to other cultures, it fueled his creative outlet, both in dancing and making music.
Music became not only a big part of life in Akim’s eyes, but among his family as well. He remembers playing songs with his brothers and cousins, freestyling to random beats, which later turned into studio sessions. Being surrounded by like minded people helped him grow and choose his direction. He notes some of his biggest influences are Wiz Khalifa, Joey Bada$$, as well as watching TV shows to help get ideas and build stories. He loves all types of art, and finds himself at art galleries and fashion shows as well. Akim believes that all mediums of art can serve his growth and creativity in some way. There is always something to see and learn from.
Akim says that growing up in Africa, his family didn’t have everything they wanted, and that influenced a common theme in his music. He explains that he often talks about chasing a goal or a “dream life”. He wants to inspire people to strive for things that seem out of reach and make them obtainable. He found the first milestone in his own “dream life” in an Instagram message one day, asking him to perform at a nightclub in Chicago called Joy District. He was only about two years into making music, but was reassured seeing how many people enjoyed his music, even having no idea who Akim Rubi was. Despite having doubts, he knows that he just has to bring something new to the table, and uses any worry he has to stay on top of fresh ideas to separate himself from other artists. He knows he will have reached success when he is surrounded by people who truly care about him and stuck with him through his journey. Akim wants to remain true to himself, and have his music become an extension of that, while being able to make money to support those around him.
Akim loves hearing feedback from his listeners, and appreciates knowing that fans can relate to his messages. He is experimenting with bringing some new sounds, incorporating his African ties into his music. While some of it has been introduced already, Akim says there’s much more coming, and he hopes his fans will enjoy the new styles he incorporates in his music. He has been working hard on his music, and visuals to pair with it. Recently, his first big budget video “Own Boss” was released, which Akim was an amazing experience. He hopes that his work will inspire others to work hard and grow through their mistakes to become the best version of themselves, and he will continue leading by example.
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