ABLE Voices Ep 76: Akes

We are inviting disabled artists and arts educators to be guests and  guest hosts on ABLE Voices. Today's guest host is Briana Raucci.

Briana is a Connecticut-based artist, writer, and photographer with  multiple disabilities, including cerebral palsy, epilepsy.  endometriosis, ADHD, and more. Over the years, Briana has self-described  as a photographer, photojournalist, writer, graphic designer, UX &  product designer, social media manager, artist, etc., but feels none of  those titles alone fully embody the creativity she is constantly trying  to express in new ways. After in-depth creative exploration, doing both  full-time and freelance work for over 13 years, Briana is now  freelancing full-time, utilizing all her creative abilities. Being a  multi-passionate individual, this has allowed her to balance all of her  creative endeavors and add a few more! Since this interview, she has  begun fundraising to support her disability advocacy work. Today Briana  will be speaking with Akes.

Akes  is UK based rapper, vocalist, businessman, online content creator,  social media  personality, and entrepreneur, also known as MrSickWidit. Deriving his  stage name from the aches caused by  his lifelong cerebral palsy condition, the young wordsmith has always  hoped to show others in a similar position that they can chase their  dreams in music, even when the odds seem stacked against them and has  been an outspoken advocate for individuals with cerebral palsy, and the  wider disability community. Particularly renowned for his grime output,  Akes has worked with  some of the rap genre’s biggest names including BPI Gold-certified  producer  Preditah, N.A.S.T.Y Crew legend Nasty Jack and the inimitable Flirta D,  and has released two grime EPs to date – 2014’s War and 2018’s  Sickwidit.  "Been through the aches and pains,” West Midlands penman Akes  asserts on the autobiographical title track from his latest EP. It’s a  direct nod to the inspiration behind his stage name—growing up with  cerebral palsy, he’s all too acquainted with its physically taxing  nature; plus the alias speaks to the ‘pains’ of testing times, too.