How AKIRAH became one of the most respected artists in modern riddim
- The Filthy Beat Inspectors
- 2 days ago
- 4 min read
We need him in America: A look into the Scottish Warlord's lore, and how he shaped the scene as we know it.
For those of us living in America, we crave something different.
We crave the diversity of overseas artists. The wonder of foreign shows. The hunt to uncover new music abroad.
We spend years waiting for the opportunity to travel and see some of the rarest sets around. The sets from artists who are always wanted but never attained.
One of the most coveted artists in the scene is AKIRAH, our Scottish brother in arms.
AKIRAH has been known as one of the top-shelf riddim artists for a decade now. His songs like SCOTTISH WARLORD and F YA LIFE have laid the foundation for a whole generation of industry growth.
His latest song is called MAMACITA, and it's a Spanish riddim track (inspired by GTA); out now on all platforms.
Performances around the globe have drawn bewilderment, while setting high expectations for those of us who have only seen him through a screen. This year's mouthwatering sets included SYN LDN's SVDDEN DEATH Pre Party at Queen of Hoxton in London and his historic "Riddim Olympics" set at Northern Invasion.
When he's not touring Australia or signing tracks to DPMO, AKIRAH enjoys boxing regularly. It's become a large part of his life and provides good mental stimulation outside of music.
His Instagram comments are full of fans begging him to visit their cities. Artists praising the ground he walks on. And, the masses call him "BOSSMAN."
So who really is AKIRAH?
How did he get his start?
Why are people so crazy about him?
Why does he DJ in a kilt?
We took a deep-dive into his world, uncovering more than just what makes him tick.
AKIRAH discovered dance and electronic music in his teenage years growing up in Scotland. He shouted out the Reading Rooms in Dundee as a place of importance in his story.
Nowadays, we hear Scottish-influenced sounds within his music. The bagpipes, wind pipes and voice samples give that signature flair.
One of the things that makes him unique is that he chooses to DJ in a kilt.
"Playing my first international show in 2012 I decided to wear my kilt because it gives me an image," AKIRAH said. "I stand out. Whatever way you see it. You are going to notice me."Â
The fans see the talent first-hand, they respect him and they beg for him here in the states. AKIRAH looks, acts and speaks like a true bossman, which just so happens to be his nickname.
"The bossman name comes from the reference to calling the shopkeeper ‘boss’ or ‘bossman’ as well as in Scotland," AKIRAH said. "We might refer to someone as ‘boss.' For example, ‘What's happenin boss, wys.' I added it to my tag, as it rolls off the tongue quite nicely."
One of Bossman AKIRAH's most iconic songs is SCOTTISH WARLORD.
Fans are calling it "The Levi’s jeans of riddim tracks," and "One of the best riddim songs of all time," in the Soundcloud comments eight years after its release.
FuntCase told us that was the song that helped him discover AKIRAH back in COVID times.
"I was streaming full time on Twitch, and as I would stream, I would have dubstep playlists play in the background on my Spotify," FuntCase said. "One day, it played AKIRAH's track SCOTTISH WARLORD, which I’d never heard before. The track blew me away so much that I rewound it on Spotify."
Being the Dubstep Dad that he is, FuntCase took to Twitter and posted about how insane the track was. AKIRAH excitedly replied, and the bromance started from there.
But it was the uniqueness of AKIRAH's sound that was so attractive to FuntCase. It was the forward-thinking feel that made him stand out among the noise. He was recruited for an EP on DPMO, and the rest is history.
Years later, we went absolutely bonkers for the Deceiver Remix that dropped back in 2023. SCOTTISH WARLORD is just one example of the Bossman's magnetic sounds that show no bounds.
A changing scene
We talked to AKIRAH about the riddim scene, and how he's seen it grow first-hand with early roots in Europe and the U.K. Since the popularity of this music has taken hold in the United States and worldwide markets, he says there have been pros and cons.
"It does bring more opportunities for success, but with an over-saturated market it’s harder to stand out," AKIRAH said. "Even though I do love the OG RIDDIM, I do like the development in the sound and composition of the music."
He gave us the example of discovering SYZY's music during COVID, describing them as a very talented artist.
We think that AKIRAH's latest releases have kept it fresh. His artwork captures medieval European, Japanese and Anime themes, which absorb us into his story.
And just like others have put AKIRAH on, he too shouted out a handful of rising artists who he thinks deserve more credit:
"There are hundreds of talented artists I can mention here who deserve the spotlight.," AKIRAH said. "If you check out my Soundcloud likes, you’ll find a lot of them in there."
And while the world keeps moving around him — new artists rising, new sounds forming  — one thing hasn't changed: America is waiting.
People want to see the Bossman in the flesh, not through a screen.
His kilt deserves to touch U.S. soil.
If the Scottish Warlord has shaped the scene from away, imagine what he'll do when he finally steps on a nearby stage.
Until then, stream MAMACITA now to find out why AKIRAH is here to stay.
Dubstep FBI Co-Founder Chrissy can be found on socials.
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