Akapela Jonz

Akapela Jonz, née Lorenzo Gordon, has always sought to do what hasn’t been done and constantly be unique in his execution. A fan of hip-hop since his formative years, Jonz can go from nostalgically speaking about LL Cool J -- being the artist that inspired him to become an artist -- to waxing philosophically about the perils of hip-hop becoming a lost art in the white noise of today’s radio. By taking hip-hop back to a more musical standpoint with blends of funk, rock, jazz and hip-hop, the aim of this artist is to find a cohesive balance between what hasn’t been done and what is familiar. Thus making the music palatable for the listener but on edge enough to make them take notice and actually listen to the story behind the lyrics. Akapela’s music reflects his understanding of hip-hop as not only being an attractive art form but also being a relatable meeting ground for different genres of music. One to always keep his fans guessing; Jonz challenges people musically and socially by blurring the lines of content, music choice, production and even style by grabbing listeners by the metaphorical collar and upsetting the balance of the hip-hop establishment.