Unfortunately, on Friday, April 11th, 2014,  a genuine, down to earth, fellow artist, lyricist, MC, Father, and friend departed this earth.   They say the good die young but also the creative geniuses of the world.  His music touched many and inspired a plethora of artists and like minded individuals especially in the Washington, DC area. His kind and humorous demeanor would have you in tears but brought the kind of joy that would make anyone smile. I dedicate this blog post to Claude and to spread his message of peace and consciousness.  We must take the time out to uplift and reach out to our fellow brethren who may or may not be going through the struggle.  It is our duty to lend helping hands when our loved ones are in need and to continue to support them no matter what!!  Sometimes we don’t know the personal battles that people go through, which is why it even more important to wholeheartedly love one another without judgement and pray for one another.  For those who didn’t know Claude, check some of his music and links out below.  REST IN POWER BROTHER!!

Akil Nadir was a Washington, DC native who spent his teenage years immersed in the city’s burgeoning hip hop scene, popping in and out of street corner ciphers and performing in night clubs in the historic U Street neighborhood. He gained a reputation for being fiery and unpredictable with a work ethic that defied his age. After graduating from Duke Ellington School of the Arts, he attended North Carolina Central University in Durham―classmates with Foreign Exchange members Phonte and Yahzarah―and earned a Bachelor of Arts in English. Soon after graduation he returned to his hometown and discovered his second passion, education. He has been teaching English in DC ever since―eventually earning a Master of Science in Educational Administration―but has never given up on his first love. He has enjoyed some modest popularity over the years as an independent artist, but he remains one of the capital city’s best kept secrets. His style is a healthy combination of bravado, consciousness and humor. It seems like an impossible balancing act, but he pulls it off effortlessly. In the end, it feels like someone crammed all your favorite emcees into one body, taught it to read and then let it loose on the world.

Support and Download his music HERE!!

Links:

http://www.akilnadir.com/

http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/blogs/artsdesk/music/2012/08/31/download-akil-nadirs-philosopher-king/