DJ Akademiks
Livingston Allen[1] (born May 17, 1991), more commonly known as DJ Akademiks or simply Akademiks, is a Jamaican-American podcaster,[8] media personality and YouTuber.[2] DJ Akademiks rose to fame for his YouTube channel which covers the latest news in the hip hop music genre, and also for being a co-host of Everyday Struggle, a daily show by Complex Networks.[9] He also hosts Off the Record with DJ Akademiks on Spotify.
| DJ Akademiks | ||||||||||
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DJ Akademiks in May 2022 | ||||||||||
| Personal information | ||||||||||
| Born | Livingston Allen[1] May 17, 1991 Spanish Town, Jamaica[2] | |||||||||
| Nationality | American | |||||||||
| Other names |
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| Education | Rutgers University–New Brunswick | |||||||||
| Occupations |
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| YouTube information | ||||||||||
| Channel |
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| Years active | 2012–present | |||||||||
| Subscribers | [7] | |||||||||
| Total views | [7] | |||||||||
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Twitch information | ||||||||||
| Channel |
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| Followers | 466 thousand | |||||||||
Last updated: March 15, 2023 | ||||||||||
Early life
DJ Akademiks was born on May 17, 1989, in Spanish Town, Jamaica. He has one brother.[10] His father was a school principal and is stated to have had many extra-marital affairs due to his affluent status in Jamaican society.[11] DJ Akademiks did not appreciate his father's character of being away from his family, engaging in extra-marital affairs, and eventually starting another family but he claims to have understood and forgiven him as he grew older.[11] As a result, DJ Akademiks mainly grew up under the care of his mother and his grandmother.[11]
Education
DJ Akademiks has a bachelor's degree in biomathematics from Rutgers University (New Brunswick Campus).[12] He was a disc jockey for the Rutgers University radio station WRSU-FM until 2013, when he was kicked out for his commentary and selection of music.[2] As evident from a Crime Alert flyer issued by the Rutgers University Campus Police in June 2011, DJ Akademiks and another accomplice were wanted for stealing computers from fellow students on campus.[13]
Career
Early career
DJ Akademiks was a regular on online hip-hop forums.[14] His first YouTube channel titled DJ Akademiks created in October 2012[15] initially highlighted his university disc jockey sessions, interviews, and Hip-Hop/Rap opinions. Over time, he began posting the latest breaking news in the Hip-Hop/Rap genre. During this time, he operated a website titled Late Night Creep, which centred around Hip-Hop/Rap news but it is currently not operational.[16]
2014
In May 2014, DJ Akademiks created a YouTube channel titled Crime Fails, which highlighted the mishaps committed by criminals during or after their criminal deeds.[17]
In June 2014, DJ Akademiks created a YouTube channel titled The War in Chiraq, which mainly centred around the coverage of the gang conflicts in Chicago and the various drill artists encompassing these conflicts.[18]
2015
In February 2015, DJ Akademiks created a YouTube channel titled King Akademiks, where he solely posted highlight clips from his latest Twitch livestreams and began live streaming on in 2022.[19]
In March 2015, DJ Akademiks created a YouTube channel titled Akademiks TV, where he posted noteworthy footage obtained from various musicians in the Hip-Hop/Rap genre.[20] This footage did not feature any of DJ Akademiks' commentary.
In July 2015, DJ Akademiks uploaded a video to his first self-titled YouTube channel, stating that his channel had been suspended and that he was moving to a new channel, also titled DJ Akademiks where he continued posting Hip-Hop/Rap related news.[21]
In August 2015, DJ Akademiks created a YouTube channel titled DJ Akademiks TV2 – The Negrotiator, which served as a backup for his newly created and now main channel DJ Akademiks, posting the same type of content but with a more critical and opinion-based touch.[22]
2017–2020
Aside from regularly posting and growing his DJ Akademiks YouTube channel, Instagram account, and Twitter account, from April 2017, to December 2020,[23][24][25] DJ Akademiks co-hosted Everyday Struggle, a daily morning show for Complex, with Joe Budden (eventually replaced by Star, and finally Wayno) and Nadeska Alexis.[9][26]
In April 2018, DJ Akademiks launched his rapper alter-ego Lil Ak, by posting a music video for his song "Blues Clues", which included a cameo from rapper 6ix9ine.[27] The music video amassed 3.1 million views. DJ Akademiks created a separate YouTube channel for his rapper alter-ego, titled Lil AK.[28] He continued to release a string of songs and music videos up until September 2020.[29]
2021
In August 2021, DJ Akademiks launched his podcast, Off the Record with DJ Akademiks, in partnership with Spotify. It releases three episodes per week that centre around roundtable discussions, and interviews with various Hip-Hop/Rap musicians and media personalities.[30]
2023-present
In April 2023, DJ Akademiks announced he would begin livestreaming on the video platform Rumble. [31]
Controversies
On the BET Awards pre-show on June 25, 2017, DJ Akademiks and his co-hosts interviewed Atlanta rap group Migos, where tensions rose between him, his co-host Joe Budden and late Migos member Takeoff, after he questioned his absence on Migos' 2016 hit single "Bad and Boujee".[32]
In September 2018, DJ Akademiks was mentioned in the Eminem song 'Fall' where he raps about Joe Budden and DJ Akademiks negatively reviewing Eminem's Revival album, "Somebody tell Budden before I snap, he better fasten it. Or have his body bag get zipped. The closest thing he’s had to hits is smackin' bitches. And don't make me have to give it back to Akademiks. Say this shit is trash again, I’ll have you twisted."[33] DJ Akademiks responded with, "I thought it was only Joe getting dissed, I got name dropped and dissed. And I’m like, ‘the fuck did I do?".[34]
In July 2020, DJ Akademiks was suspended from Complex, for crudely insulting model Chrissy Teigen while live streaming.[35]
In February 2022, DJ Akademiks confronted rapper Megan Thee Stallion on Twitter, claiming her allegation that she'd been shot by rapper Tory Lanez was not supported by DNA evidence.[36] In May 2022, DJ Akademiks used an outdated social media post of an LAPD police report, from before bullet fragments were discovered in Megan Thee Stallion's feet during surgery, alongside false claims that the singer had not been shot at all.[37] In December 2022, Lanez was convicted of the shooting.[38]
In June 2022, DJ Akademiks found himself being labelled a pedophile, after a minor segment from a video of his from 2014 resurfaced where he states, "And to keep it real, if you think about it in the bigger scheme of things, there's not much difference between a 20 or a 17 or a 21 and a 17, just kinda means one's a minor and one's not a minor. But listen, I will say I adopted this rule which I think is fine, I said listen, 'as long as a chick got a college ID she's getting fucked.' I don't care if she 17, I don't care if she 17 and a half, I don't care if she just turned 17, and I'm 21, she gon' get this dick."[39]
DJ Akademiks later took to his Twitch account and defended himself by saying that the short video was obtained from a video that was eight years old and that it was missing the context of him addressing the controversial relationship of Tyga and Kylie Jenner pertaining to their age differences.[40] He stated that he had never slept with an underage person, and was only referring specifically to the college environment, where most freshmen are 18 or about to turn 18, "I was talking about being in an institution, college or high school, where the ages are a little bit out of what is actually acceptable. Four months of college years some people are 17, and when people go to college they do not check IDs. No one says 'Hey, how old are you?' I've been to college. They're usually under the assumption that the people they are dating are of age."[40]
In September 2022, podcast host and former rapper Joe Budden criticized DJ Akademiks for sharing a video clip of rapper PnB Rock, speaking about being a potential robbery target, several days after PnB Rock had been shot to death in a robbery attempt.[41] That same month, DJ Akademiks was criticized by hip-hop pioneers LL Cool J,[3] MC Lyte,[42] Russell Simmons,[43] and Spice 1[44] for calling older rappers "dusty". In September 2022, Chicago rapper Chief Keef disputed a claim that DJ Akademiks had created Keef's career[45] and actress Toya Johnson disputed DJ Akademiks over his remarks on her daughter Reginae Carter.[46] Atlanta rapper T.I. also criticized DJ Akademiks' remarks about Carter.[47]
In October 2022, a video of DJ Akademiks shouting at his girlfriend and separating her from a fight surfaced online. Rapper Freddie Gibbs responded to the situation by taunting him on Twitter.[48][49] Also in October 2022, Atlanta rapper Lil Baby dissed him numerous times on his album It's Only Me.[50] In response he expressed his disdain for Lil Baby and his music, and “jokingly” expressed his willingness to testify against the rapper should he ever get criminally charged.[51]
References
- ^ a b "Who Is DJ Akademiks? Rumors Claim Blogger 'Snitched' in Tekashi 6ix9ine's Racketeering Case, But They're Reportedly Wrong". Newsweek. November 18, 2021.
- ^ a b c "Meet Akademiks: The Rutgers University Grad Who Built His Own Empire". HipHopDX. May 25, 2022.
- ^ a b "LL Cool J Claps Back at DJ Akademiks for Calling Hip-Hop Pioneers 'Dusty'". Billboard. September 22, 2022.
- ^ "AKADEMIKS I WAS GONNA SIGN FIVIO FOREIGN!!! Ma$e Hooked Him First for $1 Mil". TMZ. September 6, 2022.
- ^ a b "About DJ Akademiks". YouTube. Retrieved September 23, 2022.
- ^ a b "About King Akademiks". YouTube. Retrieved September 23, 2022.
- ^ a b "About DJ Akademiks". YouTube.
- ^ "9 Things We Learned From Fetty Wap's 'Off the Record' Interview With DJ Akademiks". Complex. December 23, 2021.
- ^ a b "Introducing 'Everyday Struggle' Starring Joe Budden and DJ Akademiks". Complex Networks.
- ^ W Son! Akademiks speaks on Helping Mommademiks Retire & all the sacrifices she made for his success, retrieved November 6, 2022
- ^ a b c W Son! Akademiks speaks on Helping Mommademiks Retire & all the sacrifices she made for his success, retrieved November 6, 2022
- ^ @Akademiks (July 13, 2020). "I graduated with a bachelors of science degree in Biomathemathics from Rutgers University (New Brunswick campus). Guapdad.. you are a loser. In entertainment, in life and in school. Go to sleep.. go figure out how to get a win. This my last message to ur lame ass" (Tweet). Retrieved November 6, 2022 – via Twitter.
- ^ Franklin, Benny. "DJ Akademiks Real Name Is Livingston & He Allegedly Stole Computers In College". www.hiphoplately.com. Retrieved November 6, 2022.
- ^ "How DJ Akademiks became hip-hop's one-man TMZ". The Daily Dot. November 3, 2015.
- ^ "DJ Akademiks – YouTube". www.youtube.com. Retrieved November 6, 2022.
- ^ "DJ Akademiks – YouTube". www.youtube.com. Retrieved November 6, 2022.
- ^ "Crime Fails – YouTube". www.youtube.com. Retrieved November 6, 2022.
- ^ "The War In Chiraq – YouTube". www.youtube.com. Retrieved November 6, 2022.
- ^ "King Akademiks – YouTube". www.youtube.com. Retrieved November 6, 2022.
- ^ "Akademiks TV – YouTube". www.youtube.com. Retrieved November 6, 2022.
- ^ PSA: My Channel Got Suspended. Subscribe to My New Channel NOW! (Explanation), retrieved November 6, 2022
- ^ "DJ Akademiks TV2 – The Negrotiator – YouTube". www.youtube.com. Retrieved November 6, 2022.
- ^ Akademiks, Nadeska & Wayno Say Goodbye on the Everyday Struggle Series Finale | Everyday Struggle, retrieved October 18, 2022
- ^ Grant, Shawn (December 1, 2020). "COMPLEX'S 'EVERYDAY STRUGGLE' SET TO END THIS MONTH". The Source. Retrieved October 18, 2022.
- ^ "AKADEMIKS, NADESKA ALEXIS & WAYNO ANNOUNCE END OF COMPLEX'S 'EVERYDAY STRUGGLE'". HipHopDx. November 30, 2020.
- ^ STAR Joins the Everyday Struggle Crew, Did Drake Diss Akademiks? | Everyday Struggle, retrieved November 6, 2022
- ^ Lil AK- Blues Clues [Official Video], retrieved November 6, 2022
- ^ "Lil AK – YouTube". www.youtube.com. Retrieved November 6, 2022.
- ^ Uber Eats Freestyle, September 4, 2020, retrieved November 6, 2022
- ^ "Off the Record with DJ Akademiks". Spotify. Retrieved November 6, 2022.
- ^ Gee, Andre (April 12, 2023). "Rumble's Deal With Akademiks is a Sign of The Hip-Hop World's Right-Wing Impulse". Rolling Stone. Retrieved April 13, 2023.
- ^ "Migos clashes with Chris Brown, Joe Budden on BET Awards night". New York Daily News. Retrieved October 18, 2022.
- ^ Eminem – Fall, retrieved November 6, 2022
- ^ Jahmal, Karlton (September 2, 2018). "DJ Akademiks Responds To Eminem Diss: "The F**k Did I Do?"". HotNewHipHop. Retrieved November 6, 2022.
- ^ White, Roman (July 3, 2020). "DJ Akademiks Suspended by Complex For Sexist Chrissy Teigen Rant". The Source. Retrieved October 18, 2022.
- ^ "Megan Thee Stallion and DJ Akademiks engage in a tense social media exchange amid Tory Lanez lawsuit". The Independent. February 24, 2022.
- ^ Tenbarge, Kat; Adams, Char (December 21, 2022). "How Tory Lanez trial bloggers are shaping the conversation around Megan Thee Stallion". NBC News. Retrieved December 23, 2022.
- ^ Begert, Blanca; Coscarelli, Joe; Morino, Douglas (December 23, 2022). "Tory Lanez Found Guilty of Shooting Megan Thee Stallion". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved December 23, 2022.
- ^ Singh, Esha (June 16, 2022). ""It's a special place in hell for paedophiles": DJ Akademiks slammed for comments on 17-year-old girls". www.sportskeeda.com. Retrieved November 6, 2022.
- ^ a b Singh, Esha (June 16, 2022). ""It's a special place in hell for paedophiles": DJ Akademiks slammed for comments on 17-year-old girls". www.sportskeeda.com. Retrieved November 6, 2022.
- ^ "Joe Budden Blasts DJ Akademiks For Sharing Insensitive Interview Clip Following PNB Rock's Death". Yahoo! News. September 20, 2022.
- ^ "MC LYTE SAYS DJ AKADEMIKS' 'DUSTY' COMMENTS ARE PROOF 'THERE'S MORE TO LEARN'". HipHopDx. September 30, 2022.
- ^ "Russell Simmons Stunts On Akademiks: "I Remember Signing Paperwork For Jay-Z & Kanye West"". HotNewHipHop. September 23, 2022.
- ^ "Spice 1 Calls Out DJ Akademiks Over Disrespectful Comments". HotNewHipHop. September 25, 2022.
- ^ "Chief Keef Reacts To DJ Akademiks Claiming He Made His Career". AllHipHop. September 28, 2022.
- ^ "Toya Johnson Goes Off On Akademiks For Calling Reginae Out Of Her Name". HotNewHipHop. September 24, 2022.
- ^ "T.I. Calls Out Akademiks Over Reginae Hate". HotNewHipHop. September 25, 2022.
- ^ "DJ Akademiks Explains Female Fight Incident, Freddie Gibbs Trolls Him". HotNewHipHop. October 15, 2022.
- ^ "Freddie Gibbs Reacts to Video of DJ Akademiks Yelling 'I'm the Prize' While Breaking Up Girl Fight". XXL. October 14, 2022.
- ^ "LIL BABY Rips Akademiks on Album ... YOU CAN BE TOUCHED, BROKE CHUMP!!!". TMZ. October 14, 2022.
- ^ "Kanye West Calls Out Charlamagne Tha God, DJ Akademiks, And Peter Rosenberg". Yahoo! News. October 20, 2022.