AKTHESAVIOR, known for his role in The Underachievers, and lo-fi producer sagun have collaborated with Mick Jenkins on their latest track, “Tetsuo’s Ways,” released through Platoon. This song is the second single from AK & sagun’s upcoming joint album. Drawing inspiration from the cyberpunk anime film Akira, the track serves as a metaphor for the impact of power on friendships.
AK describes the inspiration behind the song, stating, “This song was inspired by the character Tetsuo from the animated movie Akira. As soon as Tetsuo got a taste of power, he ended up betraying the people closest to him, eventually almost destroying his own world in the process. This movie was a huge metaphor for events that were happening in my own life when I wrote it â when I thought I had a genuine relationship with someone until they showed their real colors and true intentions.”
“Tetsuo’s Ways” follows the release of their debut single, “No Scars,” which premiered via FLOOD Magazine last month. The track blends AK & sagun’s styles into a drill-beat with a silky vocal sample, focusing on overcoming adversity and seeing challenges as building blocks.
The collaborative effort between AKTHESAVIOR and sagun bridges not only rap and lo-fi but also their respective homes in Brooklyn and Nepal, influencing their distinctive sounds. The duo found common ground through shared interests like anime and a mutual inspiration drawn from the natural world. Despite collaborating from opposite ends of the planet initially, they eventually met in Los Angeles, marking a significant moment in their artistic journey.
AKTHESAVIOR has made a name for himself with self-reflective lyricism and psychedelic influences, notably through The Underachievers. With a consistent output of albums and collaborations, including the 2019 Beast Coast project “Escape From New York,” he continues to evolve his solo career.
Sagun, with over 500 million streams worldwide and several RIAA Gold-Certified records, has been a prominent figure in the lo-fi music scene. His collaborations include artists like Pink Sweat$, Kali Claire, and SYML, showcasing his ability to translate the beauty of his surroundings into unique productions.
