“This was always a great record to me. From a standpoint of watching my Mother struggle when I was younger, I loved the idea that there was a sense of protection listening to this song. It struck a chord with me, of knowing that the song would assist her when I wasn’t there. Even though I was too young to do anything at the time, that was the reason why it became so instrumental to me.

“I never knew why music was inspiring to me at that age, but I knew it made me feel a certain way and that music gave me a certain emotion when I was listening to it. At the time, I never thought that music would be something I would do, there wasn’t a sense of it inspiring me in that respect, because music was never on my agenda.

"I never thought about being an artist until later, when there was nothing else left to do at that point. I became a convicted felon and I couldn’t get any jobs or opportunities, so music became the only thing that I could do. Before all that, music wasn’t even an option.

“This song still gives me the same feeling today - maybe more so now I have a better understanding lyrically of what the song represented - and how it was made to uplift the woman in a position that’s sad, emotional or in need. I look at "No Woman No Cry" from a different perspective now.”

“A lot of these songs come from my childhood. Coming from Africa, I loved great music, but there was never a specific genre that held me to what I listened to. I just liked good music regardless of what it was.

“That opened up huge ideas and emotions in my mind as far as creativity goes. I think a lot of that plays in my role of how I make music, even today. I think ‘genre’ was set up to organise your playlist, but I don’t think it was ever meant to be how music describes anything, because there is no way to describe music, other than it’s a great feeling, or a sound that motivates and inspires us. I don’t think a genre itself should be a way to describe music.

“This was one of my favourite records growing up and I think it was because of the guitar riff that sets it all off. A lot of records grow with you as you grow, so you never really understand what or when certain songs you’ve experienced are until later. I don’t remember when I first heard this track, but every time I hear it, I remember being in Miami riding my bike. I don’t know why, but that’s the vision that comes up!”

“Creating my music was always a way of giving myself a platform to release what was going on in my mind, because I was never the kind of person to open up about my problems to other people. I held them in, and I would never express myself. Music was a way of getting all of that out without having to put my business out there. A lot of the tracks in my earlier days are really personal and writing about it helped me deal with my issues.

“It’s funny, because this record is kind of a short mini-biography of myself in many ways. I think freedom has always been what I have strived for. Sometimes you may think that you’re free, but you’re trapped or enslaved mentally, in the sense that you’re not able to do what you want to do when you want to do it.

“When you’re surrounded by people that are searching for freedom and validity it pulls you in too, because you feel responsible for them as well as yourself. I always look at my story as relating to others and that’s why “Freedom” has so much meaning to me.”

“This song is not too far off from what Drake normally does, but “God’s Plan” one of the few records that has a real message to it. When I watched the video, it touched me so much.

“I feel that more of these songs need to be put out, especially with today’s generation; how they consume music and how it can motivate us to do things we wouldn’t usually do. When you take people outside of their element to make them realise they can actually make contributions in life - and that’s what the video did.

“It showed how he’s sharing his fortune with those less fortunate. The song itself is amazing, but the way it was packaged showed a different side to Drake that related to everyone.

“I’ve always felt that fortune goes through your hands purposely and that you are chosen specifically by God because you are responsible enough to pass that on to others. I’ve never looked at fortune as a specific reward exclusive to you, that fortune is a blessing to spread.”

“This was probably the first time in my life where I thought 'I want to be like him.' I’d never wanted to be like anybody else until I saw the “Thriller” video.

“I couldn’t understand how somebody could be so amazing, to the point they could do something you’d never seen before and inspire me so much. The way the video was shot and being one of the first mini-movie videos, it was unthought of. It gave me more of a drive; I was seeing things I thought were impossible were actually possible. Knowing what he was able to accomplish showed me that I could also accomplish anything.

“I never imagined I’d work with Michael Jackson, let alone meet him. When I was incarcerated I made a list of ten major goals and accomplishments, and at the top of my list was meeting and working with him within 15 years of releasing my first record. I got to work with him within five years. I achieved an incredible goal. I didn’t expect it to happen, but after achieving that there was nothing you could tell me that couldn’t be accomplished.

“We got a chance to get to know and understand each other, and we developed a great friendship. We were together almost every day for two years before he passed away, and he gave me a lot of jewels. I was really mentored by him as to how the music industry worked, the tricks that are played and the entrepreneur side of it.”

Akonda is out now via Akonik Label Group