Skarr-Akbar was born and raised in the heart of Baltimore City. A city shadowed by images of drug abuse, homelessness and poverty. Raised by a single mother of three, stephen would find comfort in the sounds of Stevie Wonder, Marvin Gaye and George Clinton. However, upon walking into the Baltimore Arena to see a concert with LL Cool J, Run DMC and The Fat Boys a 10yr old stephen Tatum would emerge an emcee.
Although Skarr found a new source of comfort, his world would be shattered by the lost of his cousin who was also his best friend. It would be this tragedy that would give life to which the world would come to know and love as Skarr – Akbar. "Skarr – Akbar is my alter-ego. He's the voice and Stephen is the brains behind the voice".
With his new ambition and identity in front of him Skarr (as he is affectionately known to friends and fans) would test his emcee skills with some of the industry's finest ranging from large names like Method Man and Eminem but it would be a battle with members of the rap group Onyx that would land him a spot on Def Jam's "Survival of the Illest Tour" with Onyx, DMX, Ja Rule, Cormega, and the Def Squad. This opportunity would also lead to Skarr lending his writing abilities to artists such as Bad Boy's Cheri Dennis.
To date, Skarr has released fifteen mix-tapes all independently produced and distributed; he has produced two documentaries and has a screenplay that is near completion. In addition to these monumental accomplishments, Skarr has found time to appear on the small screen in HBO's critically acclaimed hit show "The Wire" based on the town that raised him and respects him as one of their best battle rappers. When asked why he does all that he does and how he finds time to do it, the answer is simple, "Music is my first love…GOD has blessed me with a gift and I have to use it".
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