Obituary of Akeem King
Akeem Anthony Arsenio King, known to others by: Keem, Ak, AkStar, Puffers, AlphabetCityAk, Aki, Aktopoofs, Akbar, is a force to be reckoned with.
Born Saturday, October 8, 1988, to Angela Martha King and Clyde Victor Thomas. Ak was mid-dle child between older sister, Sioban and younger sister, Rashida (who he called his little brother until she hit puberty). Ak attended pre-k and kindergarten in Brooklyn at P.S. 214, 1st to 4th grade at St. Fortunata, 5th and 6th grade at St. Rita, 7th grade at Newburg Middle School in Lou-isville, KY, returning to New York to finish 8th grade at St. Rita. Ak's love for basketball was evident. He started playing summer tournaments in the Lower East Side in 2001, and was an avid baller at Tompkins Square Park. Ak played on his high school varsity basketball team and never let height be a factor in succeeding. Ak started pushing out his creative, communal ideas when he formed The Goonies with longtime best friend, Meech, in high school. After graduating Life Science Secondary School in 2006, Ak enrolled in the College of Staten Island. After making straight A's for one semester, Ak learned that college wasn't for him and begun investing his time, energy, and love into AkStar Lifestyle.
Ak's inherit sense of style is influential, from his Rene-tailored denims and jackets, to his supafly basketball ensembles, Ak is constantly creating and always inspiring. Known for various street art and collabs, it's no surprise Ak gravitated towards street style and fashion. Ak began working at Prohibit in 2010, until its closing in 2013. From there, Ak worked at Community 54 and Black Scale/SSUR, engaging customers, as well as designing and crafting ideas for the brands. Spending a lot of time with close friends on Elizabeth Street, Ak took the logo seen from a Basquiat movie and started the creative collective and umbrella, E.S.P. — Elizabeth Street Pro-ject (also known by other acronyms such as Extra Sensory Passion). It's a running joke in Ak's circle, that he had numerous brand businesses and collectives, his latest being Pleasure1Studios.
Some of Ak's favorite pastimes, other than fashion and ball were: visiting his family in England, going to Red Lobster, biking with homies, curating music for his SoundCloud page and photos for AkStarGallery, DJing parties (or anywhere for that matter), tagging, watching Beat Street and Purple Rain (anything to do with Prince, Ak loved), eating and snacking (if you ever craved pea-nut butter around Ak it's probably because he was super allergic to peanuts), drinking an iced coffee or iced tea, cruising the L.E.S. streets, going on (long) unplanned adventures, caring for those around him, and having deep, meaningful conversations with people he loved.
Ak's philosophy: DO WHAT MAKES YOU COMPLETE. Leading the way, Ak brought his family together, chose his close friends with care; made companions out of strangers; and dripped an undeniable, incomparable, infectious, lovable, gooeyooeyooey sticky/stanky, "I got some flow-ers," artsy, Downtown's Finest, Gloss, on anyone who knew him.
Living passionately by his own words: "I'd rather die chasing my dreams than live standing still in reality," Ak not only chased, but he tackled, and then displayed his dreams for the world to see.
The intrinsic Brooklyn born, Trinidad representa, Native TruYorker, Lower East Side Legend, To-ronto lover, connected so many different groups of people WORLDWIDE. He was apart of mul-tiple communities, navigating seamlessly through them all.
Ak: reliable, respectable, hustling, positive, always smiling, never sweating the small stuff, al-ways happy — the stomp down homie, the loving brother, the mystical artist will always be re-membered.
In proper Ak fashion, Ak continues to hold it down past his physical existence. Five of Ak's or-gans have gone to give five people a second chance at a beautiful life. They are so fortunate to be forever physically attached to the most solid dude, as are we all-spiritually.
Ak wants all of us to make the best of our time on this earth, be proud of our characters, express ourselves, help improve and impact the lives of others, be healthy, and shine.
Ak is proceeded in death by mother, Angela Martha King and father, Clyde Victor Thomas. Ak is survived by his sisters Sioban King, Rashida Thomas, Nephews Quentin Dingle, Dean Dingle, niece Jamara Jonas (born on Ak's birthday, who Ak named), Grandmother Della Thomas, Stepmother Jacinta Thomas, Aunts Dianne Mathurin, Sylvia Thomas, Uncles Carl Cutting, Dex-ter Lezama and their spouses and many cousins.
Uniquely entrusted to eco Cremation & Burial Services Inc.
Celebrating Life. The Way We're Meant To.
