Rodney “Darkchild” Jerkins, the 2025 Songwriters Hall of Fame inductee, continues expanding his influence beyond the producer’s chair.
The Grammy-winning architect of countless pop and R&B classics has added a new voice to his faith-driven label, Alienz Alive. His latest signing, Haitian-American rapper Aklesso, arrives with momentum after delivering a standout verse on Lecrae’s Reconstruction album. The partnership launches with the single Prodigal!, the lead offering from Aklesso’s upcoming album Still Lonely, a sequel to his 2024 release Lonely.
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For Aklesso, the deal represents more than another career milestone. It reflects his evolution as both an artist and a man. “For me, growing up with bread, then being on food stamps after my dad left as a jit, and now stepping into being a father myself, this moment is bigger than music,” he said. “Signing with Darkchild and Alienz Alive is a legacy move. It’s where faith, talent, and impact meet to create something that’s going to remain for generations to come.”
Jerkins echoed that sentiment, praising the Miami native’s ability to fuse heritage, honesty, and purpose into his music. “Aklesso’s story, his culture, and his sound all carry a weight that this generation needs to hear,” Jerkins said. “From Miami to Haiti to the global stage, he’s not just making records, he’s making an impact. At Alienz Alive, we’re about building legacy, and Aklesso embodies that. I couldn’t be more excited to walk this journey with him.”
Aklesso has spent the past decade shaping a voice that thrives in contradiction. His catalog blends raw confession with spiritual conviction, tackling themes of identity, mental health, and social justice.
Projects such as My Life Is a Beautiful Mess (2020), Sonus, Vol. 1 (2022), and Loner (2024) have carved a distinct space in hip-hop’s faith-informed underground. Tracks like “Look!,” “Climate Change” featuring GAWVI and Wordsplayed, and “The World” with Jaylon Ashaun showcase his balance of sharp lyricism and soaring hooks. With cinematic visuals and unflinching storytelling, he continues building bridges between sacred ideals and everyday realities.
Alienz Alive, launched in 2024, serves as Jerkins’ latest platform for reinvention. Guided by faith and cultural urgency, the label aims to elevate artists committed to truth and transformation. In Aklesso, Jerkins has found a kindred spirit—one determined to craft music that resonates far beyond the charts.
With Prodigal! and Still Lonely, Aklesso’s journey enters its most ambitious chapter yet. Together with Darkchild, he is betting on legacy, not just moments.
