Mustafa Akbar

Mustafa Akbar is a Washington, D.C.-based singer and songwriter who emerged from the city’s Eighteenth Street Lounge (ESL) scene in the mid-1990s, a hub for downtempo and global electronica acts like Thievery Corporation. He first gained attention in 2001 as a featured vocalist on Thunderball’s *Scorpio Rising* album, released via ESL Music, and went on to collaborate with international acts such as Kraak and Smaak while releasing solo work through labels like Fort Knox Recordings. Akbar fronts the conscious reggae band Nappy Riddem and has become a fixture at events like D.C.’s National Cannabis Festival, blending soul, funk, and politically charged lyricism across projects. Recent releases like *Attracted*, *Attracted Remixed*, and *Get Down Wit It* showcase his continued fusion of reggae-infused grooves and soulful vocals.