Hello, it's me, Clara Ampho, and in anticipation, I hope so. I'm anticipating it. I hope you are too.

Of the third series of this city coming later on this year, I thought I dropped a special mini-series featuring some incredible guests that I just couldn't wait to share with you.

So, in this three-part series,

I would travel through London with some of our nearest and dearest Londoners and adopted lovers of the city.

On this episode of this city, I welcome a person who I admire and respect deeply.

One of the best minds I've come across in the past decade, actually. I love

everything he writes, everything he says. He's a very talented artist in all senses of the

words. He is a gifted rapper, author, and most of the work he's released as far has been autobiographical.

But this time, he's turned his pen to fiction, young adult fiction.

His book The Dark Lady, his debut novels, out now.

And it's so very good.

I don't think people realise that this guy is also really funny.

So people get ready.

This is Akala.

Akala, hello. How you doing? You're right?

I'm all right. Welcome to my podcast, This City. I've wanted to get you on for a minute.

So I'm delighted to have you on.

No, thank you. You're making me smile. Just looking at you, making me smile.

You're smiling so heavy. I'm just like, you know what? I'm just going to be even happier than I already was.

Look at you. Look at you makes me smile. There's so much to discuss because I don't think we've ever had the chance to have a conversation. I've kind of seen you about in passing when I've been like rushing from A to B, like out of my usual work building. but I don't think we've ever had a...

Yeah, I don't think we've had a proper chop-up.

I think we've had had a, had a,

...