{"id":27938,"date":"2026-04-12T14:05:12","date_gmt":"2026-04-12T12:05:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wedodis.co.za\/news\/?p=27938"},"modified":"2026-04-12T14:05:12","modified_gmt":"2026-04-12T12:05:12","slug":"lynn-forbes-speaks-out-id-keep-akas-unreleased-music-under-wraps","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wedodis.co.za\/news\/lynn-forbes-speaks-out-id-keep-akas-unreleased-music-under-wraps\/","title":{"rendered":"Lynn Forbes Speaks Out: ‘I\u2019d Keep AKA\u2019s Unreleased Music Under Wraps’"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Lynn Forbes Offers Emotional Insight on AKA\u2019s Unreleased Tracks: \u201cIf It Were Up to Me, It Would Never Happen.\u201d In one of the most poignant moments since the tragic death of Kiernan \u201cAKA\u201d Forbes in February 2023, his mother, Lynn Forbes, has shared her thoughts on the significant amount of unreleased music he left behind, issuing a heartfelt message to fans eager for new releases. <\/strong><\/p>\n

\"Lynn<\/a>Lynn Forbes Offers Emotional Insight on AKA\u2019s Unreleased Tracks: \u201cIf It Were Up to Me, It Would Never Happen\u201d<\/figure>\n

This moment arose during an interview with L-Tido, a prominent figure in South African hip-hop, who directly posed the question that has lingered in the minds of AKA’s devotees for three years: \u201cCan the fans expect AKA\u2019s new music?\u201d<\/p>\n

Lynn\u2019s reply was complex, reflecting the depth of a mother\u2019s understanding of her child. It was neither an outright negation nor the optimistic affirmation many hoped for.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m gonna be honest, we\u2019re having an open conversation,\u201d<\/em> she said. \u201cI can\u2019t say never. I cannot say yes it will happen at this point, and I will tell you why.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

She explained that the family and estate have already gone through a considerable amount of unreleased music. The sheer quantity is impressive, but quantity is not the sole concern.<\/p>\n

\u201cHere\u2019s the thing,\u201d<\/em> Lynn continued, her voice steady yet heavy with a mother\u2019s burden, \u201cand this could just be me feeling this way\u2026 Because I\u2019m not working by myself. There\u2019s an estate, we need to look at what can be done and what cannot be done. But we can also not just do things for the sake of the fans want music.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

For the first time in public discourse, Lynn articulated the critical dilemma central to the decision: the balance between honoring her son\u2019s artistic legacy and the risk of commodifying it.<\/p>\n

\u201cFor me, it\u2019s always been, would Kiernan have released this music?\u201d<\/em> she stated. \u201cSo I think we\u2019re going to go forward, looking at it saying, on the one hand, we could probably release all the music. There\u2019s so much. If we want to do it, we can. But do we wanna do it? How would he have felt about us?\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n


\n<\/ins><\/p>\n

Then came the statement that will resonate with every AKA fan:<\/p>\n

\u201cIf it\u2019s up to me personally, I\u2019m gonna be honest \u2013 if I have to make the final decision, it will not happen. That\u2019s how I feel about it.\u201d<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

She paused, recognizing the emotional turmoil that accompanies such a position. \u201cBut you see again, this is the thing where I\u2019m saying to you, there\u2019s the mother and then there\u2019s something different.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

Lynn emphasized that she does not make these decisions alone. The estate, collaborators, and industry professionals play significant roles in the process. Yet, she repeatedly returned to one crucial consideration: Kiernan\u2019s standards for his work.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m just saying to you as a mother and knowing my son. His work ethic, how he was very meticulous; he was about perfection and excellence and all of that. Can we actually do that with his music? Are we capable of doing that with his music? To the point that he would\u2019ve done?\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

The question lingered, a solemn note in the conversation.<\/p>\n

L-Tido\u2019s straightforward inquiry had opened a portal into a profound sorrow that countless South Africans and international fans have sought to honor while quietly yearning for new music. However, Lynn Forbes offered something more significant: a commitment to transparency.<\/p>\n

She does not dismiss the idea entirely, but she remains fiercely protective of her son\u2019s legacy and the standards he embodied. Releasing incomplete or imperfect content simply to satisfy fan demand, in her view, is not an expression of love; it\u2019s a failure to respect everything AKA stood for.<\/p>\n

At present, the music remains archived.<\/p>\n

The decision on whether it will eventually be shared will not be influenced by fan enthusiasm, streaming figures, or industry expectations. It will rely on a singular inquiry that only those closest to Kiernan can truly answer:<\/p>\n

Would he have wanted this music released?<\/p>\n

For now, the person who knew him best seems to be leaning towards \u201cno.\u201d<\/p>\n