Tag: Oddisee

Oddisee – “En Route” review

This is the 7th EP from Washington D.C. emcee/producer Oddisee. Getting introduced to him through his incredible 7th album & Mello Music Group debut The Good Fight a decade ago weeks before my high school graduation, I also happen to enjoy his work with Diamond District, the Odd Seasons mixtape series, his 4th EP Alwasta & The Good Fight’s successor The Iceberg. I happened to cover & Yet Still exactly a year ago feeling like it was a solid jazz rap EP, staying En Route for a follow-up.

“Tomorrow Can’t Be Borrowed” delivers streams of consciousness over some jazzy piano chords disputing the “borrowed time” notion whereas “A Rare Thing” works in a horn-tinged boom bap instrumental talking about it being uncommon to know love & couldn’t help but make me think of the increased hate speech on Twitter in the past few years. “Small Talk” heads for a funkier approach putting everyone’s better days of their career’s in the rear view mirror & “Natural Selection” ends by doing his thing with no one to save him.

Marking his return to Mello Music Group after putting out a couple projects independently, Oddisee’s follow-up to & Yet Still exactly 365 days later elevates it’s above the predecessor making music for whatever journey we as humans are heading in our lives today. His jazzy production compliments the reflection of physical, emotional & spiritual movements we may have all tying into each other conceptually for a soulful snapshot of motion & meaning.

Score: 4/5

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Oddisee – “And Yet Still” review

Oddisee is a 39 year old MC/producer from Washington D.C. whom I got introduced to through his incredible 7th album & Mello Music Group debut The Good Fight almost a decade ago weeks before my high school graduation. I also happen to enjoy his work with Diamond District, the Odd Seasons mixtape series, his 4th EP Alwasta & The Good Fight’s successor The Iceberg. He just returned last summer by releasing his 9th LP To What End & only 16 months later, Oddisee is taking no time to slow down whatsoever by officially releasing his 6th EP as we near the end of 2024’s halfway point.

“Had to Improve” officially begins the EP with a hypnotizing self-produced instrumental talking about taking some time off in order to step up his craft using a drill flow whereas “Live from the DMV” throws it back to the mid 90’s with the 2 stepping, house party vibes. “Words on Fire” mixes crooning background vocals with kicks & snares talking about the world being out of rhythm this day in age while “Thankful For” merges a 4/6 Moroccan inspired rhythm with jazz rap & a promising message. “Give Way” fuses soulful rock, hip hop & spoken word to tackle themes of acceptance, but then the title track mellowly ends the EP talking about nothing being certain.

To help get the summer started, Oddisee presents a modern hip hop EP inspired by myriad of genres & musical styles with each song revolving around a different understanding of the fact that we have to wake up & make a living no matter what’s going on. His love to all genres really culminates within the production during the 19 minute offering, displaying his range artistically without any guest appearances whatsoever. If this is to hold us off until a potential 10th full-length sooner than later, it’s surely an eclectic one.

Score: 4/5

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