Although Oddisee is based in Brooklyn now, he was born in PG County and based in DC. The hometown hero finds himself referencing his roots from DC to Sudan throughout his new project “Alwasta,†which roughly translates to “the plug†in Arabic. Oddisee addresses his roots in a creative, enlightened way throughout Alwasta, most notably on Lifting Shadows when he raps “That’s what makes this country great/it was built by those who bleed.†As conscious consumers of culture, it is important to seek out, pay attention to, and amplify stories told by those with different perspectives than our own. Alwasta is a solid project that has the power to draw the listener in and invite him to hear Oddisee’s story, enhanced by the tape’s down-to-earth vinyl crackling, evocative organ riffs, and informed wordplay.
Sonically, the project is a fascinating and soulful experience. Rich pad sounds and a prominent, jumpy bassline keep the listener flying in “No Reservationsâ€, while Oddisee channels Just Blaze with a triumphant organ line, over-the-top drums, and a just-for-good-measure vocal chop on “Strength and Weakness.†While there’s no turnt 808 club banger on the project, fans of politically conscious artists like Heems or Atmosphere will find Oddisee’s bars and production captivating.
If you weren’t already, now’s a pretty good time to get sharp to Oddisee’s music. He’s already announced two albums planned for this year, one in May and one later in the fall. Oddisee will tour his new material with Good Compny starting in May, but unfortunately it looks like the closest date to DC residents is 5/7 in Richmond.
Download Oddisee’s new project for free on his bandcamp page.