Oddisee is a 39 year old MC/producer from Washington who I met through his incredible 7th album and debut on Mello Music Group The Good Fight almost a decade ago weeks before my high school graduation. I also happen to enjoy his work with Diamond District, the Strange times mixtape series, his 4th EP Alwasta & The Good Fighthis successor The iceberg. He just returned last summer releasing his 9th LP To What End And just 16 months later, Oddisee isn't taking any time to slow down, officially releasing his 6th EP as we approach the halfway mark of 2024.
“Had to Improve” officially kicks off the EP with a hypnotic self-produced instrumental to take some time to hone his craft using a drill flow, while “Live from the DMV” throws it back to the mid-Decades 90's with 2 stepping, house party vibes. “Words on Fire” mixes backing vocals with kicks and snares that speak to today's off-beat world, while “Thankful For” combines a Moroccan-inspired 4/6 beat with jazz rap and a promising message. “Give Way” combines psych rock, hip hop and spoken word to tackle issues of acceptance, but then the title track gently ends the EP by talking about nothing for sure.
To help kick off the summer, Oddisee presents a modern hip hop EP inspired by a myriad of genres and musical styles, with each song revolving around a different understanding of the fact that we need to wake up and make a living, no matter what what is happening His love for all genres really shines through in the production during the 19-minute offering, showcasing his range artistically without any guest appearances whatsoever. If this is to hold us over until a possible 10th full-length sooner rather than later, it's definitely an elective.
Rating: 8/10