Oddisee
Encyclopedia
Amir Mohamed, better known as Oddisee is a hip hop
producer
and MC from Prince George's County, Maryland
.
to an African-American mother and a Sudanese father. He grew up in Maryland
influenced by hip-hop and soul
as well as the myriad of musicians on both sides of his family. Just as he was about to start attending the Art Institute of Philadelphia to pursue visual art, a friend of Oddisee, introduced him to hip hop
production. Seduced by the music, he decided to focus on beat making, with his track, Musik Lounge, making the cut on DJ Jazzy Jeff
's Magnificent in 2002.
Oddisee soon joined the Low Budget Crew, the legendary collective of MCs, producers
and DJs from the DMV area. After building up a reputation for his consistent and unique production as well as his mic skills, Oddisee, released Foot in the Door in 2006; a 34 track release that featured many established rappers, including Supastition
, Asheru
, J-Live
, Kenn Starr
, Freddie Foxxx
.
In 2007, Oddisee signed with Mello Music Group, a label which was virtually unknown at the time. He went on to release the 'Good Tree EP' and '101' in 2008, the first releases on MMG. As time went on, Oddisee's fan base started to increase, with many praising his consistency and work-rate. In late 2008, Oddisee formed the group, Diamond District with fellow DC residents yU, and Uptown XO. In 2009, they released 'In The Ruff which was almost entirely produced by Oddisee, with all three artists on the mic. The album was hailed as a classic by a countless number of hip hop blogs and it even made the Grammy album of the year pre-nomination list.
Oddisee emerged from '09 with a reputation as one of the most versatile hip hop
producers and a large fanbase. Over the next two years, he released a number of projects, including 'Travelling Man', 'Odd Seasons' and 'Rock Creek Park'. His proper solo debut, 'People Hear What They See', is scheduled for release in late 2011. Diamond District's sophomore album, 'March on Washington' is also scheduled to be released at a similar time.
, Maryland
, Virginia
) area in his lyrics. This is most prominent on the track 'I'm from P.G.', where he raps: "I'm from P.G., I rep DMV...."
He is also a passionate photographer and traveler, and is known for 'traveling the globe six months a year'. Aside from producing
and MCing, he is also the East Coast Director of Operations at Mello Music Group where he works with a number of Detroit and D.C.
artists.
Hip hop
Hip hop is a form of musical expression and artistic culture that originated in African-American and Latino communities during the 1970s in New York City, specifically the Bronx. DJ Afrika Bambaataa outlined the four pillars of hip hop culture: MCing, DJing, breaking and graffiti writing...
producer
Record producer
A record producer is an individual working within the music industry, whose job is to oversee and manage the recording of an artist's music...
and MC from Prince George's County, Maryland
Maryland
Maryland is a U.S. state located in the Mid Atlantic region of the United States, bordering Virginia, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia to its south and west; Pennsylvania to its north; and Delaware to its east...
.
Biography
Oddisee was born in Washington, D.C.Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
to an African-American mother and a Sudanese father. He grew up in Maryland
Maryland
Maryland is a U.S. state located in the Mid Atlantic region of the United States, bordering Virginia, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia to its south and west; Pennsylvania to its north; and Delaware to its east...
influenced by hip-hop and soul
Soul
A soul in certain spiritual, philosophical, and psychological traditions is the incorporeal essence of a person or living thing or object. Many philosophical and spiritual systems teach that humans have souls, and others teach that all living things and even inanimate objects have souls. The...
as well as the myriad of musicians on both sides of his family. Just as he was about to start attending the Art Institute of Philadelphia to pursue visual art, a friend of Oddisee, introduced him to hip hop
Hip hop
Hip hop is a form of musical expression and artistic culture that originated in African-American and Latino communities during the 1970s in New York City, specifically the Bronx. DJ Afrika Bambaataa outlined the four pillars of hip hop culture: MCing, DJing, breaking and graffiti writing...
production. Seduced by the music, he decided to focus on beat making, with his track, Musik Lounge, making the cut on DJ Jazzy Jeff
DJ Jazzy Jeff
Jeffrey Allen Townes , also known as DJ Jazzy Jeff or simply Jazz, is an American hip hop, R&B record producer, turntablist and actor. He is best known for his early career with Will Smith as DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince...
's Magnificent in 2002.
Oddisee soon joined the Low Budget Crew, the legendary collective of MCs, producers
Record producer
A record producer is an individual working within the music industry, whose job is to oversee and manage the recording of an artist's music...
and DJs from the DMV area. After building up a reputation for his consistent and unique production as well as his mic skills, Oddisee, released Foot in the Door in 2006; a 34 track release that featured many established rappers, including Supastition
Supastition
Supastition is an underground hip hop artist from Greenville, North Carolina, now living in Charlotte. He has worked with rappers like KRS-One, Cunninlynguists, and Little Brother....
, Asheru
Asheru
Asheru, born Gabriel Benn, is an African American hip hop artist, educator, and youth activist. He is widely known for performing the opening and closing themes for the popular TV series, The Boondocks, as well as his pioneering and innovative efforts to forward the Hip Hop Education...
, J-Live
J-Live
J-Live is an MC, DJ, and producer from New York.-Early career and The Best Part:...
, Kenn Starr
Kenn Starr (rapper)
Kenn Starr is a rapper from Suffolk, Virginia, currently residing in the Washington, D.C. metro area. Starr is a member of the Low Budget Crew and also the duo Isaac Jones. His solo debut, Starr Status, was released in mid-2006.- Recording history :...
, Freddie Foxxx
Freddie Foxxx
Freddie Foxxx, also known as Bumpy Knuckles, is an American rapper and music producer from Long Island, New York.- Biography :...
.
In 2007, Oddisee signed with Mello Music Group, a label which was virtually unknown at the time. He went on to release the 'Good Tree EP' and '101' in 2008, the first releases on MMG. As time went on, Oddisee's fan base started to increase, with many praising his consistency and work-rate. In late 2008, Oddisee formed the group, Diamond District with fellow DC residents yU, and Uptown XO. In 2009, they released 'In The Ruff which was almost entirely produced by Oddisee, with all three artists on the mic. The album was hailed as a classic by a countless number of hip hop blogs and it even made the Grammy album of the year pre-nomination list.
Oddisee emerged from '09 with a reputation as one of the most versatile hip hop
Hip hop
Hip hop is a form of musical expression and artistic culture that originated in African-American and Latino communities during the 1970s in New York City, specifically the Bronx. DJ Afrika Bambaataa outlined the four pillars of hip hop culture: MCing, DJing, breaking and graffiti writing...
producers and a large fanbase. Over the next two years, he released a number of projects, including 'Travelling Man', 'Odd Seasons' and 'Rock Creek Park'. His proper solo debut, 'People Hear What They See', is scheduled for release in late 2011. Diamond District's sophomore album, 'March on Washington' is also scheduled to be released at a similar time.
Personal life
Oddisee is a proud DC resident, and includes a number of references to the DMV (DCWashington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
, Maryland
Maryland
Maryland is a U.S. state located in the Mid Atlantic region of the United States, bordering Virginia, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia to its south and west; Pennsylvania to its north; and Delaware to its east...
, Virginia
Virginia
The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...
) area in his lyrics. This is most prominent on the track 'I'm from P.G.', where he raps: "I'm from P.G., I rep DMV...."
He is also a passionate photographer and traveler, and is known for 'traveling the globe six months a year'. Aside from producing
Record producer
A record producer is an individual working within the music industry, whose job is to oversee and manage the recording of an artist's music...
and MCing, he is also the East Coast Director of Operations at Mello Music Group where he works with a number of Detroit and D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
artists.
Albums
- Foot in the Door (2006) Halftooth Records
- 101 (2008) on MelloMusic Group
- Mental Liberation (2009)
- New Money (with Trek Life (2009)
- In the Ruff (with Diamond District) (2009)
- Travelling Man (2010)
- Odd Seasons (2011)
- Rock Creek Park (2011)
- People Hear What They See (2011/12)