O

O.M.G Bitches.



For a long time now rappers and entertainers alike, have been rhyming about life in the ghetto, and the many obstacles they've endured while trying to escape the reality of it. Distinguishingly enough, Original (BIRTH NAME) approaches the same struggle representation from a different perspective. This Brooklyn native delivers to his listeners, the realness and elaborate tales of the ghetto from a lyricist's standpoint. The style of rap, of which today is nearing extinction. He gambles with the idea of maintaining a storyline with almost every song. Without having the accolades of today's hip-hop artists' many nights on the corner and "hand-to-hand" transactions, he competes with what has been selling rap music for the last couple of years and the artists themselves. With a more potent delivery than what has been the norm for a number of years, O gives it raw and uncut, with a style even more untouched. The self-proclaimed, "best that never did it", explains on many of mixtape-style freestyles, the allure of knowing he's better than more than half of today's emcees. "I take offense when these dudes call themselves kings, or say that they're the best at this hip-hop. Record sales don't deem you the best. Let alone qualify you for such a title." O comes out very blatantly on a dis record at rapper Lil' Wayne claiming he's the best rapper alive. "You claim to be the best alive, but I know a couple n___s that invest in nines." While he feels he's only protecting his own investment. Some would call taking a shot at a well established emcee, risk-taking. Excluding the self-acclamation of being the best of the new breed of emcees, he has the music to back it up. Filled with a variety of beats ranging from a more soulful sound, to the new sound of the south's krunk music, O details a vivid picture of the streets and the struggle of a journey to find a way out. On such songs as the Bobby Womack sampled "Across The Street", he talks about the crime-ridden streets of Brownsville Brooklyn, partly responsible for his father's death in the early eighties. The other part portrays the acts in which his father partook in. The robberies and the stepping on one another's feet, like crabs in the bottom of the barrel trying to make it out. He quotes,"since you won't be needing this more than me I'm a jus' take it off of ya, of course we can meet about it later in the streets its just I gotta go right now though". In which was the very act his father took his last breath. On such songs as "Who Rock It Fresh", he speaks on a more positive note. Detailing the finer side of life and the pleasures of success. A success in which O will be the first to tell you is not his own but that of his first cousin, Zab Judah. Who claims "O is the perfect ghost-writer. The lyrics is crazy. He'd make anybody sound hot". Being bred in Bed-Stuy Brooklyn came with its fare share of fun things to do. An early ingredient in Hip-Hop that has never lost its tenure has been the cipher. In which many of these would end up in battles, O rarely met defeat or had bad days as one may put it. He always had the edge. Now he's ready to prove it to all ears including the self-proclaimed emcee as well. Considering being from the borough where they breed rhyme stars, its no wonder that his influences are the likes of the Notorious B.I.G., Jay-Z, and other New York based rappers such as Nas, Raekwon, The Lox and Mobb Deep. Along with Philadelphia based rappers Freeway and Beanie Sigel. O brings to the table a more intriguing flow than today's norm, with wordplay worth playing anywhere. You can put him in the genre of today's hip-hop era, but its clear he represents a much earlier era in hip-hop where lyrics sold and dancing and sing-along hooks played less of a role in rap status. O would like to think of himself as one of his favorite rappers Nas put it, "a purist". He states, "I couldn't classify myself with these dudes today. When their song goes off, all I learned is who the producer is, and where I can find the instrumental to put some lyrics on it. Don't get me wrong I have my song and dance songs, but I bring it back to the essence, and will give it to anyone claiming they rap, signed or unsigned with no exemptions." He has also had small airtime and made radio appearances, including "battle of the beats". Original also adds to his repertoire the ghost-writer title, with a host of up and coming clients in Hip-Hop and R & B. With great songwriting ability and his grace on the mic, it's no stretch of the truth that O has what it takes to spar with all rappers, self-proclaimed kings, and greats in hip-hop. On top of that, give them a run for their money.