COLLEGE PARK, Maryland — From Grandmaster Flash and Nas to Kendrick Lamar and J. Cole, the conscious rap subgenre has been alive and well for decades now. Besides these massive artists carrying the torch on the global stage, there are artist on the local level that are using their platform to impart knowledge as well.
Meet Amir Mohamed el Khalifa, better known in the DMV by his rapper name Oddisee, who is not afraid to have difficult conversations through music. He named his 2017 album “The Iceberg” to allude to how much goes on beneath the surface.
Through a combination of his lyrics and live production, Oddisee uses his stage to inform and educate.
Between feats of lyrical wordplay, rousing call-and-responses, and clap alongs, hip hop artist @ODDISEE has many in the audience learning about #SudanRevolts. #MLKBAM pic.twitter.com/mCQPFOA1mr
— BAM (@BAM_Brooklyn) January 21, 2019
He cites his mixed background — being raised by an African-American mother and a Sudanese father — as an important aspect of his upbringing. The combination of his parents’ backgrounds and his love for East Coast hip-hop molded his love for meaningful rap.
Back in 2015, Oddisee stopped by the NPR Tiny Desk office to remind listeners that “music comes before hip-hop; that music can trigger indescribable feelings; that music is a meditation on our capacity to love; and, finally, that our ambition and greed are in constant conflict with our sense of propriety.”
In addition to creating music, Oddisee also has a passion for photography. A quick glance at his instagram shows how multi-talented he is.
His influence is only growing with time. At the end of 2018, he shared his lyrical genius on a tour that spanned Europe, Asia, and even Australia.
As his global presence continues to grow, one thing’s for sure: he’ll always remember his roots.
Check out some of Oddisee’s work below.
Editor’s note: some songs may contain explicit content.