Oddisee AlWasta Review
When a member of the WuTang Clan tells you about a new rapper .., you listen
When a member of the WuTang Clan tells you about a new rapper they're listening to, you listen. That's exactly how I found Oddisee.
Last week at a book talk for Lamont "Ugod" Hawkins's new book Raw, I was able to ask a few questions in the Q&A. After dodging my question about his "Top 5 Albums" he rambled off a few artists that he likes during different moods he ended his list with someone new, "Oddisee, who knows about Oddisee?". I didn't but I was going to.
Being me I decided to avoid just looking up some singles on Spotify, instead I looked up his records. The problem is that those I could find we all sold out. After another trip into the Amazon I found a copy of "AlWasta".
Oddisee skillfully weaves intellectual lyrics and raw honest stories through through smooth beats. The song seem familar, though completely new to me, and frequently I found myself singing along with the simplistic, catchy hooks between the deliberately intrecate verses.
According to the back cover, "The term 'wasta' comes from the Arabic word 'wasat' meaning 'middle' or 'middleman,' and describes a member of the community who acts as a connector using their wealth of social currency." Oddisee places himself as the "middleman" and leverages his 'social currency' to raise serious topics. Songs like "Lifting Shaddows" are honest portraits of society and its message "I Love my Country but I hate its politics" is understandable if not relatable.
4.25 of 5 . This record is simultaneously honest, political, educational, raw, polished, intellectual, and hood. Strong messages, lyrics, and beats keep me wondering whats next for Oddisee.