Oddisee combines brainy verses with a visceral beat on club-ready “Things”
This past May, New York rapper/producer Oddisee released The Odd Tape, an eclectic beat tape that is both smooth and jazzy but not smooth jazz (Sorry, Kenny). Now, he’s stepping back up to the mic for his latest, The Iceberg. It’s due out early next year, but you can listen to its first single “Things” now.
Oddisee matches a frenetic, four-on-the-floor beat with an equally relentless flow, and It’s this combination of conscious and club-ready elements that makes the track so compelling. Round, bouncing synths coalesce with a satisfying combo of drum machine and sampled drums, and Oddisee’s soulful singing on the hook is nothing to sneeze at. Still, the rapping is the main focus here, and the verses are chock full of great one-liners like “If I could save up money like word, yeah, I’d be a rich man”. It’s rare to see such a technically proficient rapper with these kind of production chops, but when you do, it’s your civic duty to cherish them. Stream the “Things” below.
The Iceberg is due out February 24th. If you want to see Oddisee live, he’s playing the TLA this April 18th. For tickets and more information, head over to XPN’s Concert Calendar.