My World

OPM 1 BIO: OPM 1, out of the bay area, revitalizes the sound of popular hip hop music. Amongst the Ice wielding entourages, whips with chromed out rims, and half-naked women, Opm 1 is living testimony that there is still room for creativity and controversy in today's rap scene. The music channels into the psyche of a struggling outcast whose thoughts are conveyed over descriptive, expressive, and rebellious prose. Opm 1's delivery is dynamic, leaving the listener unsure of whether to expect a lyrical assault or a bed-time story. No rapper out of the bay area has yet fully entered the ranks of the nation-wide Rap circle; Opm 1 is voted a likely candidate to bridge this gap. Rating Scale: ***** Classic (A timeless work of Mastery) **** Excellent (Attention grabbing, Attention keeping) *** Good (Applause worthy) ** Not the Greatest (Not interesting) * Wak (Irritating and unfit for listening) SONG REVIEWS: A. "LOOKIN AT ME" The story of an on-edge psychopath whose actions violate all social mores. The character is submerged in a violent perversion of the drug game, but he believes that he has done nothing wrong. More deeply examined, the song alludes to the faction of society whose sole message is to not take responsibility for one's actions, but rather to point to the circumstances that it claims "made me do it." Conceptually brilliant, lyrically classic, and musically a masterpiece. Sure to keep the listener's attention to the last. RATING: ***** B. "HIP HOP" A tribute to the contributions of many of Hip Hop's legends, from the biggest names to the underrated. The hook is drawn directly from the roots "Hip Hop, you're the love of my life" and is the heartbeat of this tribute to the innovators of the myriad styles of hip hop music. Lyrically precise and melodically intriguing, this song is sure to find a lasting place in the memoirs of hip hop. RATING: ***** C. "WHY THEY HATE ME" This song introduces us to what seems to be the artist's dilemma as a biracial MC who is hard to categorize and even harder to ignore. The lyrics are bold, provocative, and attention-grabbing. Opm 1 introduces himself with the lines "Too light to be black, too dark to be white, too tight to be wak, you taught me to fight . . ." The song is well structured and concise, and speaks to an ever-growing biracial population. The quality of production on this song, as for the whole album in general, for the most part belies its presumably low budget, though at times this song feels like it could use a "tightening." Nevertheless, the hook is catchy enough to easily win the listener over. Overall, another winner. RATING: ***** D. "MY MEN" The thought-provoking opus of a politically conscious rebel, this song challenges police authority and pledges allegiance to the struggle against racial oppression. The aggressive and militant hook typifies the rebelliousness associated with militant Rap music, but Opm 1's at times "unclean" lyrics come from a "clean" place, and the generally thoughtful verses separate this song from many of its predecessors. RATING: **** E. "WHO I AM" Eminem fans should either despise Opm 1 or love him for this one. There is an undeniable, at times almost intentional-sounding similarity to the crazed and borderline psychopathic character of Marshall Mathers in his at times tasteless but passionate and "damaged" relationship episodes. There are, however, some notable differences in both his concept and in his actual vocal tone. The character is fed up with his relationship and takes us through the turbulences of his intimate life. A twisted sense of humor takes us unflinchingly to the song's end, but does not prepare the listener for its remarkable conclusion. RATING: **** F. "BACK AGAIN" A Fairly catchy beat. Features a decent guest appearance by rapper Vellqwan RATING: **** G. "HANDS UP" A commercial club song par excellence. Opm 1, who apparently produces all of his own songs, has his sole guest producer Saalim Hinton on this groove-heavy track. The hook is catchy, yet somewhat less unique than the standard Opm 1 has set for himself. A guest appearance by rapper Sleep Dank creates a well rounded chemistry and does a decent job summing up the elements of a "fast-paced" lifestyle in the dungeons of Rap. A good song for DJ's to incorporate into their heavy rotations. RATING: **** H. "CRIMINAL" This song is strong, well structured, and fun to listen to. The concept of criminality in Rap music is far from original, and many of us have come to appreciate only those storytellers with enough charisma, descriptive lyricism, and connection with real emotions to be able to make this topic relatable; Opm 1 remarkably manages to pull it off here. Featuring an outstanding guest appearance by rapper Vellqwan. RATING: ***** I. "RIDIN'" Replete with sirens and humming motors, this fast-paced get-away track takes us through the fast lane of Interstate-5. Nothing original here, but its high energy and captivating hook manage to keep us listening on. RATING: *** J. "MY WORLD" The title track is easily a hip hop classic whose rawness and authenticity rival Al Green's sampled original: "Love and Happiness." The use of vinyl scratches, a creatively used sample, and a simple, pounding beat give this song a classic, oldies sound. RATING: ***** K. "THE PLACE" This song is perhaps the most unique and conceptually brilliant work on the album. For a song with such a pleasant energy, it is hard to believe that it can get away with such deep and somber lyrics. The hook, sung by Opm 1 and vocalist Monzo, pieces together this thought-provoking masterpiece. The richness of this song comes from a combination of its "alternative" melodic undertones with an outstandingly executed storyline. RATING: ***** L. "SHED TEARS" As close to filler as you'll find on an otherwise bullet-proof album. A guest appearance by Sam Bostic of Art N Soul and one by Skweez are the only mitigating aspects to an otherwise mediocre track. It's creative, at times even poetic, and sports a positive message, but this song just doesn't have what it takes to keep the listener interested. RATING: ** M. "BLACK ANGEL" Those who would think of Opm 1 exclusively as a Rapper might think again after hearing this tribute to his "African Princess." This ballad is funky enough to stay in rotation on the popular hip hop radio stations yet organic enough to receive merit from even the choosiest musicians. The hook, believe it or not, is sung by Opm 1 himself. RATING: ***** N. "WAR (REMIX)" A high energy banger which does a fairly good job maintaining a catchy delivery while simultaneously telling a story. Remixes, like movie sequels, often don't measure up. This remix, politically charged and entertaining to boot, does however manage to warrant the effort. RATING: ****