A respected underground MC both locally and abroad, Oddisee returned to his hometown for a specially curated evening at the Kennedy Center with individual sets by his group Good Compny, North Carolina emcee Phonte, and Berlin-based singer/songwriter Olivier St. Louis. The whole evening was mind-blowing!
Oddisee and Good
He reflected on his Muslim, Sudanese American background, racial injustice and economic disparities through vivid imagery and powerful lyricism. He also paid homage to his hometown through a few go-go soundscapes. That evening, Oddisee really demonstrated why he’s D.C.’s native son and an artist for the ages.
Washington-born and Berlin-based singer/songwriter Olivier St. Louis opened up the evening with his distinctive brand of Rock n Soul. Formerly Olivier Daysoul, he has made a name for himself through his collaborations with renowned electronic music producers like Onra and Hudson Mohawke, as well as through his role as a member of Good
His performance was packed with dark, electrifying tones mixed his sanctified vocals. It was very captivating, I was a little mesmerized.
Grammy Nominated Phonte, a widely respected, down-to-earth rapper and singer — as well as a producer, arranger and engineer also did an amazing job that evening. I was super excited to see him perform because I’ve always been a huge fan since his days with Little Brother.
Congrats to him on the release of his stunning sophomore solo album No News is Good News—a mature and emotionally wide-ranging meditation on the modern man’s hustle encompassing lineage, legacy, mortality and marriage. He is definitely a veteran in the hip hop game that can still hold his own in the industry even though the tone of hip hop has really changed.
Thank you again to Kennedy Center for letting our team cover another amazing performance. Make sure you pay close attention to the Kennedy Center website and follow them on Instagram so you don’t miss anything.
Naomi is a stylish, adventurous traveler. She’s a bit of a daredevil that loves excursions. Those that know her, call her a shoe connoisseur. She is also obsessed with music and has a playlist for just about any mood. She’s a foodie that loves a good vegetarian/vegan spot. Want to know where she is headed next… stay tuned to find out!
