Presented by The Ferret in association with Preston Jazz & Improvisation Festival…
Oddisee & DJ Unown
+ special guests:
MEDUULLA
+ Big Things DJs
Thursday, 6th June 2024
The Ferret | Preston
Tickets: skiddle.com/e/38217237
Oddisee (Washington DC, USA)
Born Amir Elkhalifa in Washington D.C. to a Sudanese father and African American mother, and raised in Prince George’s County, Maryland, Oddisee bore witness to stark inequity early in life and became as political as the city he was raised in.
Elkhalifa tackles the human condition with unwavering conviction and candor, merging elements of jazz, funk, and go-go into his hip-hop rooted production. Instead of pursuing record deals and executives, Elkhalifa has taken the less-traveled path. Streamlining elements of the industry early on, from single-handedly recording, producing, and mixing his music to steering his marketing strategy and tour runs.
A string of contemporary releases—Rock Creek Park (2011), The Beauty in All (2013), The Good Fight (2015), Alwasta (2016), and The Iceberg (2017)—headlining performances and tours with his 5-piece band, Good Compny, and streams in the hundred-millions have propelled him to international recognition and acclaim.
Long celebrated as a deep-thinking emcee that delivers a masterclass in lyricism over his own production often influenced with the Go-Go music of his DMV roots, Oddisee explores human ambition, posing the question: “how far are you willing to go, and why?” on his 2023 return full length album „To What End“.
Oddisee’s work has been celebrated by NPR, TIME Magazine, Rolling Stone, New York Times, Washington Post, Complex, Hypebeast, KCRW, and many, many more across the globe.
Pitchfork deemed 2017’s trenchant The Iceberg “a focused beam oflive-band and hip-hop soul that rattles loudly in our present political moment,” while Stereogum described 2020’s Odd Cure as “gorgeous” and with NPR booking Oddisee for TWO Tiny Desk performances.
Youtube:NPR Tiny Desk Concert
https://youtu.be/88_jAJ-MduU?si=QpsP-pmV_4lk9dAH
Own Appeal
https://youtu.be/E2Snh2NZHhk?si=OaJYOgRDr_MRdfGa
Like Really (A COLORS SHOW)
https://youtu.be/IzjuReog3Yo?si=HUf_vkwEkn8jo83P
You Grew Up:
https://youtu.be/eD_QnHxM1_A?si=iCnKpKKjqxFwPztk
- - -
Meduulla:
Raised in North Manchester in a Zimbabwean household, Meduulla’s music reflects her experience growing up with two contrasting cultures as a first generation immigrant to the UK. Inspired by iconic Zimbabwean musicians such as Oliver Mtukudzi, she doesn’t shy away from using her music as a vehicle to encourage critical political discourse. Having spoken both English and Shona as a child, then later learning French, the rapper has always been curious about the way that words can connect different worlds, a quality that is also expressed in Hip-Hop, which is why it’s no surprise that the artist gravitated towards the genre. Having been deeply moved by artists such as Kendrick Lamar, Chance the Rapper and Noname, she was inspired to start creating her own projects. Since 13, she has been writing poetry and first gained popularity as a Spoken Word artist. Eventually, she began to play around with writing to classic compositions and when her witty wordplay and story telling received recognition from the likes of Grime pioneer Chip, and melodic rapper Not3s, she continued to explore her unique sound and release more freestyles on social media. After her appearance on BBC’s The Rap Game in 2021, she released her debut EP Oblongata in 2023 and is eager to continue adding to her discography and expanding her artistry. With a promising journey thus far, she is tipped for big things in 2024 and beyond.
Youtube: @Meduulla
---
+ Big Things DJs & friends will take us through the night with choice cuts from across the history of hip-hop.
- - -
