For someone who doesn't classify himself as a 'rapper', Outasight does a really good job of rapping. Give the man a good beat, and he'll rip it 9 for 10. That's exactly what he does here over this Cook Classics-produced instrumental. 'It's Like That' is a jumpy riff-raff cut where Mr. Andrews thumbs his nose at his naysayers, the people who've left him by the wayside and his struggles to find balance between being an artist and an 'actual person'. Altogether it's a pretty endearing track to bump. Clearly Outasight does what he wants, and it's like that. Check the track out...
If you like very brash, cacophonous music, then please skip down to the next post. If you, on the other hand, enjoy very earthy, soulful music, then Outasight is the artist for you. OU, since his 'Never Say Never' recording has been doing shows and steadily building his fan base. Today he let loose this track, for no apparent reason, and I was immediately cast into a state of almost-catatonic relaxation and calm. It goes without saying that 6th Sense is behind the boards. The track, like many of Richard Andrews' works is an ode to the twenty-something crowd, filled with the trivialities and struggles of growing up sans a silver spoon. Dig the vibes...
I may not always act like it, but I do get tired of rap at times. Not in the sense that I can't listen to hooks, punchlines and verses, but more in the sense that the musical sensibilities of hip-hop tire me sometimes, especially when people are putting out similar music. That's where artists like yourself, Richard Andrews (better known as Outasight) come into play. A Yonkers native is a singer/songwriter/rapper/musician, your musical talents are like a melting pot of jazz, soul, folk and hip-hop. What ends up happening is that you sounds unlike any artist I've heard over the past few years. Notice, I'm slow to put you in a genre, because you straddle so many lines without taking away the integral essence of each. That said, your newest mixtape, 'Never Say Never' (in collaboration with LRG) is just a piece of the smörgåsbord that you offer. The tape starts out with an upbeat chant called 'Complicated,' regaling in the complications of your early life, rife with your trademark singing voice and verses to break it up:
A prep school graduate with a C-average, but I never seen average / I would talk all night bout being Outasight , but I never kareem’d magic / Till I put the words to bed, and woke up the action, and canned the laughter / I ain’t trying to make a stand, I’m trying to fill up the rafters...
You then move on to the title track, 'Never Say Never,' an inspiring, mid-tempo, sing-songy riff about believing in yourself (who does that anymore?). In all honesty, it sounds like you made this mixtape for people to start their days to, evidenced by some the rosy acoustics and snare-heavy beats behind them. The tracks go on, with an ode to inebriated nights in 'Dizzy', a jump-worthy Freddie Gibbs (I'm slowly becoming a fan) feature in 'Near the End', and a bass-laced love track called 'Dear Heartache'.
Dude, you really have a penchant for making mixtapes that sound like albums. When I listen, I almost never am tempted to hit skip, for fear that I might miss a bright musical note sprinkled gingerly about one of your tracks. You really sat down and thought about how you wanted to construct this tape. It goes on to have a feature with XV that is impossible to not nod to in 'Lush Life' and a gospel-sounding anthem in 'Believe'. Yet the highlight for the mixtape in my opinion was your track 'Twenty-Something'. You described the pitfalls of being 1/4 done with life in this era as a pressure-filled one, rife with uncertainty and unfair expectations. It hit me right in the heart and I had to repeat another 3 times, before finishing the mixtape.
Outasight, you've successfully melded three genres with little correlation, while writing songs that capture the mindset of a wandering, yet intuitive generation. No, I'm not saying you're the equivalent of the Beatles (word to 'My Generation), but if I were to pick a recent artist that's made music that could stand the test of time, you would be one of the top candidates. In today's industry, music shelf life is about two weeks, with most songs' popularity outliving that of the artists. You, however, are making music that will always have a place in my playlist. Outasight, your music always seems like it comes from the most genuine and earnest places. Maybe that's a function of the beats. Maybe its your ability to sing, harmonize and rap on the same track that gives you flexibility to express yourself. Maybe its the glasses. I don't know. What I do know is that works like 'Never Say Never' don't come around often. You can charge that to a number of things, but doing so would only take away from just sitting back and enjoying the music. Kudos on a dope mixtape and I'll keep my eyes peeled for an album. Oh yeah... And huge #shoutouts to the Notherground fam. You and those fellows are doing great work on the interwebs...
I've said it before, and I'll say it again... Outasight is one of the most talented cats in the industry right now. He melds hip-hop, rock and soul in a way that I've yet to hear from ANYONE in music right now. He's dropping a new mixtape called 'Never Say Never' on July 2nd. Of course you know the man has to do an upbeat party track to start the summer out, and 'Dizzy' is just that song. Outasight makes mincemeat of the instrumental, both singing and rapping. Honestly, if you just love music, not necessarily hip-hop, rock or soul, you will love this track and you will love Outasight. Keep your eyes peeled and your ears open, because more great music is dropping this summer...
Outasight's 'Further EP' made my Most Underrated Mixtapes list from 2009, and for good reason. The work is pure PIFF in the strictest musical sense. Along with re-releasing the EP on iTunes today, he also let the visuals for the track 'Catch Me if You Can' loose today. While it was a little late, the video is well worth the wait. Yeah, Outasight seemed a bit outashape when he was running away from whoever, but the cinematography in the video does the trick for the track just right. Of course he has a guest appearance by Notherground producer-extraordinaire 6th Sense, too. Honestly, this video made me start bumping 'Further' again tonight. Check out the video...
This is the type of togetherness in hip-hop that I dream of. Emilio Sparks, of 'The Emilio Sparks Experience,' a New York radio show, has put together a menagerie of up-and-comers in hip-hop to create the free album, 'Kicks, Chicks & Porno Flicks'. The release features the likes of Curt@!n$, Stalley, ESSO, Outasight, 6th Sense, AC, Donny Goines, and Nola Darling. I've reviewed a few of these cats, so when I saw their names associated with the album, I had to give it a listen. The tape has great production, mixed in with interviews from Emilio's radio show, which are HILARIOUS. It's amazing that Emilio could develop relationships with all of these artists, and bring them together on such an eclectic work. When I say eclectic, I mean that there is every type of sound you could imagine on a hip-hop work. Plus, the lyrics are on point on every song (I guess every artist put their best foot forward). I know half of you won't give this a listen, but if you want to hear the 'new wave' of hip-hop, hit the link above, and check the tracklist, #dopetracks, loosies, and videos...
#dopetracks:
Don't Let Me Down
Loyalty's a Must (the skit at the end of this is hilarious!)
Feels So Right
Around the World
Sky High
Hello
If you are looking for a strictly hip-hop mixtape or just lyrics, please STOP HERE. Outasight is not a rapper or a singer, though he raps and sings. At this juncture of music, it's impossible to classify an act like Outasight. He draws from entirely too many facets of music to be placed in a box. Whether it's rock, R&B, rap, funk, folk, or electronic, Outasight touches all of them. The man is a MUSICIAN. I'd rather compare this to a Pharrell compilation than to any rap release. In terms of lyrics (if you're still interested in that), OU is like a blur. His lyrics are so slick that if you go for a drink in between songs, you're liable to miss a snippet of sonic mastery. I don't say this about any artist because, quite frankly, most artists wouldn't know their way around live music if they were already in a concert. Outasight is simply amazing. The LP 'Further' is a step towards a genre-free existence in music, and should be heard. Check the tracklist (back cover), my picks, and of course, some videos...
PS. Outasight is yet ANOTHER Notherground artist that's really hitting hard. Make sure you check out him, 6th Sense, The Kid Daytona, and Harlem's Cash out...
Cream of the Crop:
Catch Me if You Can
Don't Say Anything
Brand New Day
Downtown in My Mind
Stranger than Fiction
Cream of the Crap:
Everyone Gets Laid (weird concept; I don't think he pulled it off well)
