He leaned over and said, "you're Q, The Mad Bloggers?" I hit him with a head nod acknowledging it was me. He reached into his book bag and handed me his cd.
"I'm just a regular guy who makes music," he said. "If you like it, cool. If you don't, I'd like to know."
I could barely hear everything OTiS CLaPP said in the Down South space at Southpaw in Brooklyn that plays host to our monthly Independent's Day Showcase with iHeartDilla.com. But it was something about the humility in what I could hear that impressed me.
Often times folks boast about how they're the best and talk up every feature and producer on their project without prompt. They'll talk to you until your ear practically falls off. Then you get home, reach in your pocket and pull out the cd and not really feel compelled to listen to the music because you believe there is no way that it could be as good as the artist hyped it up to be. A lot of folks don't realize that there is a thin line between confidence and arrogance.
So, when I pulled OTiS' cd out when I got home, I wanted to hear it because of how he presented it. In OTiS' case, he spoke very little about the project and it was clear he wanted to let his music speak for him.
Indeed it did.
I had heard the name OTiS CLaPP a few times prior to our meeting on that Wednesday night in Brooklyn. I saw his name featured on various projects from folks I was supporting musically. To be honest, I hadn't paid much attention to his music specifically until we booked him for the February showcase. I knew he was talented but I didn't know how much until I hit play on his latest project, Welcome II Nowhere.
Welcome II Nowhere is a clear example of quality over quantity. With just fifteen tracks (the perfect number to me), the project is a solid offering with features from Dremur, Top $ Raz, Erica Sosa and others. Then on the production side you have Miles, K.O. Beatz and others, and even some self-production from OTiS.
Welcome II Nowhere is dope. The production and storytelling on “The Whole Story” makes it my favorite cut on the project. Among other favorites, “Gifted”, “From My Hometown”, “Potency”, “I Smell Murder”, “Hometown Heroes” and “Rap Life.”
The Queens emcee is definitely talented. Gifted, if you will. Give Welcome II Nowhere a listen. If you dig it, support independent music and buy it.
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