Omni 'Ballyhoo' album

Some people were born to do what they do. Louis Armstrong couldn’t have been anything but the musical ambassador history remembers him as. The story of BB King’s life reads like an introduction to blues, and the world would be a different place today if he had done anything else with his life. Omni was born to be a rapper. A really good one. And while comparisons to Armstrong and King may seem extreme, anyone who has ever witnessed Omni in motion will tell you that the guitar legend and the jazz pioneer are in good company. A Los Angeles native raised during the Golden Era of ‘90s West Coast hip-hop where extra-lyrical groups like Souls Of Mischief and strictly gangsta acts like Tha Dogg Pound were both parts of the average head’s musical diet, Omni blends the best of these influences with his distinctive baritone, Cali twang, and a universal, wide-lens outlook on life to create a sound perfectly befitting of his name. Equal parts street and lyrical, b-boy and conscious, Omni’s enjoys a reputation as real hip-hop’s best-kept secret among those in the know.

It is a reputation many years in the making. In 1997 A member of infamous L.A. hip-hop crew B.L.X. (BassLine Xcursionists), Omni’s streaming, fluid flow was first released on record on B.L.X.’s classic sophomore album Sunch Punch. His solo debut Funkdafied Freddy dropped in 2001 on Belgian label B9000, followed by his sophomore album Burgundy Brown, which he released independently in 2003. A collaboration album with DJ Quietstorm of Living Legends fame named Soramiro, a shelved project with UK trip-hop pioneer Tricky and a steady slew of 12-inches round out his discography. His tour resume is no less accomplished. For the last few years Omni has been on the road constantly, performing in France, Belgium, Germany, the Netherlands, Canada, Japan, Korea, Peru, and almost every major city in the U.S., alongside artists like the Wu-Tang Clan, Tha Alkaholiks, Hieroglyphics, Mos Def, John Legend, Kool Keith, Twista, Zap Mama, Living Legends, Madlib and Mikah Nine.

January 24th was the release of Omni’s third album Ballyhoo, dropped on Omni’s new home, burgeoning indie Ariel Records, with exclusive distribution from Kajmere Sound. Largely a lone wolf on previous outings, Omni made a conscious decision to make Ballyhoo something of a community effort, extending a hand to outside talent that he holds in high regard. Ballyhoo’s guest list reflects the level of respect Omni’s name commands in today’s underground hip-hop scene: vets like Mikah Nine of Freestyle Fellowship, Fatlip formerly of The Pharcyde, Luckyiam.psc of Living Legends and Wildchild of the LootPack as well as Ali Abnormal of the Handroids, Molmaniak of B.L.X., Pudge of the Vinyl Junkies and Universal. Omni is hip-hop incarnate, with all its style, attitude, character and contradiction. He is the future of emceeing: young, talented, and versatile. He has a duty to rap – and it’s in your best interests to listen.

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Omni - Ballyhoo