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I wanted to make a project that has never been made before – ODUMODUBLVCK
Odumodublvck’s desire to create a groundbreaking project with “Eziokwu” reflects the innovative spirit that many contemporary African artists bring to their music. The African music scene has been evolving rapidly, incorporating diverse influences and pushing creative boundaries.
Many artists, like ODUMODUBLVCK, are keen to break new ground and challenge traditional norms.
The use of multiple genres and experimentation with sounds is not uncommon in today’s African music landscape. It’s a testament to the creativity and diversity of the continent’s music, with artists drawing inspiration from various cultures and musical styles.
On October 6, 2023, ODUMODUBLVCK released the mixtape “Eziokwu,” which includes cameos from artists including Psycho YP, Fireboy, Bloody Civilian, Wale, and Blaqbonez. The mixtape serves as a record of his most recent achievements and a declaration of his intentions.
ODUMODUBLVCK’s ambition to create something unprecedented in African music is an exciting prospect, and it will be fascinating to see how his mixtape “Eziokwu” contributes to the ever-evolving music scene on the continent.
“In as much as it’s a hip-hop album, it has a lot of Afrobeats elements to it, afro-fusion elements, it even has Ghanaian highlife. I try to make a project that has never been made before, or created before, in the history of African music. The sound has this, this, this, and that, but it still sounds like one body of work.”
The popular style of ODUMODUBLVCK’s music, which combines native music with many varieties of hip hop, was fully on show in his mixtape. The rapper revealed that his usage of street slang is motivated by his desire to highlight his culture via music.
“I was just trying to communicate myself and my environment, you know? That’s the easiest way to do it as an artist. When I was recording it I wanted people to know from the get-go that first of all, this guy is an African, and this guy is a Nigerian.
I didn’t want anybody second-guessing, even down to the lingo – deep-rooted Nigerian street lingo – that when you listen… let’s say Drake listens and he loves it, any Nigerian he sees he’ll be like ‘yo, what’s the meaning of this?’ Automatically it’s dragging people towards our culture, which is the best way to sell your market, I guess. I just wanted to put myself and my community out there without second-guessing it, and that makes the music authentic.”
Since becoming well-known, ODUMODUBLVCK has seen tremendous success. At the 2023 Headies, he received endorsements from Davido, Wizkid, Olamide, and Burna Boy in addition to winning two awards.
The rapper considers his skill to be a gift from God, and he is inspired by the divine to continue forging on.
Music, I tell people it’s not about who has the best sound. I’m a big believer, I understand that music is from God, and God just feels like ‘ok you, let me bless you with this, let me see how much you can go into the world and multiply this talent’, you get what I’m saying.
In my case I believe everything is divine. If this or that did not stop me, then I believe nothing can stop me, so I take that energy from surviving all those traumatic experiences and use it as a shield towards any spirit of doubt or uncertainty. I’ve already been shown that omo, this p is gonna work and there is nothing that is going to stop it. The worst that could have stopped it has already happened so nothing more than this can happen anymore. That’s the spirit.”