Oso Negro
- Release
- 01/30/2016
About
Energetic. Melodic. Kinetic beats, both electronic and sample-based. Eclectic sound. Strong reggae influence. Intelligent. Catchy hooks. More singing than you'd imagine. Earthy. Unexpected. High-quality raps with extra-clean delivery. A hard working, distinctive artist.
A recovered scientist, Oso Negro makes music of his life and time, embracing the timeless power of lyrical consciousness and hunger for life. "Breachin' kids thoughts, but aiming at the minds of men, finding them fighting tidal strength." –Oso. A twist of reggae, a splash of crooning and the ever-present spirit of live music feed this hungry bear’s desire to mix it up, keep it fun and stimulating.
Oso hit the road a lot over the last decade, participating in several regional tours and playing shows from Seattle to Los Angeles to Austin, Montana, and just about everywhere between. In addition, he's also been getting plenty of radio play in the region, on both terrestrial and internet radio stations in WA, ID, UT, NV, SD, MA, and MS, and has been interviewed multiple times on Boise Community Radio, KRBX 89.9/93.5, as well as on Monster Music 92.7 FM, Twin Falls, ID.
Oso Negro has supported such acts as Shabazz Palaces, Schoolboy Q, Ab-Soul, Dilated Peoples, Souls of Mischief, SOJA, the Chicharones, Rehab, Grupo Fantasma, Katchafire, Cunninlynguists, Sage Francis, Homeboy Sandman, Bone Thugs-n-Harmony, Mickey Avalon, Tribal Seeds, Tonedeff, Abtract Rude, Myka 9, Scarub, Sweatshop Union, K-OS, Ceschi, Anuhea, Seedless, DJ Zeph & Azeem, Astronautalis, Mac Lethal, Shad, Awol One, Pigeon Hole, Sleep of Oldominion, Darktime Sunshine, Ugly Duckling, Ecid, Cecil Otter, B.Dolan, Qwel and Maker, Jackie Chain, and Poppa Grows Funk, among others. In addition, Oso has been part of the Treefort Music Fest (Boise), Alive After 5 Summer Concert Series (Boise), Neon Reverb Music Festival (Las Vegas), Rootdown Fest (Denver), Interchange Fest (Bozeman), Boise Hip-Hop Festival, Boise State University's "Bronco Welcome" Week, H.O.P.E. Fest, Urban Arts Festival (Salt Lake City), Chamberlin Rail Jam (Bozeman) 4 & 20 Blackbird Festival (Weed, CA), and Promenade Music Festival (Boise).
Influenced by the raw imagery of Wu-Tang, harmonies and gaze toward nature of Goodie Mob, mysticism of the Doors, and transcendence of topics by the likes of Aesop Rock, Cage, and El-P, Oso rarely if ever receives outright comparisons to other artists. His emceeing has been described as melodious, musical, and full of fun patterns. Don't forget the strong reggae and electronic undertones in his music, either.
Hip Hop/Rap | Reggae | Electronica/Dance
Links
- Audio EPK on SOUNDCLOUD
- @osonegmusic Instagram
- Oso's Catalogue on Bandcamp
- Oso Facebook Bandpage
- Oso Sonicbids EPK
Source
Keyholes EP, from Oso Negro & PH8
The Keyholes EP allows listeners a rich but limited glimpse through the doors of Oso Negro (Ontario, OR) & Ph8's (Taos, NM) minds. This sample-based, 5 track project is a loose extension of Oso's last album, The UNKIE O LP (Sept. 2014), on which Ph8 & his Po.10.cee brother Lissin did half the production work. Custom Keyholes art was created Dusk One, SLC, UT.
"Bad Love" - Track 1
The refrain "Jealousy and ego," continually resurfaces throughout the song, just as these traits readily reappear in life as sources of all problems Oso addresses in the track. Backed by a deep driving bass, ethereal vocal samples, and a snappy rhythm section, Ph8 provides a humming backdrop for the melodically delivered verses. Also of note is how Oso crafted nearly each line to mirror one another throughout the piece.
"Bedroom Funk" - Track 2
Ph8 whips up a whimsical beat based on bedspring samples, sounds of passion, and funky guitar and horns. Playing with words that relate rapping over beats with finding suitable partners in life, Oso, Zyme´One (El Paso, TX), and Art Maddox (Boise, ID) tongue-twist through this fun approach to a classic subject.
"Summer Wine" - Track 3
Ph8's strings and drum loops provide Oso with space to tell about life from the Plant Kingdom's perspective. All may seem quiet, but there is a never-ending battle raging, and all means justify the ends in this cut throat silent war waging just beneath our noses and beyond our perception.
"Salute (Producer Man)" - Track 4
Oso brings in some of Ph8's Po.10.Cee crew over another funky backdrop, featuring slamming kick and snare arranged alongside deep vocal drones, african horns, and plucky guitar and percussion. Ekym, Lissin, Oso, Doc, Liphe, and Ph8 each drop 8 bars, respectively, showing love to the musical pyramid's base- the beat producer. A catchy call and response hook gel this posse cut. Salute!
"Vision Quest" - Track 5
Being Ph8's favorite song on the project, it saw him push Oso to fully focus and fill in the various textures and geographies in this sonic landscape. Spaced out synths, sparse drums, whirling woodwinds, and a thick bass line underly the most directly personal song on the project, covering the process, love, and experience of working through life, stress, and music. This is a linear track aiming to provide an outward blossoming through space and time as it progresses towards an infinity.
Dispatch Details
| Release Title: | Keyholes EP |
| Record Label: | self |
| Distributor: | self |
| Country: | USA |
| Release Type: | Digital & Physical |
| Release Format: | EP |
| Suggested Retail Price: | free download |






