OBI - “Slave We” [Single] (Horizon)
Add Date: 11/17/2020
FCC: Clean
Formats: Hip Hop
Artist Info: OBI is making an entry on the hip-hop scene with his bag full of stories and rhymes waiting to be shared with the world. OBI is a Nigerian clandestine migrant (who faced harsh conditions to cross the border between Morroco and Spain), and who found his new home in Lyon in 2019, at the Collège Maurice Scève, an abandoned building awaiting demolition in the Croix-Rousse neighborhood, now turned into a squat. This is where he met the musician Cédric de La Chapelle who took him under his wings. OBI is debuting the powerful track “Slave We”, a song that bears the reality of African migrants with whom he shares his daily life. “Slave We” is also the first glimpse at OBI’s debut album, planned for a release in spring 2021, produced by the French Label Horizon and under license in Canada with L-A be.
“We are slaves in the city because we are not free, we have nothing, not even the right to walk in these streets. We depend on destiny and the looks that are given to us are often ones of judgment. But we keep hope and believe in the possibility to free ourselves. We keep praying. This is what ‘Slave We’ is about." – OBI
His love for music and for words started in Nigeria, where OBI took part in hip-hop battles in the streets. Music will follow him throughout his journey and was, being at certain times, salutary. Without papers, OBI has been living in Europe hopping from squats and passing through many countries, barely scraping by. With no possibility to seek refuge, he chose the music as his territory and kept on recording his lyrics and making beats, as he learned to produce on his own with his precious computer, managing to learn the language of recording software on Youtube.
A sound of unbridled freedom and modernity, “Slave We” mix rap, electro, afro trap, soul. In pidgin English, one of his native languages, OBI recounts his wanderings and his daily life as a migrant. He expresses his melancholy, sometimes his anger, but also his joys, hopes, and dreams. The song was mixed by Stan Neff (Christine & The Queens…) and mastered by Chab (Daft Punk…).
The DIY video for “Slave We” was filmed at the College Maurice Scève squat, without any staging and reflects on OBI’s reality, just like his songs. “ For this video, everything was improvised, and nothing is fake. We see some friends from the squat towards the end. It’s a good thing that we see them. We often feel invisible when we live in a squat and it feels good to be seen sometimes. This squat (Collège Maurice Scève) is my home, this is where I write my songs. I am happy to invite you in and show you around with this video.”