Prolific Brooklyn-based underground MC/producer Oddissee is back yet again with a free blessing, the seven-track AlWasta EP, to hold us over until the followup to The Good Fight drops in May. The EP takes its title from the Arabic colloquial term that in modern English slang loosely translates to “the plug.” The term “wasta” comes from the Arabic word “wasat,” meaning “middle” or “middleman,” and describes a member of the community who acts as a connector using their wealth of social currency. That is Oddisee to a tee. The Sudanese-American spitter has come correct for years with skillful every-man raps that exude a knowledge far beyond self and are still highly relatable.

AlWasta is no-skip music to ride to. It’s just smooth beats that will put you in your zone and lyrics that will keep you there, making you think but not necessarily rewind for comprehension. Sample-driven excursions mixed with live instrumentation punctuated by drums with plenty of knock and catchy hooks swirl around penetrating lyrics that switch cadences and speeds. If you want lyrics to come back, you won’t be disappointed. Just press play and let it rock.

Alwasta by Oddisee

Tracklist:

01 “Asked About You”

02 “No Reservations”

03 “Strength & Weakness”

04 “Wouldn’t Be Surprised”

05 “Lifting Shadows”

06 “Catching Vibes”

07 “Slow Groove”

Tour dates with live band Good Compny:

03/26 Boise, ID @ Treefort Festival

05/03 Boston, MA @ Middle East Downstairs

05/06 Morgantown, WV @ Mainstage

05/07 Richmond, VA @ Strange Matter

05/08 Raleigh, NC @ Kings Barcade

05/11 Jacksonville, FL @ Jack Rabbits

05/13 Tampa, FL @ Orpheum

05/14 Orlando, FL @ Backbooth

05/15 Tallahassee, FL @ Side Bar

05/16 New Orleans, LA @ Parish at HOB

05/20 Las Vegas, NV @ Foundry at SLS

05/21 Los Angeles, CA @ El Rey Theatre

05/22 Santa Ana, CA @ Constellation Room

05/24 San Diego, CA @ Soda Bar

05/26 San Francisco, CA @ The Independent

05/30 Seattle, WA @ Sasquatch Festival

06/04 Cincinnatti, OH @ Bunbury Festival

06/12 Brooklyn, NY @ Northside Festival

06/25 Pilton, UK @ Glastonbury Festival

06/27 Oxford, UK @ O2 Academy

07/07 Leige, Belgium @ Les Ardentes Festival

07/08 Rotterdam, Netherlands @ North Sea Jazz Festival

07/09 Dusseldorf, Germany @ Open Source Festival

07/10 Bruges, Belgium @ Cactus Festival

07/16 Gräfenhainichen, Germany @ Melt! Festival

07/19 Nijmegen, Netherlands @ Valkhof Festival

07/23 Vienna, Austria @ Hip Hop Open Festival

07/27 Lucerne, Switzerland @ Blue Balls Festival

07/29 Diepholz, DE @ Appletree Gardens Festival

07/30 Stuttgart, DE @ Stuttgart Festival

AlWasta is out now via Mello Music Group. Download here.