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.

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.