ION INDIE MAGAZINE February 2016, Volume 21 | Page 57

Battle Rapper O-SOLO is legendary amongst the Battle Rapper scene. His unique flow
and vocabulary, strikes fear in the hearts of Rap's fiercest competitors. To hear the life
story of OMAR R. HURT, aka O-Solo, one would think that it was a crafted tale by a highpowered Hollywood Svengali trying to create an incredible buzz about an unknown
Rapper. We all know the truth can be stranger than fiction, but in this case, it’s more
powerful!
O-Solo’s life began in the back of a New York City cab, where his mother died during
childbirth. If that wasn’t heartbreaking enough, no one knew the next of kin, and the
future lyrical genius was placed in foster care for two years until his aunt, JOAN
CAMACHO, (sister of former Lightweight champion HECTOR CAMACHO) found him and
brought him home to live with her.
By all accounts, a sense of structure and normalcy was restored in to his life. While his
biological father, JAMES GIBSON drifted in and out of his life; the guiding force pushing
him was his aunt--who encouraged a young O-Solo to participate in the church where he
played the drums. As he mastered the drums, his brother James--one of his strongest
supporters--suggested that he pair those skills with making beats. It was actually his
brother JAMES who taught the future MC how to rhyme. “My first Rap was so whack,”
laughs the Rapper. “But I found my rhythm and it was on!”
With his family’s blessing and support, O-Solo set his sights on taking over NYC. The
industry came calling with appearances on 106 and Park’s “Freestyle Fridays” and
MTV’s “Direct Effect”--and even an unsuccessful development deal with DEF JAM--but
something more was in store for the hungry Rapper. “I describe myself style as
entertaining, funny, honest and animated,” says O-Solo. “I work hard to hone my style
and express myself in my own unique way. I consider myself as an ‘animated architect in
the Rap business,’ adds the Rapper. “I love what I do. It’s like writing a book, telling your
own story every time I grab a mic.”
Rhyming at every possible battle and showcase in New York, O-Solo was taking no
prisoners. “I got on stage at one of MARIA DAVIS’ “Monday Night Madness” showcases
after my appearance on MTV’s “Fight Klub”, and people really started to take notice,”
recalls the Rapper. As a regular at “Monday Night Madness”, Davis saw something
special in the brazen battle Rapper. Davis took the Rapper under her wing and through
her connections, heavy-hitters in the music industry like TVT’s head of A&R, BRIAN
LEACH, were in attendance at the weekly showcases. After a blazing performance,
Leach stepped to the young Rapper and arranged a meeting with TVT label head STEVE
GOTTLIEB. Wanting to see for himself what all the buzz was about, Gottlieb asked O-Solo
to spit a few bars to see if the charisma and skills matched the hype. After the impromptu
performance, Leach excused himself and quickly returned with on offer that would later
become a $500,000 album deal through BARKUE TUBMAN’S “Miss Boss Lady
Entertainment” in 2003. “I just stood there and cried, because I after all that hard work, I
felt like I had finally made it,” reflects the Rapper. The deal with TVT may have been a
dream come true for the Rapper, but things quickly turned in to a nightmare.