MADE Magazine Issue 6 - English January / February 2016 | Page 36

possessed like playing the piano. In

my life into this project. I had to accept

college when I realized the hoop dreams

the fact that life didn’t change for me, but

weren’t going to come then I decided

I was still able to eat off making music for

to pursue music because I always liked

a living and it put me in a grateful place to

writing so I decided to take it seriously.

create more music thus creating Elephant

I use to wonder why it was taking so

Eyes. So, I took that and also listened to

long for it to happen for me, but now I

the constructive criticism from people

appreciate the journey because I’m able to

who mattered. I told my friends to listen

talk from a different perspective. I can say

to my music and hold it to the standard

I’m 33 years old and it’s happening for me

of the greats. Once I listened and took

because I believed. My path is an example

the perspective of storytelling that really

for a lot of people to not give up on your

laid the foundation for Elephant Eyes. In

dreams. It’s important for people like me

regards to the expectation, I was able to

to have a voice to say it’s still possible but

release the expectation I had for myself on

it may just take longer than you thought. I

this project and just do the music that I

credit Dreamville for helping me embrace

wanted to hear and if others liked it…cool.

this mindset more and to tell my story.

However, I will add that I’m super happy
about the reception from this project.

MADE: This past summer (July) you
released your debut album, Elephant Eyes.

MADE: Your records create an authentic

Can you take us through your creation

rhythm and style to Hip Hop culture

process for this project? What was the

infused with a jazz layer with a very late

expectation that you put on yourself for

80’s early 90’s type of feel which is a form

the project?

of artistic expression that seems to be
missing from mainstream music today.

OMEN: It was varied. It didn’t really happen

How would you describe your sound and

in one place because I was on the road a

its development?

lot. The album went through a variety of
stages; I probably made three albums that

OMEN: What you say is accurate because

came to be what the final project is. My

my influences are Tupac, Eminem, Biggie,

usual process is playing something on the

Nas and Dilla, so it just comes out. Those

keyboard and making a beat or sampling

are the artists that made me want to

something to influence what I write to. Of

create music. The music I hear today is

the eleven songs on the album I produced

dope but it doesn’t stick with me maybe

nine of them. It took a while because prior

because there’s no storytelling and it’s

to this album I put out a project called

straight to the point, very literal and it’s

Afraid of Heights and I just thought in

no knock. It’s just different. However, I

my head that this project was going to

always liked artists where I could listen

be the one that put me “on” because I’d

three or four times and get something

toured with J. Cole, Drake, and Rihanna in

new from it. One thing I did change is that

addition to having features from Cole and

I added a lot more melody to my writing,

Kendrick Lamar. I felt like I had everything

which helped give a more modern feel.

I needed to make it and when I put it out

MADE: As a contributor to Hip Hop what

and nothing happened that left me feeling

do you hope to accomplish through your

weird because I’d invested two years of

music?

MADE-MAGAZINE.COM
36