OBAN rapper
Rory O’B is set for a busy summer after announcing his new EP, ‘Quit Rapping’,
and a number of gigs and festivals. He’s set to release the project on an
undisclosed date after his performance at the legendary King Tut’s Wah Wah Hut
on July 18.
Although Rory
invited notable hip hop producers to help engineer the final product, the record
sees him rapping over live instrumentation that he recorded entirely by himself,
including guitar, bass and cajon. Rory believes this makes for a more ‘folky, local
sound’.
Rory says: ‘It’s
important for hip hop emcees to talk about their surroundings. Oban might not
have the shock factor or be particularly dangerous, but it’s the place that
affected me and there’s plenty of potential for humour too.
‘There’s no
point saying you grew up in the slums if you didn’t. It’s your stories. I think
people from rural towns could relate to the stuff I rap about more than urban
hip hop because it’s closer to home.’
Rory first started
rapping in his teens after performing in a string of local rock bands. He
conveys these various influences through an expressive and heavily accented vocal
delivery when he raps.
‘My first
real exposure to hip hop was actually off a punk label compilation,’ says Rory.
‘From there I heard emcees from other countries and realised that people could
rap in their own accent. I got into the Scottish scene from there.
‘I didn’t
tell people originally because I was nervous about it, even when I moved to
Greenock for college. I thought folk from Oban would laugh at it. I remember
performing one show in The Waterfront where I performed and everyone just
stared at me. I just wanted it to end.’
However,
people’s reactions changed when he released the song ‘She Says’ with established
Oban rapper K9 Kev in 2010. The catchy track became a favourite at open mic
nights and gig showcases, encouraging Rory to pursue hip hop more intently.
‘It made me
think I could do it,’ says Rory. ‘I think people in the local area and Scotland
as a whole are becoming more open minded about hip hop. There are young people
in town taking up rapping and making beats. There’s still a novelty factor for
some people but it’s getting much better.’
The six
tracks on Rory’s new EP present humorous observations on Oban and growing up as
well as broader social commentary. He’s looking forward to unveiling the tracks
in Glasgow where he has a built up a small but committed fanbase.
‘I’m
planning an album launch party in Glasgow,’ says Rory. ‘I’m also going to be
playing at Kelburn Garden Party, King Tut’s Summer Nights Festival and Audio
Soup Festival.
‘I might
come back to Oban and do something as well. K9 Kev’s charity gig in February
was a massive success – it shows that there’s a real growing interest in hip
hop in Oban.’
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First printed in The Oban Times on June 30 2016.
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