Ohmega Watts: Watts the definition of a real MC?

Are you frustrated with a lack of decent underground hip hop in your music collection? Tired of boring MCs rapping about gun, bling or bitches? Well, have a listen to the Brooklyn bred Ohmega Watts and he’ll instantly restore your faith in ‘real’ hip hop. Equally as adept in the studio as he is behind the mic, he blew listeners away with his debut album The Find with its blend of energetic old-school rap, amazingly accomplished beats and funky instrumentals. Watts combines refined, socially conscious lyricism with amazing production, balancing out the big club tunes with the deeper jazzy contributions, and he’s been marked as the one to watch in US underground hip hop.

Dazed & Confused magazine in the UK even went so far as to label him “one of the freshest talents to have emerged out of hip-hop’s leftfield in the last five years”. Fact or hyperbole? You’ll get the chance to find out form yourself, because to promote his follow up album Watts Happening he’ll be touching down in the country for a series of national shows. ITM has a chat…

I’ll start with the precursor to your new album, The Platypus Strut, which was heard on the Ubiquity Records Choices vol. 2 release prior to Watts Happening. Do you see yourself as a band leader? Would you like to develop a live band show or a completely separate project? Is this musicianship a secret threat (a quadruple threat) of yours?

I think I would consider myself a band leader/producer/arranger. I’d love to do these tracks live somewhere, but it’s a good amount of money to get a great setup of musicians to do these tracks at a show live. As far as a complete separate project with songs like this… That is definitely something I’m wanting to do someday. As for the Quad threat… maybe, but I just call it being an artist… all encompassing the art of music making and expression.

Do you think people often forget that hip hop producers have to be musicians (to a degree) as well? Do you think the ones who do more than just loop beats get the proper accreditation?

I think a lot of people use the name producer loosely, but I also feel many hip hop acts that do produce, don’t always get the credit, on the indie level at least… Bigger names like The Neptunes, Dr Dre and Timberland get the respect from people, but a lot of others go unnoticed for their musicianship that do more than just loop beats, I agree.

You experiment with some more synthy-techy stuff on this album. How did that come about? Is any of it an influence from the rise and rise of popularity of grimey-Detroit based stuff? Do you think Dilla’s death brought even more attention to that?

I’ve always messed with synth sounds. You Are Now Tuned In on The Find was a track comprised of mostly synth sounds, and No Delay was produced a while ago. But even on The Find, I had synth sounds in other tracks too… The Treatment, Where It All Started and others. I try to not do things just because it’s popular, because I want to duck the comments of ‘oh that sounds like a Dilla or a Madlib track’. I got my style and using synths, rhodes or any other instrument shouldn’t hinder my creativity so I use it when I feel too, or to create a vibe all my own. Dilla’s death and Detroit, I can’t be too sure if it bought more attention to it, but I know it shined more well deserved light to his discography of production credits, even to myself.

He was innovative, always moving forward and he kept growing, with a solid formula that is easily recognized when copied by others. That’s a dope trait to have and an ultra form of flattery when people copy what you do.

Your song about producer MCs is a future classic. Do you consider any of your idols your peers? Are you realistic about your talents, or would you say you’re more humble?

I’m humble and thankful for all I do, and can do as well as those who support what I do. I don’t hold anyone as an idol, but I hold respect for their works, and some of those mentioned are my peers I feel, and most are friends, so it’s all love in my world.

You appear to be very spiritual in your lyrics, be it with a Christian God or a more Buddhist, holistic approach. Do you find inspiration from spirituality? How do you rise above all of the darkness and mediocrity in your industry? ie. How potent is this inspiration?

I am a Christian, and the potency of that in my life is large. My belief system challenges me to live a life that is challenged by discipline in many areas, and it’s tough but the pay off is huge. I’ve been blessed with the ability to see the world just off of doing music, as well as talents in visual design and writing. Since love and life comes from god, I’m inspired by the fact that he is all knowing and the giver of talents… so I tap into this idea and fight to overcome mediocrity by that same idea… be original, be innovative, be myself, and express who I am… be real above all.

The album is being released with the instrumentals as a shout out to the DJs using Serato. How has technology affected what you do? Did you want people to get a better idea of your caliber as a producer in separating the beats and the lyrics?

I’ve always liked albums that also had instrumental versions come out, which were rare, but it’s dope for DJs as well as listeners… But you have to have an almost musical enough piece of work to make it worthwhile. I know my A&R and I had planned to do some vinyl copies, but I think with the technology shift they made the call to do it with the CDs, but even the CD world is shrinking because of the digital download of albums, legal and illegal. It’s scary to think that my future efforts on albums would just be limited and squashed down to an mp3 format… That’s sad for me… I know people just want to hear the music but when there’s heart and soul put in it… I want a vinyl copy, or a CD copy to have something tangible… The day CDs and Vinyl are not being manufactured is the day I stop putting out records, and make music for myself and my family for ourselves to enjoy.

What do we get in an Ohmega Watts live show?

High energy, passionate performance, crowd participation, crazy turntabalist routines from my DJ’s and an overall good time.

Any last shout outs or words of wisdom?

Nuff respect to the supporters and listeners of my music down under and world-wide. Liz over at Creative Vibes, James at Niche Productions and the promoters who got down on bringing me to their venues, and the radio DJs who’ve played my music. Be yourself, spread love, live love, and enjoy whatever it is that your talented to do… Music isn’t this surreal life you may think it is, it’s hard work like anything else, and the shine and attention is for a moment, and not satisfying so don’t strive for that attention… Stick close to your friends and family, and expand and spread love.

Watts Happening is available now through Ubiquity Records/Creative Vibes and you can catch Ohmega Watts doing his thing at the following dates…

Fri 23rd Nov – Melbourne, The Espy
Sat 24th Nov – Sydney, Oxford Art Factory
Thu 29th Nov – Brisbane, Step Inn
Fri 30th Nov – Perth, The Rosemount
Sat 1st Dec – Adelaide, Rockit Bar

Check out ITM’s review of Watts Happening HERE and have a look at a clip of Ohmega performing onstage at last year’s Lollapalooza…