Known in hip-hop circles worldwide for his fresh approach and diverse stylings, Ohmega Watts recently followed up his critically-acclaimed solo debut, The Find. Watts Happening proves to be a logical leap forward musically for the producer, beatsmith and emcee.
It was an honor and a privilege for me to sit down and talk to Ohmega Watts recently just before the release of the album, since I've followed his career for about five years now. But for those who aren't yet familiar with his music, I offer the following interview as a crash course into the world of Ohmega Watts.
So I guess the obvious question is: Watts Happening?
(laughs) Pun intended.
Yeah, I'm sure you get that a lot now and you'll get it a lot more once the new album drops.
Exactly. It's part of the reason for putting the name out there like that as well.
Name recognition. That's a good thing.
It's true.
Well this interview will probably serve as an introduction for you to a lot of people who have no idea who you are. . .
That's good.
So, if we could start off with a little background. Basically, who are you and what do you do?
Well, what can I say? I was born in Brooklyn, NY and lived there 'til I was about eight. Moved to Queens, NY with my family until I was about twelve and a half. Then we moved to Florida. My parents were tired of being in New York, the congestion and whatnot. They're from Jamaica originally - not Jamaica Queens, Jamaica the island - and they definitely wanted to get some place warmer. That was closer to the climate that they were used to. And then around the time I was down in Florida - actually before we moved, when I was about eleven - I started getting into hip-hop and I started emceeing around fourteen, just messing around. I always wanted to make music though, make beats. I produce all my own material. So, I got into making beats and whatnot after I got out of high school when I was around seventeen or eighteen.
I've been making beats ever since and growing into the role of producer, learning how to formulate a track, working with musicians and different things. I've been rapping since that time as well, as I was saying. So all together, I've been producing about ten years, rapping about fourteen. And I'm influenced by a lot of music: island music, Latin, Brazilian, as well as some psyche rock and classic rock, funk, soul and jazz - I pretty much run the gamut of sound.
Yeah, I like how your MySpace page says "hip-hop/funk/psychedelic".
(laughs)
Now, besides the obvious pleasure you derive from it, why do you make music?