Oblé Reed isn’t your typical hip-hop artist. With an upbringing in contemporary christian and jazz music, Oblé doesn’t seek to be transgressive but instead authentic.
At twenty-two years old, Oblé has already been getting attention from major players in the music world. Soundcloud for one, and also Pharrell Williams’ multimedia collective, I_am_other, in 2021. That same year, Oblé’s “Loose Change” appeared on a collaborative record curated by Williams. Even in his hometown of Seattle, Washington, he won the “Seattle Times 2023 Best Album in Washington State”. But he’s remained humble through the recent success.
“I feel like I have continued to grow into myself as an artist,” he says. “As I live more and experience more, my art breathes new life, and the pen game continues to sharpen.”
His lyrics on LINDENAVE!, his first record, have the raw nerve you might expect from a young songwriter. Unexpected, though, is the lack of cursing in any of his music. Oblé cites his upbringing for this, saying it’s an instinct. He also says it’s, “why I have been drawn to jazzier chords and sounds in my production.”
Lately, he finds himself drawn to the sonics of St. Louis artists such as Smino, Jordan Ward and Lido. As far as branding, he says, “Teezo Touchdown has been in a lane of his own with the world he has been able to craft around his latest project. There is so much intentionality behind everything that he does, it’s super dope to see.”
After dropping “PUSHEM. FREESTYLE”, his latest single, this past December, Oblé still plans to release new work throughout the year. “I have been building out a couple EP’s and singles to continue to expand my discography post-LINDENAVE!,” he says. There are also upcoming collaborations with other brands and artists, as well as a tour, that he is excited about. He says, “This is gonna be a year of execution and it’s already shaping up to be a special one.”
Check out Oblé down below:
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