Id Obelus

‘Flyourfavorite’ is the latest release from Indiana’s own Id Obelus. I was fortunate enough to review previous release which received much praise; mostly for its supreme creativeness. The question is, can he up the ante on this release? The answer is an astounding yes! As I stated in my last review of IO, his style would be considered by most to be extremely unconventional. But, that’s what draws you into his releases, making you listen to them from beginning to end.

On the first track “Soul Dispersion,” you get a good idea of what the guy is talking about, but at the same time, he’s just a smart fella; he’s prone to spit smart rhymes. Often this is in the form of inside jokes, or concepts you might wonder and ponder for more than a minute. The song is one of those overtly playful beats with more thoughts on this whole rap thing. The next track “Voyage from the Frontline” brings back EA’s Xcircles whose multi-layered style compliments IO’s sing-song style impeccably. The beat is an industrial fused prodding manifesto to one’s eardrums. As we all know, the Hip Hop universe is insanely clustered with personal journals, emo hop, philosophical, and depressed rambling. While all of that surely deserves to be out there, getting the alternative from Id Obelus is nevertheless welcomed.

I must add that the mind will drift off, and it’s only due to some of the strengths ID doubtlessly has, that you’ll often drift along with his train of thought. Especially on the offerings where everything works perfect together, like on the Oblio produced “Rural American Rap”. “Insert curse word here…Biatch”!! I LOVE THAT LINE! And once again it’s a case of a dope beat making the vocalist sound even better than he does anyways. The next adventure “1991 1987” is ID’s battle type track containing a “Nutcraker” type bell that bobs and weaves around the listener before soundly boxing their ears. This appears to be the first track that takes us into the rhyming mind and it is leading us through braggadocios words that give the competition a verbal spanking. Id Obelus is able to adopt his style to the Smirk beat in highly impressive ways. Just like his last release, Oblio handled most of the production with some friends that drop by to offer a helping hand. On the song “You Will Die”, Obelus busts a Beastie Boy inspired rhyme that shows how versatile he can be, with the melody enhancing the whole track, making this another dope song.

IO reaches everyone that grows up with less than two TVs and no vacation outside of town and was not content with just putting a couple of tracks together, put ’em on a disc, call it an album and call it a day. Hence this is one of the cases where a rap record is using its potential; talking to people and to bring a story across, easier and better, than any other genre of music is able to. More than halfway thru the 20 tracks, you realize this album is a roller coaster ride with twists and turns. Many of tracks are often still paired with polished layers.

Other sick tracks to check out are “Eyes Down,” “Without Use” and fittingly ends with “Emotions” that concludes the album with a shimmery yet insistent instrumental that allows listeners to hear the album’s underpinnings from Id Obelus’ peerless perspective that further takes the lyrical content beyond the bragging before it again turns to a poetic exploration of serious issues. In a way every artist, if not to say every person has a record like this in him. But only a few actually have the courage or the skills to make the effort and put this record out. But its impact will also very much depend on the mind state the person is in that listens to it. Hence this very much deserves and needs an open door. I’d recommend anyone to pick this up, and to keep a close eye on his next move. Support Id Obelus by purchasing this breathtaking album. -CyPhEr777 - Insomniac Magazine

After the short intro to Id Obelus’s 88 Oranges, Paid Jah’s Earl Hienz Ketchup gets most impressive with his production for “Push the Button,” providing a beat to make any rapper look good; so Obelus decides to drop some slick observations on his post-9/11 world. It’s as catchy as you’re likely to find on 88 Oranges, although “Irrelevance,” with Tae Sun’s horn and conga-heavy beat married to Obelus’s self-deprecating braggadocio, and “Orange Everything,” with another triumphant Earl Hienz Ketchup beat for Obelus’s drug-induced theorising, are close on the heels in song order and enjoyment. Nomar Slevik’s Ghostbusters-reject beat for “Song About Psalm 101v7” continues the string of successes. In fact, the beats are most often well-chosen, and Id Obelus is a quirky but honest rapper that would fit well with Anticon or Plague Language. He touches on numerous topics: along with the politics of “Push the Button,” Obelus also raps about poverty (“Poor Mule”), the temptation to sell out (“M.C. Trustworthy”) and love (“Mrs. Starfish”). The sound is often lo-fi (but not gritty) and there is a very casual feel to the whole project that gives 88 Oranges an endearing quality. A very independent — and likely to be limited — release that is worth seeking out by those interested in hip-hop that’s outside the box.(Splitwood) - Exclaim! (Canada's Music Authority)

In a genre that is heavily saturated at this point, Id Obelus has released an underground hip hop album with brains, wit and atypical beats. Hailing from the Hoosier state, Id Obelus draws comparisons to MC Paul Barman and Aesop Rock without the constant corniness of the former or abstractness of the latter. With the obvious lack of having a big name producer like Prince Paul or El-P to work with, Id Obelus rhymes over tracks that have simple drum beats, keys and some tracks with horns. Most likely this album won’t be on your babies momma’s Christmas List, but worth a listen and if given the opportunity to witness him live, don’t miss the show. - bettawreckonize.com

How do we know what’s “conventional” when it comes to describing Hip Hop today? What if what we call “unconventional”, is really traditional and vice versa? I mean, Hip Hop was never meant to be commercial nor outlandish either. It was a format that was meant originally for inner-city individuals to speak their minds and vent their everyday frustrations using basic rhyme styles and a basic beat as a backdrop.

But as time went on, someone decided to get a little more technical and elaborate with this element. Different styles started to form and kids from all walks of life started to voice their opinions too. Unfortunately, corporate America saw dollar signs and turned it into the ugly monster you see now. Nowadays, new genres are being created every second and the battle still exists on what is conventional or not. Which brings me to the newest effort from Id Obelus called, “Promo Overkill”. “P.O.” smashes what many consider conventional with a brash 13 track masterpiece.

Of the 13 tracks, none are longer than three and a half minutes long but, it takes nothing away from what this album has to offer. It’s a roller coaster ride like the track “Cornfields, Orange Peels, Force Fields”, or the Nomar Slevik produced “You’ve got nothing to say”. Then there are tracks that straight up bash your face in like “Shortcut #5” (produced by Elypsis) or the dope “Auraface” where Xczircles of The Escape Artists lends his voice.

“Mud” encompasses an echo of chambers that are hovering through the track while Id and Oblio rip rapid flows without mercy. Some may think that he just spits stupid flows for the hell of it like in the track “My Free MP3” or, is he just getting sh*t off his chest?

Id Obelus has a nasal style that’s a cross between Bleubird and Sixtoo and he even has a little Buck65 in him as well. To some, the lyrics might just be a little too left field at times. On each cut he’s doing a little something, and that usually comes with a surprise. His odd verses are told in a very visual way and you might even be lured by the sometimes peculiar sing song flow. If you are not willing to follow Id’s every word, this album offers you enough music to get lost in. The production is handled by a slew of “composers” so; it stands to say that each “composer” offers a reason why you want to check out this record. This album succeeds in giving us a lot of character, honest emotions and creative forwardness, as well as an excellent album chock full of contents to be discovered. - Insomniac Magazine

Sprouting from the endless cornfields of Indiana, Id Obelus doesn't have a lot of hip-hop influences in his environment, and it's apparent when listening to his music. He really can't be compared to any other rapper guys that I've heard. His voice actually sounds kind of like E. T. He raps with a smooth, slow, melodic flow, perfectly complementing the beats, which are normally smooth, slow and melodic as well. Adding a little extra spice and variety to the album, there are guest contributions from an ample assortment of beat makers and vocalists, including Noah 23, Myn Dwun, Elias, Naval Aviator, Earl Heinz Ketchup, and me, among others. [The Mole]

Tang Li would probably say something like, "Nice, melodic, and fun enough. Good stuff." [The Mole filling in for Tang Li Wheebs] - Mau Time Weekly