Classic Meets Contemporary: Omaur Bliss and Toki Wright
- by Maddy Hughes
- Toki Wright and Omaur Bliss are icons in the local Minneapolis rap and hip-hop community. Singers with Rhymesayers Entertainment--the independent, Minneapolis-based hip-hop record label that’s gained national and international attention since its establishment in 1995-- Wright and Bliss write music that seeks to empower listeners, whether politically or emotionally.
- While each musician maintains his own distinctive musical style (Wright's loyal to rap, while Bliss veers into R&B with hip-hop on the side), these two artists are compelling choices for "Lush Life." Since the music of "Lush Life" is based on jazz standards from the Great American Songbook, which emerged from the struggles of new immigrant populations in the early 20th century, musicians from the rap/hip-hop genre are prime candidates for this show as their music also deals with romance, loss and changes in American society.
- Q&A with Omaur Bliss
- MH: Your music leans more toward R&B than hip-hop. What about the Great American Songbook appealed to you?
- OB: Jazz has been a great influence in my life—especially old R&B, which is a direct derivative of jazz. So to interpret these songs for a modern palate is not only paying homage to those who have allowed me to do what I do, but I’m making connections for a newer generation that may not see the direct influence that jazz still has on popular music.
- MH: Which songs from the Great American Songbook affect you the most, and why?
- OB: One song I chose was "Autumn Leaves" by Nat King Cole. I am a huge fan of his and this song is amazing and his voice is so soothing. The other one I chose was "Ain't Misbehavin'." It’s just a really fun song and I think that's important in music, especially how jazz was fun and free a lot of times.
- MH: Out of all the artists from the jazz canon era, which one(s) do you identify with or find inspiration in?
- OB: Nat King Cole, Lena Horn, Duke Ellington. Their music has influenced so many people as well as their style. They were all amazing songwriters as well.
- MH: What from your musical career as a singer/songwriter will influence your performance in "Lush Life?"
- OB: Definitely all of the years of singing backups and lead vocals. Also the art of songwriting is to convey a message in the simplest and easiest way possible and the songs that I have chosen are that: eloquent, simple and stoic.
- MH: What aspects or characteristics of R&B are you using to reinvent the defining music in American history?
- OB: The sultriness as well as the heartfelt emotion that R&B, especially older R&B, has, as well as the lightness and the fun of it.
- MH: What about performing in "Lush Life" excites you the most?
- OB: The concept is a really cool one. I think for those who want an education in jazz this will be a great experience for them. I personally am excited to work with all of the fabulous artists that are on the bill. I have so much respect and admiration for all of them. For me, since I no longer live in the Twin Cities area, this is in some cases a family reunion for me. To see some friends perform and to have the experience of sharing these phenomenal songs will be a big joy for me.
- Q&A with Toki Wright
- MH: Your music leans more toward hip-hop than R&B. What about the Great American Songbook appealed to you?
- TW: I have never been familiar with the Great American Songbook, but I have been a fan of the great musicians’ work that has been preserved. There is something about the jazz greats and the environment in which they created their work that has always intrigued me—struggle, hardship, pain, love; all universal concepts.
- MH: Which songs from the Great American Songbook affect you the most, and why?
- TW: That would be too many to count but the selections I chose for "Lush Life" are Louis Armstrong's "Black and Blue" and Thelonious Monk's rendition of "I Should Care." Both songs spoke directly to me internally.
- MH: Out of all the artists from the jazz canon era, which one(s) do you identify with or find inspiration in?
- TW: Way too many to count, but I would say either Miles Davis or Louis Armstrong.
- MH: What from your musical career as a songwriter will influence your performance in "Lush Life?"
- TW: I want to take my opportunity to delve into deeper discussion than I often get to in a 30-minute mashed together assortment of songs.
- MH: What aspects or characteristics of rap and/or hip-hop are you using to reinvent the defining music in American history?
- TW: My performance will be a lot less rap and a lot more of something else I'll save for the performance.
- MH: What about performing in "Lush Life" excites you the most?
- TW: The influence of jazz and its relationship to the American experience.
- Maddy Hughes is a junior in the School of Journalism and Mass Communication at the University of Minnesota.
Classic Meets Contemporary: Omaur Bliss and Toki Wright
- by Maddy Hughes
- Toki Wright and Omaur Bliss are icons in the local Minneapolis rap and hip-hop community. Singers with Rhymesayers Entertainment--the independent, Minneapolis-based hip-hop record label that’s gained national and international attention since its establishment in 1995-- Wright and Bliss write music that seeks to empower listeners, whether politically or emotionally.
- While each musician maintains his own distinctive musical style (Wright's loyal to rap, while Bliss veers into R&B with hip-hop on the side), these two artists are compelling choices for "Lush Life." Since the music of "Lush Life" is based on jazz standards from the Great American Songbook, which emerged from the struggles of new immigrant populations in the early 20th century, musicians from the rap/hip-hop genre are prime candidates for this show as their music also deals with romance, loss and changes in American society.
- Q&A with Omaur Bliss
- MH: Your music leans more toward R&B than hip-hop. What about the Great American Songbook appealed to you?
- OB: Jazz has been a great influence in my life—especially old R&B, which is a direct derivative of jazz. So to interpret these songs for a modern palate is not only paying homage to those who have allowed me to do what I do, but I’m making connections for a newer generation that may not see the direct influence that jazz still has on popular music.
- MH: Which songs from the Great American Songbook affect you the most, and why?
- OB: One song I chose was "Autumn Leaves" by Nat King Cole. I am a huge fan of his and this song is amazing and his voice is so soothing. The other one I chose was "Ain't Misbehavin'." It’s just a really fun song and I think that's important in music, especially how jazz was fun and free a lot of times.
- MH: Out of all the artists from the jazz canon era, which one(s) do you identify with or find inspiration in?
- OB: Nat King Cole, Lena Horn, Duke Ellington. Their music has influenced so many people as well as their style. They were all amazing songwriters as well.
- MH: What from your musical career as a singer/songwriter will influence your performance in "Lush Life?"
- OB: Definitely all of the years of singing backups and lead vocals. Also the art of songwriting is to convey a message in the simplest and easiest way possible and the songs that I have chosen are that: eloquent, simple and stoic.
- MH: What aspects or characteristics of R&B are you using to reinvent the defining music in American history?
- OB: The sultriness as well as the heartfelt emotion that R&B, especially older R&B, has, as well as the lightness and the fun of it.
- MH: What about performing in "Lush Life" excites you the most?
- OB: The concept is a really cool one. I think for those who want an education in jazz this will be a great experience for them. I personally am excited to work with all of the fabulous artists that are on the bill. I have so much respect and admiration for all of them. For me, since I no longer live in the Twin Cities area, this is in some cases a family reunion for me. To see some friends perform and to have the experience of sharing these phenomenal songs will be a big joy for me.
- Q&A with Toki Wright
- MH: Your music leans more toward hip-hop than R&B. What about the Great American Songbook appealed to you?
- TW: I have never been familiar with the Great American Songbook, but I have been a fan of the great musicians’ work that has been preserved. There is something about the jazz greats and the environment in which they created their work that has always intrigued me—struggle, hardship, pain, love; all universal concepts.
- MH: Which songs from the Great American Songbook affect you the most, and why?
- TW: That would be too many to count but the selections I chose for "Lush Life" are Louis Armstrong's "Black and Blue" and Thelonious Monk's rendition of "I Should Care." Both songs spoke directly to me internally.
- MH: Out of all the artists from the jazz canon era, which one(s) do you identify with or find inspiration in?
- TW: Way too many to count, but I would say either Miles Davis or Louis Armstrong.
- MH: What from your musical career as a songwriter will influence your performance in "Lush Life?"
- TW: I want to take my opportunity to delve into deeper discussion than I often get to in a 30-minute mashed together assortment of songs.
- MH: What aspects or characteristics of rap and/or hip-hop are you using to reinvent the defining music in American history?
- TW: My performance will be a lot less rap and a lot more of something else I'll save for the performance.
- MH: What about performing in "Lush Life" excites you the most?
- TW: The influence of jazz and its relationship to the American experience.
- Maddy Hughes is a junior in the School of Journalism and Mass Communication at the University of Minnesota.
Posted 2 years ago
