Otniel and The Epic Ego Death

Ariana Daniels
Oct 16, 2016
3 min read

The one thing I love about new artist is the fact they are new! You’re not hearing an established artist who’s story has already been told; you’re hearing something fresh, and something brand new. It’s like starting a book, through the artist you are going on an adventure; an adventure that spans the past, present, and future. On this journey you see the artist grow and see the world through their eyes via the lyrics. That’s the reason I love rap so much. Other genres can tell a story but none do it like hip-hop. I think that’s what I like most about Otniel. He's really using music to tell his story.

Otniel is a Boston artist from the 978/Essex/Peabody area who started his career as a videographer but slowly transitioned into music through poetry, his grandpa (a guitarist/ singer) and friends who are artist themselves.

Like I said he is really expressing himself and who he is. He blatantly does not give a fuck what everyone else is doing. He and beat maker El Shepherd (who is really dope check him out here) aren't trying to be trendy they are just making what they feel. That’s what I think is missing from mainstream rap today. A lot of artists make songs that go along with the trends. Don't get me wrong I love the turn up super hype music on the radio, it's lit and there's nothing wrong with it. However I think we all can agree it’s refreshing hear a different sound from time to time. What I love most is that NEW artists are making different sounds. For all the people who claim rap is dead NEW artist like Otniel are proving that it is very much alive and expanding into something more.

Another thing about Otniel , in my opinion, is that he is leading a movement of originals. From music to photography, to his own beats he embodies the message “Be you to the fullest.”

He considers himself a “loner” and a person who has always been different, yet he embraces this concept and makes art with it.

Otniel has only released two official tracks on his Soundcloud Ego Death and Champ

Ego Death is basically his life story where he expresses his feelings about his family and how he sometimes differs from them because his wants and actions are different.

Champ aka Champcrew Affiliate as Otniel explains goes deeper into those emotions and is basically about him trying to be somebody that he’s not or the person he thought he had to be because he was raised around a certain lifestyle that he doesn't quite accept.

I want to backtrack a little and talk about Ego Death a bit more. When Otniel says “Still no one to save me let me turn to the drugs” he’s talking about how he used drugs for guidance because he basically didn’t see anybody like him. Then he takes what I assume are shrooms, and trips and realizes that the drugs aka guidance can’t save him, he just has to be himself than we transfer into Champ and OMG LOL I’M IN LOVE!

Y'all honestly listen to me! Linda Listen! This isn’t a mixtape this is a project with a concept that flows together pretty well. The beats and the topics grow as each song progresses, and maybe I'm speaking a little too early because only two songs have been dropped, but so far , just looking at the fact that this artist is actually taking the time to put together something with so much meaning and thought, makes me beyond happy and eager to hear more! Also MAJOR SHOUT OUT TO EL SHEPHERD once again, because his beats are so fucking nice.

Ok woe… let me stop being a fangirl for a second. On a serious note, as someone who is really in love with hip-hop and who is tired of hearing people say hip-hop is dead (which is why I made this section, to prove that it isn’t.) It is nice to hear an artist so new and at the young age of 21, making an album with a concept. Like I said Otniel isn’t into doing things like everyone else, he just does what he feels and whether or not you like his music (which you should) you can appreciate his authenticity. Like I said Otniel and Boston artist, in general, are bringing something new to the table and I think it’s worth the listen.