Alwasta

Sudanese-American Hip Hop artist Oddisee's new EP 'Alwasta' takes its title from the Arabic colloquial term used to mean (to use colloquial English) 'the plug'. The term 'wasta' comes from the Arabic word 'wasat', meaning 'middile' or 'middleman', and describes a member of the community who acts as a connector using their wealth of social currency. Understanding the value of social currency and how to use it (for better or worse) is what Amir Elkhalifa aka Oddisee focused on as the primary inspiration for his writings. "Every time Oddisee drops anything, it's always a cause for a celebration" - Hilly Dilly "The rapper and producer is all about... the kind of careful craftsmanship that has earned him a reputation as one of the finest hip-hop talents on the Eastern seaboard" - XXL "Drew comparisons to J Dilla, though Oddisee's selections were more scenic" - Pitchfork