(Illustration by Aniekan)

Amir “Oddisee” Mohamed is one of the region’s standout hip-hop talents. A foundation of the Low Budget Crew, Oddisee’s resume reads like a who’s-who of modern hip hop: DJ Jazzy Jeff, Talib Kweli, J-Live, Asheru, Little Brother and many others.

His newest track, “Gentrification,” (produced by Kev Brown) speaks to a familiar issue—-the (un)intended consequences of development and a bursting housing bubble. Hailing from Largo, Oddisee brings his perspective to gentrification and the radical change that the real estate market has manufactured from U Street to Aspen Hill.

Oddisee is breaking it down, and he’s right:

It’s something to see when the
authenticity of a city is
replaced by college kids and high sadiddyness
urban decay, making way for Ikeas,
luxury lofts
replacing what I see is a history lost

He ties together the gentrification here in the DMV to similar situations in Harlem, Chicago, Atlanta, and New Orleans. He really shows his strength as an MC on this track, with dope rhymes on a topic that needs them over a solid beat.

MP3: Oddisee, “Gentrification” (Linked with artist’s permission.)