Seattle-based emcee Michael Martinez, better known as Onry Ozzborn, is a busy guy. As founder of Northwest hip-hop collective Oldominion (or the West Coast Wu-Tang Clan), member of Grayskul (Rhymesayers), Dark Time Sunshine, and master of his own solo career, there's rarely a moment when he's not working on music. Along with JFK (also of Oldominion), Ozzborn was a featured artist at the 20th anniversary of Rhymesayers Entertainment in Minneapolis, Minnesota December 4, 2015. The lineup included Atmosphere, Aesop Rock, Dilated Peoples, Abstract Rude, Dem Atlas, Brother Ali and other artists on the RSE roster. In addition to RSE, Ozzborn is also a longtime signee of independent powerhouse label Fake Four Inc., founded by brothers Ceschi and David Ramos. He took a few minutes to catch his breath and answer a few questions about what he's up to now, growing up in New Mexico and working with Fake Four, Inc.
RAPstation (Kyle Eustice): How do you think growing up in New Mexico shaped your musical tastes?
Onry Ozzborn: Growing up in New Mexico, '80s music, metal, grunge and county were what my sister, friends and folks were playing around me growing up. I discovered rap music on my own for the most part. The small town I grew up in out there wasn't really into it except for me and a few close friends. Listening and growing up on a few genres of music made me open minded and you could say experimental when it came time to make my own music.
When did you discover hip-hop for the first time?
First time I ever discovered or heard rap music was on a baseball trip for a tournament in my friend's RV. He was playing Run-D.M.C.'s "Hit It Run" on his ghettoblaster and I was like, 'Whoooah! What the hell is that bro?' I had never heard anything that gave me the feeling I felt right at that moment. To say the least, I was inspired from that day forth.
What did you like about it?
The passion and honesty; the beat, rhythm, cadence and tone was just nothing I had ever experienced, as well. Basically it was like hearing a new language for the first time except I didn't have to learn it. I already understood it right out the gate.
When and why did you end up relocating to Seattle?
I ended up in Seattle because my best friend/rap buddy at the time, Christopher Tafoya [Sleep], had moved out that way. He was making music and recording like 'for real real.' I was in college playing baseball at the time in Arizona and on my Christmas break, or something like that. I bought a round trip train ticket to go 'visit.' Let's just say I never came back.
How was Oldominion formed? Grayskul? Dark Time Sunshine?
Sleep, my guy Jeremy Batton [Pale Soul] and I formed a group called Oraclez Creed. We then ventured off to Portland to poke around in their scene to see what was up. There we met Frontline [Snafu, NyQwil, and Dialog[, also known as the beset group of all time. The six of us hit it off and began to make music, thus joining forces between Seattle and Portland. We slowly started to acquire other emcees, which would eventually become Oldominion, or what was referred to as the West Coast Wu Tang Clan back then. I think that was around 1998 or so. Grayskul and Dark Time Sunshine were groups that derived from my OLD family and other folks that we came across and worked with.
What do these three projects have in common?
They are family oriented and evolved on their own with no real plan other than to make some cool music for folks to enjoy. They sound nothing alike. Every one of them takes its own form, and/or shape. They each have created their own lane I'd say.
What did you like about Fake Four, Inc.?
Its founder/president Ceschi is by far one of the most genuine, kind, talented gentleman I've ever met. I consider him a brother. He believed/believes in DTS, Grayskul, and me. He gave us a platform to put out our work. Same goes for Siddiq and Sean [Daley or Slug] over at Rhymesayers in regards to Grayskul.
Do you like touring?
Touring is very much essential to independent artists in my opinion. Going out time after time to build that cult following is key. You can't just sit at home and hope for the best. I enjoy it for the most part because you get to meet a lot of the people that are into your art, not to mention there's just nothing like a live show for both the fans and performers alike. The downfall for me is just being away from my kids long periods of time.
What have you been working on lately?
I am currently working on a new solo effort called DUO. Every song has me and a guest on it so I guess it's not really a solo album per se since I've put it all together in a duet like way. Five to six different producers have handled all the beats. It was recorded and mixed by Zebulon Dak, mastered by Daddy Kev and will be released in five different ways at five different times with each version exclusive and unique to itself. The album will be released through Ted Records.
The schedule is as follows:
February 16 - Visual Version
March 16 - Limited CD Version
April 16 - Digital Version
May 16 - Full Length Vinyl
June 16 - Cassette Tape
Other than this DUO album, the master plan is to tour for the project and finish up a new Dark Time Sunshine album, and tour on that.
TWITTER:
@grayskul_
@DrkTimeSunshine
@OnOzz717
FACEBOOK:
Grayskul
Dark Time Sunshine
Onry Ozzborn
INSTAGRAM:
@DarkTimeSunshine
@OnryOzzborn
@Grayskul
Onry Ozzborn: The RAPstation Interview
Seattle-based emcee Michael Martinez, better known as Onry Ozzborn, is a busy guy. As founder of Northwest hip-hop collective Oldominion (or the West Coast Wu-Tang Clan), member of Grayskul (Rhymesayers), Dark Time Sunshine, and master of his own solo career, there's rarely a moment when he's not working on music. Along with JFK (also of Oldominion), Ozzborn was a featured artist at the 20th anniversary of Rhymesayers Entertainment in Minneapolis, Minnesota December 4, 2015. The lineup included Atmosphere, Aesop Rock, Dilated Peoples, Abstract Rude, Dem Atlas, Brother Ali and other artists on the RSE roster. In addition to RSE, Ozzborn is also a longtime signee of independent powerhouse label Fake Four Inc., founded by brothers Ceschi and David Ramos. He took a few minutes to catch his breath and answer a few questions about what he's up to now, growing up in New Mexico and working with Fake Four, Inc.
RAPstation (Kyle Eustice): How do you think growing up in New Mexico shaped your musical tastes?
Onry Ozzborn: Growing up in New Mexico, '80s music, metal, grunge and county were what my sister, friends and folks were playing around me growing up. I discovered rap music on my own for the most part. The small town I grew up in out there wasn't really into it except for me and a few close friends. Listening and growing up on a few genres of music made me open minded and you could say experimental when it came time to make my own music.
When did you discover hip-hop for the first time?
First time I ever discovered or heard rap music was on a baseball trip for a tournament in my friend's RV. He was playing Run-D.M.C.'s "Hit It Run" on his ghettoblaster and I was like, 'Whoooah! What the hell is that bro?' I had never heard anything that gave me the feeling I felt right at that moment. To say the least, I was inspired from that day forth.
What did you like about it?
The passion and honesty; the beat, rhythm, cadence and tone was just nothing I had ever experienced, as well. Basically it was like hearing a new language for the first time except I didn't have to learn it. I already understood it right out the gate.
When and why did you end up relocating to Seattle?
I ended up in Seattle because my best friend/rap buddy at the time, Christopher Tafoya [Sleep], had moved out that way. He was making music and recording like 'for real real.' I was in college playing baseball at the time in Arizona and on my Christmas break, or something like that. I bought a round trip train ticket to go 'visit.' Let's just say I never came back.
How was Oldominion formed? Grayskul? Dark Time Sunshine?
Sleep, my guy Jeremy Batton [Pale Soul] and I formed a group called Oraclez Creed. We then ventured off to Portland to poke around in their scene to see what was up. There we met Frontline [Snafu, NyQwil, and Dialog[, also known as the beset group of all time. The six of us hit it off and began to make music, thus joining forces between Seattle and Portland. We slowly started to acquire other emcees, which would eventually become Oldominion, or what was referred to as the West Coast Wu Tang Clan back then. I think that was around 1998 or so. Grayskul and Dark Time Sunshine were groups that derived from my OLD family and other folks that we came across and worked with.
What do these three projects have in common?
They are family oriented and evolved on their own with no real plan other than to make some cool music for folks to enjoy. They sound nothing alike. Every one of them takes its own form, and/or shape. They each have created their own lane I'd say.
What did you like about Fake Four, Inc.?
Its founder/president Ceschi is by far one of the most genuine, kind, talented gentleman I've ever met. I consider him a brother. He believed/believes in DTS, Grayskul, and me. He gave us a platform to put out our work. Same goes for Siddiq and Sean [Daley or Slug] over at Rhymesayers in regards to Grayskul.
Do you like touring?
Touring is very much essential to independent artists in my opinion. Going out time after time to build that cult following is key. You can't just sit at home and hope for the best. I enjoy it for the most part because you get to meet a lot of the people that are into your art, not to mention there's just nothing like a live show for both the fans and performers alike. The downfall for me is just being away from my kids long periods of time.
What have you been working on lately?
I am currently working on a new solo effort called DUO. Every song has me and a guest on it so I guess it's not really a solo album per se since I've put it all together in a duet like way. Five to six different producers have handled all the beats. It was recorded and mixed by Zebulon Dak, mastered by Daddy Kev and will be released in five different ways at five different times with each version exclusive and unique to itself. The album will be released through Ted Records.
The schedule is as follows:
February 16 - Visual Version
March 16 - Limited CD Version
April 16 - Digital Version
May 16 - Full Length Vinyl
June 16 - Cassette Tape
Other than this DUO album, the master plan is to tour for the project and finish up a new Dark Time Sunshine album, and tour on that.
TWITTER:
@grayskul_
@DrkTimeSunshine
@OnOzz717
FACEBOOK:
Grayskul
Dark Time Sunshine
Onry Ozzborn
INSTAGRAM:
@DarkTimeSunshine
@OnryOzzborn
@Grayskul
