Introducing 4OE-D, the Chicago rapper who soared up the iTunes rap charts with his debut EP Solomon: A Slaves Redemption, achieving spot #53 in the top 200 album charts.
Taking inspiration from artists such as Kanye West, 50 Cent and Jay-Z, 4OE-D’s new EP is reminiscent of the early 2000s hip hop sound, exploring current issues while alluding to difficult themes that have persisted over many hundreds of years. With the project’s title paying homage to Solomon Northup, the freeborn African American man who was kidnapped and sold into slavery for 12 years in the 19th century – inspiring the creation of his infamous memoir 12 Years a Slave – 4OE-D’s debut project was motivated by the rapper’s experience with what he describes as “modern-day slavery”, referring to the culture of mass incarceration of black men in the U.S.
The artist himself was sentenced to twelve years in prison, before writing a motion that overturned his sentence after serving for four – a sequence of events that propelled his artistry and triggered the creation of his first music project. Determined to start anew after his release, the rapper enrolled at the SAE Institute Chicago where he completed his associate’s degree in audio engineering. Soon after, he released the seven track EP Solomon: a Slave’s Redemption, which reflects on his turbulent life journey and his mindset in light of no longer being incarcerated.
The project’s first track ‘No Time’ conveys the artist’s urgency to make the most out of his second chance – especially considering the eight additional years the rapper was assigned to serve – and his determination to not waste time. As the EP progresses, 4OE-D develops a narrative conveying the life he intends to have, with New Panther showcasing his ambition to become one of the rape game greats, and Patty illustrating the lifestyle of luxury he’s determined to obtain for himself. Each track in the project is underpinned by an original and captivating beat, with melodic piano riffs, seamless transitions from rap to vocals and an authenticity that evokes nostalgia for the early 00’s rap scene.
More than being an EP about aspiration, 4OE-D alludes to the inevitability of obstacles – and the necessity of overcoming these obstacles in order to achieve the life you want – in No Bond. The track expresses the importance of removing people from your life who hold you back, and of using perseverance to conquer any hurdles that block your path. Likewise, the project’s closing track Pack Worker presents a portrait of the kind of life the artist is desperate to avoid – ‘pack worker’ being a Chicago expression used to describe workers in manual and menial jobs usually living below the poverty line. In contrast, the artist documents. His determination to “stay afloat” and avoid the destiny that so many people – and especially men of colour – in his hometown have succumbed to.
Overall, Solomon: a Slave’s Redemption is a project that inspires and is inspired, with a sense of urgency that makes the listener feel compelled to achieve more, do better and make the most out of life, projected by an artist who knows better than most the true value of time – and the importance of determination and perseverance in achieving what you want.
© 2022, Brian Washington. All rights reserved.
