O.C. (rapper)
Encyclopedia
Omar Credle known by his stage name
, O.C., is an American
rapper
who has been involved with several renowned underground hip-hop
groups and also released many solo albums.
in 1973, and raised in the Bushwick section. In 1991, he made his recording debut on Organized Konfusion
's "Fudge Pudge", and one year later he made a featuring on the remix of MC Serch
's "Back to the Grill" (which also features a very young Nasty Nas
). By 1994, he had signed with Wild Pitch Records
and recorded the album Word...Life
which featured his most notable single "Time's Up". The album was critically acclaimed and remains beloved in hip-hop circles.
In 1996, Credle appeared on the Red Hot Organization
's compilation CD, America is Dying Slowly
, alongside Biz Markie
, Wu-Tang Clan
, and Fat Joe
, among many other prominent hip hop artists. The CD, meant to raise awareness of the AIDS epidemic among African American men, was heralded as "a masterpiece" by The Source magazine.
In 1997, O.C. signed to Pay Day Records, where he released his second album Jewelz
— another critically acclaimed effort that kept O.C. headed in the right direction and featured collaborations with DJ Premier
, Da Beatminerz
and Freddie Foxxx
. The album featured the single "Far From Yours", which peaked at #81 on the Billboard Hot 100
. This is O.C.'s highest charting single to date. By this time, he was a part of the underground rap
act known as Diggin' in The Crates together with legends like Lord Finesse
, Showbiz & A.G., Diamond D
, Buckwild
and Big L
. In 2000 the crew released their self-titled debut album through Tommy Boy Records on which O.C. featured on the majority of the songs. In 1998, O.C. was featured on Pete Rock's "Respect Mine" from Pete Rock's 1998 solo debut album "Soul Survivor".
The 2001 release of Bon Appetit
was met with very mixed reviews; the negative accused O.C. of selling out with a polished, shining and toned-down sound. This was although Buckwild produced the large bulk of the album with the only help coming from Lord Finesse and Ahmed (pretty much the same formula that made Word...Life a success).
After the disappointing release O.C. disappeared from the scene until 2005, when he released his fourth album with Grit Records; Starchild which only dropped as a very limited Japanese/European import and was met with great acclaim. Later that year, he signed with Hieroglyphics Imperium Recordings
and teamed up with Bronx-native producer Mike Loe, and dropped Smoke and Mirrors.
O.C. is also known for his feature on the Clockers soundtrack as part of the Crooklyn Dodgers
, which also featured rappers Chubb Rock
and Jeru the Damaja
on the now classic DJ Premier
produced "Return of the Crooklyn Dodgers". This is however the only time the group has ever collaborated.
O.C. collaborated with fellow D.I.T.C. member A.G. for an album entitled Oasis. The bulk of the album was produced by French beatsmith E-Blaze with additional tracks supplied by Lord Finesse
, Statik Selektah
and Showbiz
who also acts as the executive producer of the album.
Stage name
A stage name, also called a showbiz name or screen name, is a pseudonym used by performers and entertainers such as actors, wrestlers, comedians, and musicians.-Motivation to use a stage name:...
, O.C., is an American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
rapper
Hip hop music
Hip hop music, also called hip-hop, rap music or hip-hop music, is a musical genre consisting of a stylized rhythmic music that commonly accompanies rapping, a rhythmic and rhyming speech that is chanted...
who has been involved with several renowned underground hip-hop
Alternative hip hop
Alternative hip hop is a sub-genre of hip hop music. Allmusic defines it as follows: -Origin:...
groups and also released many solo albums.
Recording career
Omar was born in BrooklynBrooklyn
Brooklyn is the most populous of New York City's five boroughs, with nearly 2.6 million residents, and the second-largest in area. Since 1896, Brooklyn has had the same boundaries as Kings County, which is now the most populous county in New York State and the second-most densely populated...
in 1973, and raised in the Bushwick section. In 1991, he made his recording debut on Organized Konfusion
Organized Konfusion
Organized Konfusion is an alternative hip hop duo from Queens, New York. Though not commercially popular, the duo was one of the most respected and acclaimed underground hip hop acts of the 1990s, largely due to the groundbreaking lyrics of Pharoahe Monch and Prince Poetry.-Recording career:Group...
's "Fudge Pudge", and one year later he made a featuring on the remix of MC Serch
MC Serch
MC Serch is a Jewish-American hip hop MC and former member of 3rd Bass.-Biography:Serch grew up in Far Rockaway, Queens, attending Far Rockaway High School, and graduated from Music & Art High School...
's "Back to the Grill" (which also features a very young Nasty Nas
Nas
Nasir bin Olu Dara Jones, who performs under the name Nas , formerly Nasty Nas, is an American rapper and actor. He is regarded as one of the most important figures in hip hop and one of the most skilled and influential rappers of all-time...
). By 1994, he had signed with Wild Pitch Records
Wild Pitch Records
Wild Pitch Records was a hip hop record label started in the mid 1980s by Stuart Fine and was eventually distributed by EMI and eventually acquired by Jay Faires, who tried to reactivate it as part of his short-lived JCOR Entertainment label...
and recorded the album Word...Life
Word...Life
Word...Life is the 1994 debut album from underground Hip Hop artist O.C., who came to prominence in hip hop because of the album. It also helped establish his membership in the legendary Hip Hop crew D.I.T.C., which includes Lord Finesse, Showbiz & A.G., Diamond D, Fat Joe, Big L and Buckwild, who...
which featured his most notable single "Time's Up". The album was critically acclaimed and remains beloved in hip-hop circles.
In 1996, Credle appeared on the Red Hot Organization
Red Hot Organization
Red Hot Organization is a not-for-profit, 501 3, international organization dedicated to fighting AIDS through pop culture.Since its inception in 1989, over 400 artists, producers and directors have contributed to over 15 compilation albums, related television programs and media events to raise...
's compilation CD, America is Dying Slowly
America Is Dying Slowly
America Is Dying Slowly is a compilation album, the eighth in the Red Hot AIDS Benefit Series of recorded by the Red Hot Organization...
, alongside Biz Markie
Biz Markie
Marcel Theo Hall better known by his stage name, Biz Markie, is an American rapper, beatboxer, DJ, comedian, singer, reality television personality, and commercial spokesperson. He is best known for his single "Just a Friend", an American Top 10 hit in 1989...
, Wu-Tang Clan
Wu-Tang Clan
The Wu-Tang Clan is a hip-hop group from Staten Island that consists of RZA, GZA, Method Man, Raekwon, Ghostface Killah, Inspectah Deck, U-God, Masta Killa, and the late Ol' Dirty Bastard. They are frequently joined by fellow childhood friend Cappadonna, a quasi member of the group...
, and Fat Joe
Fat Joe
Joseph Antonio Cartagena , better known by his stage name Fat Joe, is an American rapper, CEO of Terror Squad Entertainment, and member of musical groups D.I.T.C. and Terror Squad....
, among many other prominent hip hop artists. The CD, meant to raise awareness of the AIDS epidemic among African American men, was heralded as "a masterpiece" by The Source magazine.
In 1997, O.C. signed to Pay Day Records, where he released his second album Jewelz
Jewelz
Jewelz is the second album by the rapper O.C.. Unlike his debut, 1994's Word...Life, Jewelz features a wider number of guest producers and rappers...
— another critically acclaimed effort that kept O.C. headed in the right direction and featured collaborations with DJ Premier
DJ Premier
Christopher Edward Martin , better known by his stage name DJ Premier , is an American record producer and DJ, and was the instrumental half of the hip hop duo Gang Starr, together with emcee Guru...
, Da Beatminerz
Da Beatminerz
Da Beatminerz are a hip-hop production crew from Bushwick, Brooklyn, and are known for their dark, gritty sound that is very popular with the underground hip-hop scene.-History:The crew, originally composed of brothers Mr...
and Freddie Foxxx
Freddie Foxxx
Freddie Foxxx, also known as Bumpy Knuckles, is an American rapper and music producer from Long Island, New York.- Biography :...
. The album featured the single "Far From Yours", which peaked at #81 on the Billboard Hot 100
Billboard Hot 100
The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...
. This is O.C.'s highest charting single to date. By this time, he was a part of the underground rap
Alternative hip hop
Alternative hip hop is a sub-genre of hip hop music. Allmusic defines it as follows: -Origin:...
act known as Diggin' in The Crates together with legends like Lord Finesse
Lord Finesse
Lord Finesse is a Hip hop artist and producer, hailing from The Bronx, New York, best known as the leader of the D.I.T.C. rap crew.- Career :...
, Showbiz & A.G., Diamond D
Diamond D
Diamond D is a hip hop producer and MC from the Bronx, New York City, and one of the founding members of the legendary D.I.T.C. crew. He started out as a DJ for Jazzy Jay back in the late 1980s and was at the same time perfecting his skills in beat making and turntablism, and together with rhyme...
, Buckwild
Buckwild
Buckwild is a Hip hop producer hailing from The Bronx, New York. Originally a DJ, Buck began producing after meeting MC/Producer Lord Finesse. He later joined Finesse's super-crew D.I.T.C., along with Showbiz and A.G., Diamond D, Fat Joe, and the late Big L and brought O.C. with him...
and Big L
Big L
Big L may refer to:* Lamont Coleman , better know by Big L, American hip-hop artist.Or a number of British radio stations:*Big L 1395, a British radio station.*Radio Luxembourg's English-language progammes ....
. In 2000 the crew released their self-titled debut album through Tommy Boy Records on which O.C. featured on the majority of the songs. In 1998, O.C. was featured on Pete Rock's "Respect Mine" from Pete Rock's 1998 solo debut album "Soul Survivor".
The 2001 release of Bon Appetit
Bon Appetit (album)
Bon Appetit is the third full-length album released by D.I.T.C. rapper O.C.; released in 2001. As on previous efforts, Buckwild handles the bulk of the production, this time he is responsible for 12 out of 15 songs and should be considered his work almost as much as OC's...
was met with very mixed reviews; the negative accused O.C. of selling out with a polished, shining and toned-down sound. This was although Buckwild produced the large bulk of the album with the only help coming from Lord Finesse and Ahmed (pretty much the same formula that made Word...Life a success).
After the disappointing release O.C. disappeared from the scene until 2005, when he released his fourth album with Grit Records; Starchild which only dropped as a very limited Japanese/European import and was met with great acclaim. Later that year, he signed with Hieroglyphics Imperium Recordings
Hieroglyphics Imperium Recordings
Hieroglyphics Imperium Recordings is an Oakland, California-based, independent, primarily alternative hip hop record label founded and owned by underground hip hop collective, the Hieroglyphics...
and teamed up with Bronx-native producer Mike Loe, and dropped Smoke and Mirrors.
O.C. is also known for his feature on the Clockers soundtrack as part of the Crooklyn Dodgers
Crooklyn Dodgers
The Crooklyn Dodgers are a hip-hop supergroup based in Brooklyn, New York City, consisting of rotating members.They appeared in three separate incarnations since 1994. The first two incarnations recorded for the soundtracks for Spike Lee films, Crooklyn and Clockers, respectively...
, which also featured rappers Chubb Rock
Chubb Rock
Chubb Rock is a New York-based rapper who released several commercially successful hip hop albums in the early 1990s...
and Jeru the Damaja
Jeru the Damaja
Kendrick Jeru Davis, known as Jeru the Damaja is an American rapper and recording artist who has worked extensively with Guru and DJ Premier of Gang Starr, whom he has known since high school.-Biography:...
on the now classic DJ Premier
DJ Premier
Christopher Edward Martin , better known by his stage name DJ Premier , is an American record producer and DJ, and was the instrumental half of the hip hop duo Gang Starr, together with emcee Guru...
produced "Return of the Crooklyn Dodgers". This is however the only time the group has ever collaborated.
O.C. collaborated with fellow D.I.T.C. member A.G. for an album entitled Oasis. The bulk of the album was produced by French beatsmith E-Blaze with additional tracks supplied by Lord Finesse
Lord Finesse
Lord Finesse is a Hip hop artist and producer, hailing from The Bronx, New York, best known as the leader of the D.I.T.C. rap crew.- Career :...
, Statik Selektah
Statik Selektah
Patrick Baril better known as Statik Selektah, is an East Coast-based DJ, Producer and CEO of Showoff Records.-Biography:...
and Showbiz
Showbiz and A.G.
Showbiz and A.G. are an American hip hop duo from The Bronx, New York City. Showbiz is a producer and A.G. is a rapper. The two debuted on Lord Finesse's Funky Technician album in 1990. Show and A.G...
who also acts as the executive producer of the album.
Albums
| Album information |
|---|
| Word...Life Word...Life Word...Life is the 1994 debut album from underground Hip Hop artist O.C., who came to prominence in hip hop because of the album. It also helped establish his membership in the legendary Hip Hop crew D.I.T.C., which includes Lord Finesse, Showbiz & A.G., Diamond D, Fat Joe, Big L and Buckwild, who...
|
| Jewelz Jewelz Jewelz is the second album by the rapper O.C.. Unlike his debut, 1994's Word...Life, Jewelz features a wider number of guest producers and rappers... FFRR Records FFRR Records is a subsidiary of London Records, founded and run by English DJ Pete Tong. FFRR has also two subsidiaries: Double F Double R Records and Ffrreedom Records... /Polygram Records |
| Bon Appetit Bon Appetit (album) Bon Appetit is the third full-length album released by D.I.T.C. rapper O.C.; released in 2001. As on previous efforts, Buckwild handles the bulk of the production, this time he is responsible for 12 out of 15 songs and should be considered his work almost as much as OC's... |
| Star Child
|
| Smoke and Mirrors
|
| Oasis
|
Compilations
| Album information |
|---|
| Hidden Gems Hidden Gems Hidden Gems is a compilation album by rapper O.C. from the D.I.T.C. crew, released on April 3, 2007. It's a mix of non-album songs, remixes, unreleased tracks and soundtracks and a couple of works with his group...
|
Appearances
- 1991: "Fudge Pudge" (from Organized KonfusionOrganized KonfusionOrganized Konfusion is an alternative hip hop duo from Queens, New York. Though not commercially popular, the duo was one of the most respected and acclaimed underground hip hop acts of the 1990s, largely due to the groundbreaking lyrics of Pharoahe Monch and Prince Poetry.-Recording career:Group...
: Organized KonfusionOrganized KonfusionOrganized Konfusion is an alternative hip hop duo from Queens, New York. Though not commercially popular, the duo was one of the most respected and acclaimed underground hip hop acts of the 1990s, largely due to the groundbreaking lyrics of Pharoahe Monch and Prince Poetry.-Recording career:Group...
) - 1992: "Back to the Grill" (from MC SerchMC SerchMC Serch is a Jewish-American hip hop MC and former member of 3rd Bass.-Biography:Serch grew up in Far Rockaway, Queens, attending Far Rockaway High School, and graduated from Music & Art High School...
: Return of the ProductReturn of the ProductReturn Of The Product is the solo debut album of American hip hop rapper MC Serch, released August 25, 1992 on Def Jam Recordings, after Serch had made two full-length albums with the group 3rd Bass. It was for the most part commercially ignored and only reached number 103 on the Billboard 200,...
) - 1996: Red Hot OrganizationRed Hot OrganizationRed Hot Organization is a not-for-profit, 501 3, international organization dedicated to fighting AIDS through pop culture.Since its inception in 1989, over 400 artists, producers and directors have contributed to over 15 compilation albums, related television programs and media events to raise...
America is Dying Slowly