In this review, I’m going to delve into ‘So Familiar,’ a track from Shannon Oli. Oli is an independent rapper hailing from North Carolina. Since his pre-teen days, he’s been writing songs and involving himself in the community. As a result, he’s honed his talent over a long period of time. From live performances at college to extensive work on rapping websites, Shannon has a nice little repertoire.
Let’s dig right into the tune and figure out what it’s all about.
‘So Familiar’ is produced like a good deal of other independent hip hop pieces. The instrumentation and production is somewhat predictable, relying on standard beats that sound a bit more like presets than anything original. That’s only half the battle, though. The most passionate, talented rapper will shine through any meandering, stereotypical soundscape. Oli does that fairly well.
His chorus croons are a bit awkward: he emphasizes those choruses like a nasally rapping Bob Dylan. In the verses, however, he comes into his own, proving himself a solid rapper. Oli’s notable verses and lyricism are a double edged sword. At times, Oli becomes a walking self parody, talking about his hard dick and everyone else’s flaccidness. Really? At other times, he’s witty and enjoyable.
As a professional critic, I must echo a concern I have with the indie rap community that I’ve voiced before: hip hop is already chock-full of “look how awesome I am” songs. The true measure of an exceptional indie artist is their ability to expand upon that and find their style and meaningful voice. I don’t think Oli has found that voice, at least, not yet. He’s very talented, and I love a good deal of what is going on with ‘So Familiar.’ I’d love to see him dig into some more meaningful subject matter.
He does prove that you don’t need a particularly strong production to be a compelling performer. He is one and the minimalistic production allows that to take the torch and run. Paired with some more on-point lyricism? He could be a powerful force in the industry.
By Brett Stewart
I’m a professional writer and editor, a journalism major, and I have extensive experience in musical review. I worked for two years as the Editor & Chief of an arts magazine, Strike Magazine, where I worked closely with writers and musicians. Through this, I was able to interact with dozens of acts including Heart, Holly Williams, Robert Cray, John Hiatt, and more. The magazine printed thousands of issues and was even recognized by Rolling Stone’s founder, Jann Wenner.
