BLK ODYSSY project is pushed by liberation. On his first album under this new moniker, titled BLK VINTAGE, BLK ODYSSY―born and raised in Plainfield, NJ, based in Austin, TX― dives into his personal history as a Black musician and the world he’s grown up around. It’s an album deeply informed by individual experiences but applied to the plight of Black Americans everywhere. Even when the album chooses smooth vibes and laid back lyrics in favor of overt activism, there’s a philosophical bent that inspires BLK ODYSSY’s work. BLK VINTAGE is inspired by a few key moments and artists. There’s the death of BLK ODYSSY’s brother, who was killed at the hands of police officers while BLK ODYSSY was living in New Jersey. It’s the seminal moment of BLK ODYSSY’s life, the moment he was forced to become an adult and reckon with the harsh reality of being Black in America. It fuels everything he does, especially his activism.

After making a name for himself as an Americana musician, BLK ODYSSY decided to ditch the popularity he gained in favor of creating music that would reflect his own experiences and worldview. The result is BLK ODYSSY, and this first project, BLK VINTAGE, moves with the urgency of an artist finally realizing their true sound. “I want to create something that will be culturally impactful for my people. I want to do something that is impactful on a larger scale, something that is for groups of Black people across the country.” There’s “1980,” which slinks with the rich funk-soul of artists like Anderson .Paak and Knxwledge, but BLK ODYSSY’s half-rapped cadence is wholly unique and utterly intoxicating. The moments of levity hit equally as hard as the work refracted through the trauma BLK ODYSSY has experienced. Still, though, BLK ODYSSY has the rare ability to present multiple sides of himself. “Hang Low” is a sultry love jam, strutting with velvet harmonies and a bass line straight out of the Pino Palladino school of indestructible grooves.

The good times occasionally give way to introspection and remembrance, though. The death of BLK ODYSSY’s brother makes its way into the powerful “Drinking Good,” but he balances it with a desire to inspire the next generation. “My goal is to connect with the black youth, and my goal is to connect with my people and speak to them on a level where we can stop suffering from happening,” he explains. “There’s only so much we can do for the dead. This record asks: ‘How can we stop this from happening again?'” Though the music is deeply tied to BLK ODYSSY’s own identity, he speaks a universal music in his language, one easily relatable for those that want to see a better world.

Neo-soul artists like D’Angelo and socially conscious MCs like Kendrick Lamar are clear touchstones, but BLK ODYSSY also takes cues from the celebratory funk of Parliament who also came from Plainfield, on tracks like “Funketology.” “All the musicians that I grew up with are relatives of Parliament members. We grew up in that culture, it inspires who we are,” explains BLK ODYSSY. This potent combination of politically-charged street anthems, party-ready funk jams, and top-down, head-nodding beats makes BLK VINTAGE a sterling debut and one of the most powerful and timely releases of the year. BLK ODYSSY speaks to his predecessors, but the new concoction is all his own. It’s a triumphant testament to Black power, a message to the kids that look like him that there’s someone in their corner. “The Black youth has been poisoned numb because of the shit we have to deal with,” BLK ODYSSY explains. “I want to speak to our experiences and let people know it’s okay to shed that layer and really, truly feel.”

Asha Imuno is an artist, producer, and songwriter from Moreno Valley, California. The 22-year-old multihyphenate’s creativity is a melting pot of inspiration, seamlessly blending nostalgic influences from classic hip-hop and r&b with a refreshing take on new age soul and funk sounds. His pen is precise and beyond his years, with a knack for sticky melodies housing thoughtful, nuanced storytelling covering a range of experiences as a young black creative from the Inland Empire. At 16, Asha began rapping over his own beats and sharing them on SoundCloud, quickly developing a hyper-local following amongst his community in Moreno Valley. His passion for the arts brought him to LA, where he would share his first mixtape “Good News” in 2020, providing an initial look into Asha’s versatility as both a rapper and vocalist. The self-produced project earned critical acclaim from Billboard, Complex, and secured him the cover of Spotify’s year-end Fresh Finds: Hip-Hop playlist. He has continued to share original music, including breakout single “ZIG ZAGGING,” which has amassed nearly 13M streams on Spotify alone. Asha’s debut album PINS & NEEDLES (March 2024) garnered critical acclaim, earning praise from Rolling Stone, Billboard, FADER, Pigeons and Planes, Office Magazine and COLORS + STUDIOS, as well as securing him the cover of Spoitify’s Vanguard playlist. Asha has earned co-signs from John Mayer, Hit-Boy, and Jordan Ward, and is a core member of the POC-led artist community KOGO, home to CONNIE, Alé Araya, REHMA, Curtis Waters, KOAD and more. Asha just came off his support run with Berhana on the The Nomad’s Tour,performing in 10 major cities across North America. His first COLORS performance DO u WANNA BE HIGH? was released shortly after.