• The celebrated Sudanese-American rapper will perform with DJ Unown
• Support comes from the UAE’s Afro-Sudanese singer-songwriter Jindi, along with a warm-up DJ set by DJ Katt

Abu Dhabi, May 21, 2024: The Arts Center at NYU Abu Dhabi (NYUAD) welcomes Oddisee, the celebrated Sudanese-American conscious rapper, who is influenced by the jazz, funk, hip-hop, and go-go music of his DC area roots, on Tuesday, May 28 at 7:30pm in The Black Box. He will perform accompanied by DJ Unown in a show that opens with a live appearance by Jindi, who dives deep into the sounds of Afro-Sudanese, a subgenre of music that mixes afrobeat with Sudanese dialect,  joined by. DJ Katt, known for his high-energy sets that incorporate Afrobeats and house music, who will provide the warm-up. The concert is presented in association with Sole and LAMATNA.

Long celebrated as a deep-thinking emcee who delivers a masterclass in lyricism, Oddisee explores human ambition, posing the question: “how far are you willing to go, and why?” Drawing from the stark inequity he experienced early in life, Oddisee tackles the human condition with unwavering conviction and candor, merging diverse elements into his hip-hop rooted production. Career successes include a string of successful albums, tours, and streams in the hundred-millions.

Likewise, Jindi crosses cultural borders by incorporating stories into each of his songs, mixing different genres from funk to dancehall to Afrobeat, in music that connects globally. The performance features music from his new album, Reign & Fire in a culturally rich event that introduces local and international audiences alike to talents from the region. It also aligns with The Arts Center’s mission to bring regional talent to the forefront.

Commenting on the program, Executive Artistic Director at The Arts Center at NYUAD Bill Bragin said: “It is great to have Oddisee ‘return’ to The Arts Center. We presented a virtual concert with him during the pandemic and are thrilled to finally host him live on our stage, along with one of the UAE’s leading Sudanese artists, Jindi. Jindi has been part of Numoo – The Arts Center’s program that fosters the growth of performers in the UAE and contributes to the development of the nation’s arts ecosystem – and has been a leading ambassador of the UAE’s grassroots scene to global stages. And with the partnership of Sole and Lamatna, we hope to see the hip-hop and Sudanese communities of the UAE in full effect,” Bragin added.

Prior to the show, on May 27 at 6:30pm at the NYUAD Gallery Reading Room, Oddisee will lead a talk  that focuses on the DIY entrepreneurial approach to building his career, which has been his hallmark as an independent artist. Instead of pursuing record deals and executives, Oddisee has taken the less-traveled path, streamlining elements of the industry early on, from single-handedly recording, producing, and mixing his music to steering his marketing strategy and tour runs. He launched his own label OUTER NOTE LABEL in 2020.

In this presentatuion and  audience Q&A, Oddisee covers some of the essential keys to artistic independence: building a brand, identifying markets, booking shows by yourself, developing relationships with promoters, and running your own label.