A year after releasing Midnight Run, his debut offering, former The Black Opera member Obie Iyoha is back with “Anime & Chill,” a breezy single that showcases his lyrical gifts. Whereas other Detroit upstarts such as Tee Grizzley are representing the city’s gritty roots with unabashedly coarse offerings, Obie is more free-spirited on “Anime & Chill,” even as he waxes on trying to make ends meet as an artist:
It’s been a while since I smiled here
Berlin hotel we was ‘outchea
I hit a joint now I’m feelin’ all strange
No matter where I go it’s like I’m livin’ in a page
Guantanamo Bay, jump like Geronimo landin’ onstage
No money in the envelope for Obie, feelin’ salty, but I get it
It’s like an internship, but I am no apprentice
Obie surely sounds like a professional on the track displaying the MC mastery honed on tours with the likes of Big K.R.I.T, Ghostface Killah, and Mayer Hawthorne. The Akin Oluwadare-directed video is a perfect companion to the track, following Obie as he cruises through the city. While today may be about the dark and moody soundscapes, “Anime & Chill” is good enough to be an exception to the pageantry.
