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Who the heck is Bart Oatmeal? You might have seen the identify popping up randomly on underground tracklists and heard his verses alongside the brand new crop of effervescent West Coast emcees: Jay Worthy, T.F., ICECOLDBISHOP, and so forth. However when you’d had the urge to dig additional into this elusive artist’s catalog, you in all probability wouldn’t have discovered a lot.
Nicely, fortunate for you, we’re right here to unravel that thriller. Bart Oatmeal is definitely the alter-ego of three-time NBA All-Star, Baron Davis. He’s since retired and is embracing his subsequent section with the identical ardour, creativity, and dedication he utilized to his professional basketball days. The Oatmeal character first began as a Metaverse/NFT play, however has since developed into a lot extra; a standalone music-making entity and a catchall platform for Davis’s modern enterprise and leisure ventures. The newest Oatmeal EP titled, Metal Reduce, dropped final month, and together with some alternative West Coast visitor spots (Mistah F.A.B., Unhealthy Lucc), it additionally confirmed a particular development in his rhyming capability.
We caught up with Davis to debate the return of lyric-driven rap, the present state of underground hip-hop, his Teflon work ethic, and much extra.
Baron Davis, aka Bart Oatmeal. Photograph credit score Sydney D.
The interview beneath has been edited and condensed for readability and size.
Okayplayer: What was the recording course of like for the brand new Metal Reduce EP?
Bart Oatmeal: I do most of my recording at my artistic advanced SLIC Studios in Los Angeles. The recording course of is all the time a vibe with completely different creators, artists, and producers. Every session was completely different and had its personal temper to it. Someday working with my Badlucc, and Mistah Fab, then one other day with Native Astronauts and ICECOLDBISHOP. All of us have our personal musical vitality.
Bart Oatmeal began off as a NFT challenge — are you able to inform us what it represents now? Is it a Baron Davis alter-ego or a metaverse character?
It’s a little little bit of each. Though I do make music beneath the moniker, the “Bart Oatmeal” model symbolizes the thought of Black tradition being influential in tech, enterprise, and artistic house. We now have a Bart Oatmeal NFT, digital coin, digital merch, community activations, and so forth. and much more is coming. When you concentrate on Bart Oatmeal, you concentrate on the way forward for Afro tech.
Who’re your main inspirations within the rap recreation proper now and what excites you essentially the most concerning the present state of the tradition?
I get impressed by the creators I work with typically. So far as artists, I rock with Roc Marci, T.F., Jay Worthy, Planet Asia, J Stone (I bought a document on his new album known as “Showtime”). For producers, Mike and Keys, Native Astronauts, that is my guys (Badru and Poly Rob), No I.D., Alchemist. My boy Dough Networkz — shout out to Dough, he’s an A&R and he linked me with loads of these creators and bought loads of information carried out.
I’m simply enthusiastic about actual hip-hop being promoted once more. The underground scene is getting extra mild. Cats like Griselda are serving to to carry the true sound again. We’re actually rapping once more.
Bart Oatmeal within the metaverse. Picture credit score Sydney D.
What are your favourite cuts on the brand new Metal Reduce EP?
Often, I’ve a special favourite on completely different days. Proper now it must be “Clint Capela” with my man DaBixGod and Jay Good. I like rapping my verse to “Politicn” with ICECOLDBISHOP. Additionally the document with Jay Worthy, man I like all of them. Play all of them!
What are the similarities between the rap recreation and the skilled basketball league you excelled in for therefore a few years?
The fixed work. Working in your craft I ought to say. Studying new methods to create. And the competitors. You gotta be able to spit one of the best verse, make one of the best track, and all that. I really feel like I can compete with anyone.
Lastly, what surprises and treats can we count on from Bart Oatmeal in 2024?
We bought Oatmeal Radio Cafe, an web radio station and cafe collectively. The place music meets espresso. Extra Bart Oatmeal music and collaboration albums on the way in which. I can’t discuss all of it proper now however simply know we’ve bought enormous plans for subsequent yr!!! Get a bowl.
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To maintain up with every part within the Bart Oatmeal universe, observe @bartoatmeal
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