Okayplayer Celebrates 25 Years With 25 Important Artists From the OKP Boards

Okayplayer began with Amir “Questlove” Thompson very similar to Def Jam began with Rick Rubin. Should you swap out the NYU dorm room with a Philly bed room, Russell Simmons for Angela Nissel, and a hip-hop centered anti-establishment report label for a hip-hop centered anti-establishment on-line message board, then they’re principally twins (possibly extra like cousins). The most important parallel, nonetheless, is the crews of people that rallied round their concepts and pushed them to the forefront of their individualized music-fixated areas.

The phrase “on-line music group” and Okayplayer ought to be synonymous. In 1999 (4 years pre-MySpace, 6 years pre-Reddit and Nahright, 7 years pre-Twitter, 8 years pre-Soundcloud and Tumblr, 12 years pre-Twitch, and 16 years pre-Discord), Nissel arrange The Roots web site as if it was an interactive weblog and it reworked into an area the place artists and followers gathered, lessening the house between them.

There was a multi-pronged goal that developed for artists and followers alike within the days of the boards. Okayplayer grew to become a spot the place followers may discover swaths of different followers with comparable style, a spot the place followers may uncover new music, a spot the place followers may take part in and witness artist interplay in real-time, a spot the place artists may average conversations, a spot the place artists may type a fraternity towards the remainder of the trade machine, a spot the place anybody may speak shit and crack jokes with the primary possibilities of “going viral,” a spot the place followers may debate about rumors, a spot the place followers may take part in launching an artist’s profession, a spot the place artists may develop natural advertising campaigns, and even a spot the place artists may join for collaborations that fashioned precise profitable teams.

As Questlove known as it in 2013, Okayplayer catapulted itself into being “the soapbox for the unheard.” There’s a set of outstanding solo artists and teams that benefited essentially the most from this natural enlargement and signify the nucleus of what the platform blossomed into. Listed below are these distinguished 25.

J Dilla and Slum Village

It’s protected to say a lot of the J Dilla lore was initially established on Okayplayer. The pattern savant created dialog on the boards like no different. With Incredible Vol. 2 dropping in 2000, the Okayplayer boards took Questlove’s reverence of the producer and his group Slum Village and ran with it, forming some of the passionate fan communities in on-line historical past. Slum Village even carried out on the primary Okayplayer tour in 2000 on the heels of that album’s launch. Dilla’s resonance carried for a few years to return in a global method nobody may have anticipated publish his unlucky passing. His attain started with the borderless partitions of the web.

Dilated Peoples

The masterful LA hip-hop trio grew to become on the rise aligned proper with Okayplayer’s launch. Their 2001 second album, Growth Workforce, featured their largest single in “Worst Comes To Worst” produced by The Alchemist. The venture and observe garnered critical reverence on the boards by artists and followers alike. Okayplayer even created the internet hosting web site for the venture and the employees videographer BKyle even bought behdind the scenes footage of the “Worst Comes To Worst” video. Dilated Peoples additionally had the title observe “Okay” on the primary Okayplayer compilation tape Okayplayer: True Notes: Vol. 1 in 2004.

Aceyalone

One of the necessary artists ever within the LA underground scene is Aceyalone. His combined fashion of stream-of-consciousness and slick unassuming punchlines acquired rave opinions on the boards within the early 2000s. Once more, the MC had a star look on True Notes: Vol. 1 alongside the esteemed producer Madlib on their observe “Ok.O. Participant.”

Black Milk

One may say being deemed by some to be a protegé of the nice J Dilla and the way that was mentioned on the boards places Detroit producer and MC Black Milk on this checklist. His album The Tronic nonetheless additionally created a surge in artist and fan commentating like no different within the later hurrah of the boards in 2008. He was the standout of the final crew of board champions.

Erykah Badu

Queen Badu was one of many members of the primary group of artists that had their very own mini-site by means of Okayplayer. She would go on to develop her personal solo web site concepts after the preliminary motion with big success, however it began at OKP. Badu even has data of her controversial statements on the boards that also exist on the web. All these rants that may rile up detractors would proceed all through her profession, however some may say her knack for harmless trolling started on the boards. She didn’t formally be a part of the boards till round 2004, however when she did it was by no means the identical after.

John Legend

John Legend’s standing on the boards has a little bit of mystique, however individuals like Questlove have claimed his presence. Board legend Donwill claimed in an interview with Okayplayer that Legend despatched him and others a replica of his CD to overview below his authentic moniker John Stevens. This was mentioned on the boards as an authentic demo with a lot potential, thus you might say OKP was a platform that helped launch the prolific R&B singer.

D’Angelo

One of many authentic board members by way of Questlove arrives right here. D’Angelo himself was not very energetic speaking on the boards however he was very a lot mentioned by others advert nauseam. He was additionally one of many first artists to make the most of the advertising alternatives the location needed to provide by revealing parts of his 2000 album Voodoo to Okayplayers completely. Many will bear in mind these reveals crashing the OKP servers.

Jill Scott

Scott was an energetic board member with different artists and followers alike. Many will bear in mind her for her humorousness and never holding her tongue, however she was additionally an energetic marketer of her choices. Scott was very a lot chargeable for the writing of the Roots first hit in 1999 in “You Received Me,” on which her vocals have been swapped out for Erykah Badu. She was in dismay about this for someday and responded together with her traditional album in 2000, Who Is Jill Scott?, which in fact stuffed up house within the messaging proper on the start of OKP.

Frequent

Very similar to his Soulquarian comrade D’Angelo, Frequent was one of many first artists to make use of the boards to correctly market his work by way of Questlove’s blessing. The official website for his traditional Like Water For Chocolate album lived on OKP, which additionally bled into artist updates on the homepage. Many OG boarders can even bear in mind Frequent at occasions checking in as a moderator of discussions on his work. “Lessonheads” (the title for board members on the precise board “The Lesson” named after the Little Brother album) infamously satisfied the rapper to depart the stay model of his tune “The Meals” on his 2005 Be album.

Black Star

The traditional duo of Blackstar had a love-hate relationship with the Okayplayer boards. Most notably Talib Kweli coined the phrase “Okayplayer hater.” That is an angle of vitriol that has continued to get him at odds with different social media platforms since. But nonetheless, he appeared to all the time present love for a way the location centered across the artists. Mos Def was not proactive on the boards, however was all the time revered particularly upon the discharge of his 1999 traditional Black on Each Sides. Black Star as a duo’s solely solo album got here out a 12 months earlier than Okayplayer launched, however it was additionally all the time a lauded physique of labor on the boards with followers always wanting updates on the group’s standing.

Skillz

Virginia rapper Skillz had an fascinating multi-purpose historical past with the Okayplayer boards. He most infamously fueled discussions in response to his 2000 hit single “Ghostwriter.” On the observe, he revealed that he had ghostwritten songs for others and that there was extra of a relentless ghostwriting scenario in rap than anybody realized. This might in fact make the boards go loopy with theories as to who wrote for who and when. Skillz would additionally use OKP for his personal micro-site like Frequent and D’Angelo to advertise his music.

Useless Prez

Useless Prez was not solely ceaselessly mentioned on the boards however they have been the opposite large title on the unique 2000 Okayplayer tour with The Roots. The group and the location stayed related for years after the boards dissipated with lead MC stic even launching a clothes line with OKP in 2020. Their seminal venture Let’s Get Free arrived simply in time for Okayplayer’s elevation and the group by no means allow them to go throughout or after.

De La Soul

Whereas De La Soul’s heyday occurred a lot sooner than OKP launched, that didn’t imply they didn’t have an actual presence on the boards. Their music impressed most of the artists whose music was on the core of the dialog on the location. It’s rumored that MCs Kelvin “Posdnuos” Mercer and David “Trugoy the Dove” Jolicoeur had display names at first of the location. Nonetheless, it grew to become much more notable that the group began their very own website, Spitkicker.com, which appeared immediately influenced by OKP. This was observed by many followers on the boards.

Bilal

Through his The Roots affiliation, Bilal was very a lot a singer mentioned amongst the group. One of many largest takes that may get the boards shook up was claiming that he was a higher singer than his counterparts like Raphael Saadiq and D’Angelo. The singer could have by no means reached these heights in his solo profession, however on the OKP boards he had his personal type of communal fame.

Tanya Morgan

That is the primary of two teams on the checklist that have been fairly actually fashioned on the Okayplayer boards. William Donald “Donwill” Freeman and Devon “Von Pea” Callender related over aligned style and sonic symmetry and catapulted right into a digital group with one member in Ohio and one in New York. They’re a stark early instance of an internet-bred music venture as they famously exchanged information over AOL Prompt Messenger and crafted a lauded board debut mixtape, EP, and album. Moonlighting, their debut album, nonetheless holds its place as one of many biggest initiatives to ever come from OKP.

Lupe Fiasco

Lupe had a extremely intriguing later presence on the boards. Legend has it that some of the memorable moments was when he publicly admitted to having by no means heard the traditional album Midnight Marauders by A Tribe Referred to as Quest. He mentioned this in response to individuals critiquing him for forgetting the phrases at a Tribe tribute present he was invited to by Q-Tip in 2007. He was, in fact, instantly flamed on the boards for his reveal. Fiasco additionally did have a lot of his work praised by the boards and this standout second was solely disappointing to the group as a result of they anticipated extra from him.

Blackalicious

Arguably essentially the most outstanding Bay space voice on the boards was Blackalicious. The positioning was useful on the advertising facet for his 2002 album Blazing Arrow which was additionally revered by the boards. You may even discover on Ebay an outdated promotional poster distributed by Okayplayer for the 2002 album which ought to be thought-about a gem of the OKP catalog. “The Reward of Gab” may be thought-about because the argument towards OKP having a totally Northeast bias from the assist and flowers he was given by the group.

Little Brother

The Carolina rap duo of Phonte and Massive Pooh not solely got here up on the boards, however even had a board named after their first venture The Lesson. Phonte was all the time essentially the most energetic group member and notorious for his witty clapbacks earlier than others can be topped champions of this on platforms like Twitter. The LB saga existed solely on the boards from the successes to the breakups and inside beefs. They’re the poster baby of rap acts to make their title identified by means of early social media and the blogosphere. Okayplayer may simply be thought-about their dwelling base.

Musiq Soulchild

Very similar to lots of his comrades, Musiq Soulchild’s heyday took place with the rise of the location. His debut Aijuswanseing dropped in 2000 and his follow-up Juslisen dropped in 2002. These are each early 2000s Soul classics which match proper in with the Soulquarian aesthetic the location so revered. Soulchild was such match for the OKP ethos that even previous the early space he appeared to proceed to align with its vitality. In 2020, he even launched a mixtape singing over outdated Dilla beats.

Jazzy Fatnastees

Okayplayer had a report label that launched in 2004. They used the label to launch compilations, but additionally signal a number of artists. Their backup singer duo Jazzy Fatnastees was one in every of their first signed artists. They have been on the primary OKP tour in 2000 and even at one level had a mixtape that was solely obtainable to take heed to without cost completely on the location. Tracey Moore, one of many two singers, was energetic on the boards. Inside the time of the boards and the label’s existence, the group reached its highest heights.

Jaguar Wright

An important singer within the Okayplayer group, Jaguar Wright is named a lot for her soulful solo work as her singing for The Roots. Whereas she was born in New Jersey, she principally grew up in Philly and got here up with the legendary rap group. Her vocals have been always a subject of dialog and she or he even at one level had her personal micro-site on OKP to advertise her work.

Cody Chestnutt

Many individuals hear the title Cody Chestnutt and instantly consider the traditional single by The Roots, “The Seed (2.0).” His piercing hook vocals add a loopy Indie Rock and Soul mixed taste to the observe that not solely gave The Roots one in every of their largest singles, however unbelievable hype on the boards. Propelling off of this success when Chestnutt launched his The Headphone Masterpiece album later in 2002 it grew to become absolutely the speak of the boards. At one level, Questlove ushered him into the net house to obtain his flowers.

The International Trade

One may declare essentially the most monumental success to return from the OKP boards is The International Trade. Whereas on a little bit of a decline together with his group Little Brother, rapper Phonte related with Dutch producer Nicolay on the message boards and despatched information backwards and forwards. They might finally flip this alternate into a totally fashioned Grammy nominated hip-hop/electronica group. The group exemplifies the vary of discovery that was attainable for artists and followers alike on the boards. Phonte and Nicolay very simply may have by no means crossed paths with out the net group.

Oddisee + Kev Brown

A pair of Maryland born producer and MC, Oddisee and Kev Brown essentially have to be talked about collectively regardless that they’re solo artists. Each guys have been prevalent on the boards for a few years of their careers being lauded for his or her adept use of instrumentation and distinct rhyming. The types of every artist felt like a transparent offset of the Dilla ethos that introduced so many followers to the boards within the first place.

Danny!

The ultimate entry on our checklist have to be talked about as a result of he was essentially the most vital Atlanta voice affiliated with the location and model. Danny! was part of the primary launch of Okayplayer data and even its relaunch in 2012. He caught Questlove’s ear on the boards and carried the burden of the southern voice repping the platform. What made him stand out to everybody was his left-of-center lyrical content material however pure circulation inside sampled pockets. He felt as at dwelling as anybody inside the beat aesthetic that board members craved.

HONORABLE Mentions

Raphael Saadiq — As a member of J Dilla and Q-Tip’s producer collective The Ummah and a Soulquarian adjoining singer and producer, Saadiq was a related determine of the OKP boards.

Scott Storch — Tremendous producer Scott Storch was at one level a member of The Roots thus was included inside some dialogue on the boards. But, his departure right into a extra mainstream sound wasn’t fairly inside the OKP ethos.

Les Nubiens — Whereas this French Neo-Soul duo could also be on the outskirts of the OKP realm. Their affiliation with Soulquarian members Erykah Badu and D’Angelo in addition to collaborations with Black Thought means they’d board pertinence.

Cube Uncooked — A really important rapper not in The Roots however from Philly and severely affiliated with their come up. He was additionally featured on the primary OKP compilation together with his observe “I Do What I Like.”

Black Eyed Peas — Will I Am was an precise board member and his authentic Black Eyed Peas album was mentioned sparsely on the location.