His name may not ring a bell right off the bat, but you’ve almost certainly heard his music underlying a lyrical heavyweight at one point or another. Born in Las Vegas, Grammy winner Cam O’bi has spent the past half decade not only producing for some of Chicago’s top talents but indeed steering the city’s sound more so than any of his contemporaries. O’bi’s backed up Chance the Rapper, Vic Mensa, Noname, SZA, J Cole, Moses Sumney and more, leaning on a formula of rounded out harmonic layers, tender keys, and light percussive elements.
Recently Cam O’bi has stepped out from behind the producer’s curtain with a microphone comfortably in his hand; he’s gearing up for his debut solo LP Grown Ass Kid, featuring appearances from O’bi’s rich network of hip-hop/R&B collaborators and of course, the auteur himself front and center. Keep on the lookout for Grown Ass Kid later this year and kick back on MLK Day with the record’s second single, “Grammy’s Babies”!
–Jack Anderson