NPR Plays Host to the Legendary O.C. for His Jazz Infused Tiny Desk Concert

Photo by Don Crosley (IG: @dancrosleyphoto)

Hip-Hop royalty O.C. stopped by the NPR studios for an incredible Tiny Desk Concert featuring classic cuts from his catalogue, live instrumentation from jazz outfit Soul’d U Out, and an appearance by fellow D.I.T.C. member, Lord Finesse.

Given the Brooklyn native’s penchant for rapping over jazzy beats, it’s only fitting that he would team up with trumpeter Maurice “Mobetta” Brown and his band for this intimate and stirring performance. They kicked things off with a newer cut from the emcee, “New Day,” which stems from last year’s acclaimed Same Moon Same Sun: A New Dawn LP

From there, it was a trip down memory lane for O.C. and his collaborators. Lord Finesse made his appearance for an energetic rendition of “Day One” before O.C. took back over to perform some of his most legendary material including “Return of the Crooklyn Dodgers” and “Time’s Up.”

But it was the closing track, “Born 2 Live,” that hit hardest and provided a glimpse into the life of a rapper who’s been consistently delivering dope music for nearly three decades. Before delivering the first verse of the Word…Life cut, O.C. says that he “always feels happy and sad” when he performs the record.

For those unaware, he wrote and recorded the track following the death of a close friend in Baltimore. While this brought about a clearly somber vibe to the performance, the mourning quickly turned into celebration as O.C. and the band put their all into it performing “Born 2 Live.” It was a fitting end to a stellar Tiny Desk Concert, and one that crowd will certainly remember.

O.C.’s latest project, Same Moon Same Sun: A New Dawn, is now available through all digital retailers and streaming platforms via Slice Of Spice/DITC, and can be streamed right here in its entirety, courtesy of RESPECT.