The OBE Amalgamation (aka The Amal) craft the kind of hip-hop music that feeds your mind, body, and spirit. Their lyrics are filled with thought-provoking content, and their beats are the kind you can’t help but groove to.
So, we caught up with the South Bronx-based duo to chat about their single Inebriated Thoughts and what the future holds.
We caught up with South Bronx-based hip-hop duo The OBE Amalgamation (aka The Amal) to chat about their single Inebriated Thoughts.
HAPPY: Hey, how’s it going? What are you up to at the moment?
THE AMAL: As-Salaam-Alaikum to the Happy Mag platform and all the fans/supporters out there. We have been working on perfecting and elevating “The Amal Brand”. Every day we take steps to refine and redefine the details. We look to take our brand further than New York City, and into the overseas market. Australia is looking like our first stop for tour moves.
HAPPY: We’ve been loving Inebriated Thoughts! Could you tell us a bit about the track?
THE AMAL: Thank you, we love the positive feedback on Inebriated Thoughts. This record is special to The Amal because it sheds light on the many experiences we face because of stress, and tragedies. We used this record to impact society in a productive manner and resonate with their usage of inebriation.
HAPPY: I’m curious about your lyrical inspiration for the track… did you source inspiration from personal experiences?
THE AMAL: It’s funny, I garnered this idea on a trip to my Uncle’s wedding. My Uncle happened to notice that “someone” was drinking in the car while going there, he then said to them “Who’s drinking in here?” They responded back “I’m celebrating, it’s your wedding, it’s not every day you see your Uncle getting married”. He then said, “Do you have to be inebriated everywhere you go?” This sparked an idea, and I learned a new term for intoxication.
HAPPY: How important is it for you to inspire other people through your lyrics? …is this something you intentionally set out to do?
THE AMAL: As a musician, it’s imperative that you incorporate experiences and inspiration into your lyrics, flow, and delivery. Living in New York City, I’ve met many people from all walks of life and I noticed they stay inebriated to cope with tough times. This inspired me to put “Inebriated Thoughts” together to resonate with the lifestyle of the stressed and hopeless. I usually write with no “pen in sight”, but for this one I sat down and connected with my composition. The hook was the heart of this record, I knew that the record had to start that way after the drop because of that instant gratification the listener would of got.
HAPPY: Could you walk us through your process of recording and mixing this track? How did it all come together?
THE AMAL: To complement my brother Dadda Man’s heart-felt approach on Inebriated Thoughts, I incorporated an organic recording and mixing process. What Smart-Man is to Dadda Man, is what Lucius Fox is to Bruce Wayne. The studio is the lab, and the recording equipment is my gadgets. I aimed for an analog sound with openess, fluidity, and sonic adequacy. Dadda Man was tracked on a Neuman TLM-103 through an Avalon Pre-amp feeding Pro-Tools. This helped maintain a pristine and detailed representation of his lyrics. I mixed this stricly through Pro Tools in the studio, and I made sure to incorporate a spacious mix to captivate listeners. I took the “less is more” approach on this one. I focused on balance, and clarity the most for this one. I use Subtractive, Surgical, and Additive EQ to shape the production and bring the mix to life. I would say, “I’m the Surgeon of the Mixes”, so the stock plug-in EQ-7 Band From Pro Tools was my best friend in this scenario. I added harmonics to the mix with the usage of Softube Saturation Knob, and Sound-Toys Radiator plug-ins and etc.. I added spaciousness utilzing a EMT 140 Plate Reverb and Lucious Delays with the EchoBoyJr from Sound-Toys.
HAPPY: Thundaa Beats created the beat for the song. What was that collaborative experience like?
THE AMAL: Great communication is what brought this record to life. Shout-out to Thundaa Beats for the solid production.
HAPPY: Inebriated Thoughts features on your album The Journey Within… were there any other big topics you aimed to explore throughout the album?
THE AMAL: Yes, this album signifies many of my personal experiences. There is a vast variety of topics discussed on this album including, Heartbreaks, Relationships, Stress, Ambition, Taking Risks, Victory, Growth, and many more.
HAPPY: Are there any other artists you’re really loving at the moment?
THE AMAL: I wish Charles Bradley was still here, but we’ve been listening to Sunny War, as of lately. I love If It Wasn’t Broken, Goodbye L.A, and I Lived To Tell About It. Shell of A Girl EP by Sunny War is a sonic masterpiece.
HAPPY: What’s next for The Amal? Any other plans in the works?
THE AMAL: The Amal is taking the brand to higher atmospheres. “Lebron took his talent to South Beach,” so The Amal is taking their talents to Australia. We’re blessed to be born in the birthplace of hip-hop, and with that background we plan on bringing back quality and value to this genre. We look to perform only overseas, and the states would be secondary. Of course, we continue to build an illustrious catalog, and bringing in 2020 with sonic and atmospheric masterpieces.
HAPPY: Cheers for the chat!
THE AMAL: Mashallah, and shout-out to all my Aussie’s, thank you mate.
Inebriated Thoughts is available now. Listen above.