Silas Wilson (born 1998), professionally known as Ovrkast. (stylized in lowercase with a period) is an American rapper and record producer from East Oakland, California. He rose to prominence for his production on Earl Sweatshirt's 2019 EP Feet of Clay,[1] and has since collaborated with notable artists such as Drake, Mavi, and Pink Siifu.[2]
Ovrkast. | |
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| Birth name | Silas Wilson |
| Born | 1998 (age 25–26) |
| Origin | Oakland, California, U.S. |
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| Instruments | |
| Years active | 2015–present |
Early life
editWilson was born in 1998 in Oakland, California.[2][3] He attended various schools within the Oakland Unified School District as a teenager.[2] Wilson credits his high school music teacher at Bunche Academy in West Oakland for introducing him to recording studios.[2]
In seventh grade, Wilson met fellow artist Demahjiae at E.C Reems Charter School, forming a long-standing collaborative partnership.[4] The artist's experiences growing up in Oakland, including witnessing violence in his neighborhood and community, influenced his decision to pursue music.[3]
Career
edit2015–2019: Early beginnings
editWilson began his music career in 2015, initially focusing on producing beat tapes.[5] He sold his first beat to rapper Mavi in the same year.[5] In 2016, he started posting beats on Bandcamp and Soundcloud, with his early work described as jazzy.[1]
In 2017, Wilson formed the Oakland rap collective Lo-Fiction alongside Demahjiae and Nimsins, which was notable for nostalgic boom bap sounds that diverged from regionally dominant West Coast and drill influences, and gained notoriety after their work was shared by legendary hip-hop producer Pete Rock.[6][4]
2019–2021: Breakthrough and Try Again
editWilson gained wider recognition in 2019 when he produced the track "EL TORO COMBO MEAL" for Earl Sweatshirt's EP Feet of Clay.[1] In 2020, Wilson released his debut mixtape Try Again.[4] The project featured guest appearances from Mavi, Pink Siifu, and Navy Blue.[1] The mixtape explored themes of anxiety, identity, and self-doubt, and received a score of 7.0 from Pitchfork.[1][4]
2022–present: RESET! and Drake collaboration
editIn November 2023, Wilson produced two tracks, "Red Button" and "The Shoe Fits," for Drake's album For All The Dogs Scary Hours Edition.[7] The same year, Wilson released the EP RESET!, consisting of six songs.[8] The EP showcased a more spare and sprightly sound compared to his earlier work, with Wilson modulating his vocals more and showcasing a wider range of musical styles.[3]
In 2024, Wilson released a single "PAYMEAGRIP" produced by Cardo Got Wings, part of a forthcoming collaborative EP KASTGOTWINGS.[9]
Artistry
editWilson's music style combines hazy, traditionalist boom bap with wavy, loop-based production.[3] His production is often characterized by warm, naturalistic vibes,[10] with sped-up lo-fi beats, disjointed timing, instrumentation, and soul samples.[4] Some listeners have compared his production style to that of J Dilla.[4]
As a rapper, Wilson's delivery is often described as subdued and monotone, yet self-assured.[4][10] His lyrical style is noted for its anxious and observational quality,[3] often featuring autobiographical soul-searching and existential themes.[3]
Wilson cites Knxwledge, Madlib, and J Dilla as key inspirations, and describes Knxwledge's old beat tapes as "the score to my adolescence."[8] For rapping, he cites Mach-Hommy, Mavi, and Demahjiae as influences.[8] His early musical influences also include Odd Future, Capital Steez, Flying Lotus, and mixtape sites like DatPiff.[2]
Discography
editMixtapes
edit- Try Again (2020)
- Try Again (Deluxe) (2021)
EPs
edit- RESET! (2023)
- KASTGOTWINGS (with Cardo) (2024)
References
edit- ^ a b c d e Smith, Nadine (February 10, 2020). "Ovrkast.: Try Again". Pitchfork. Retrieved September 2, 2024.
- ^ a b c d e Chazaro, Alan (January 12, 2022). "Rising Artist Ovrkast. Makes Introspective Rap for Cloudy Days". KQED. Retrieved September 2, 2024.
- ^ a b c d e f Green, Dylan (August 28, 2023). "ovrkast.: RESET! EP". Pitchfork. Retrieved September 2, 2024.
- ^ a b c d e f g D'Andre Ball (January 4, 2023). "What's the Rap in Oakland?". East Bay Express. Archived from the original on September 2, 2024. Retrieved September 2, 2024.
- ^ a b Pranav Trewn (February 8, 2021). ""I Had Wanted to Put Out a Rap Project For So Long:" An Interview with Ovrkast". Passion of the Weiss. Retrieved September 2, 2023.
- ^ Pendarvis Harshaw (February 5, 2019). "Lo-Fiction Chases That Bag Through East Oakland". KQED. Retrieved September 2, 2024.
- ^ Alan Chazaro (November 20, 2023). "Oakland's Ovrkast. Produced Two Songs on Drake's New Album". KQED. Archived from the original on September 2, 2024. Retrieved September 2, 2024.
- ^ a b c Riley Furey. "Best New Artists". Complex. Archived from the original on November 1, 2023. Retrieved September 2, 2024.
- ^ Zachary Horvath (June 8, 2024). "Ovrkast. Links With Cardo For Explosive Trap Record "PAYMEAGRIP"". HotNewHipHop. Archived from the original on September 2, 2024. Retrieved September 2, 2024.
- ^ a b Charles Holmes (August 10, 2020). "Ovrkast. Makes Not Trying Sound Immensely Gratifying". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on September 2, 2024. Retrieved September 2, 2024.