101

August 26, 2008 marks the release day for the first Mello Music Group album: Oddisee 101. The album was an auspicious beginning to what would come from both Oddisee and Mello Music Group over the next decade. The collection of music featured budding stars Phonte, Flying Lotus, and Jean Grae, along with crew who had relationships still to burgeon with Oddisee. A 16 year old emcee named Enigma, who later would become Toine of DTMD, rapped on the track 95 North, later working with Oddisee on some of his most beloved tracks like Different Now and NNGE. Other DMV artists like Uptown XO would become a part of Oddisee’s group Diamond District. Oddisee, of course, held it down with a series of solo songs he both produced and rhymed on, including Claim To Fame and Camera. The original cover art was a 3’ x 3’ canvas painting by HVW8 artist Gene Pendon who was best known at the time for his And1 Mixtape artwork. The album began a relationship between Oddisee and Mello Music Group that has spanned a decade so far and has seen three official studio albums, four instrumental albums, and a total of 18 collaborations between Amir Mohamed & Michael Tolle. This limited audiophile edition is for those who remember where it started.