Slept On Sunday shines a light on the best of what’s slept on in music and culture.
The Come Up
The New York-based rapper has stayed on his upward trajectory during the pandemic. Since as early as 2016 he’s been on the come-up, and these past few years have been no different. 2019 and 2020 were very exciting years for Oswin, which included an album release, a few very notable features, as well as a role in the 2020 movie The Forty-Year-Old Version.
Oswin’s rapping has been on point for years now. But there is still a noticeable growth and improvement in all aspects of his artistry. His songwriting is consistently improving along with his vocal ability and range. His 2019 album Godfrey was an amazing showcase of his talent, and his growth not just as a rapper but as an artist. It genuinely feels like a complete story, a feeling that remained on his most recent album.
Beyond that, Oswin has a great knack for lyricism, wordplay, and flow that just feels natural. These very same qualities would help him land some very notable features last year in 2020. Most notably, he was featured on Royce da 5’9″s Grammy-nominated album The Allegory on the song On the Block.
Pandemic
Leading up to his second album, Joy Comes in the Mourning, Oswin Benjamin released a telling confession of comfort. At a point where many were frustrated with isolation, Oswin says that he’s alright staying inside. On his single Pandemic, he says “I find peace in the silence of corridors, the four walls do abort the noise. Y’all outside, but staying in ain’t new to me I was born about two weeks postmature”
Lines like that are exactly what make Oswin such a talent to look out for. They’re so often clever, relatable, and just raw all at the same time. Oswin has been doing more and more to show his presence and value as an artist. I doubt he will stop anytime soon.
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