Oakland’s Very Own: Ovrkast.

Despite 14 hours having passed since the release of “While The Iron Is Hot“, Ovrkast continues to radiate a relaxed yet catchy vibe. To celebrate the launch of his second studio album, the rapper organized a listening party and discussion at the Carhartt WIP store in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, the night before. Open to everyone, the event maintained an intimate atmosphere, reminiscent of old friends chatting over draft beers, shared stories, and a screen-printing station producing a limited edition run of Ovrkast x Carhartt WIP t-shirts, featuring the phrase “Ready to Strike.

The rapper warns me from a dressing room curtain that he needs to remain there to avoid getting anxious, as the event was about to begin in half an hour. At this point, the attendees were unaware of Kast’s presence and appeared relaxed, browsing the store’s new skate decks and graphics. The atmosphere mirrored Kast’s laid-back persona, and once he had gathered his thoughts, he emerged into it.

Over the past year, the Oakland rapper has been focusing on establishing himself in a new environment. Frequently, you can find him about seven minutes away at Marsha P. Johnson State Park in his recent residence, New York City. This waterside green space, one of his favorite spots in NYC, is where we had our official discussion and photoshoot. Since his cross-country move more than a year ago, he’s been visiting this park quite often and considers it the place that reminds him most of his old home in California. If you recognize it, he also filmed his “FREE UP SUMN” video nearby at the beginning of this year.

Though he’s roughly 3,000 miles distant from his birthplace, Oakland, Kast carries a strong resemblance to the city in every aspect – from his unique style and vernacular, to his casual confidence.

Reflecting on his upbringing, the rapper muses, “Oakland feels so genuine – everyone there is so unpretentious and real. It’s deep within us,” he says, recalling a diverse blend of cultures, art forms, and music genres, from hardcore hip-hop to Hyphy. “The Bay Area embodies hip-hop like no other. Music has always been part of me.

In California, the rapper experienced significant growth in his career, but he cherishes the day he departed from his home in East Oakland. His father played a key role in this move, as he saw that the rapper had exceeded the artistic and personal limitations of Alameda County.

Kast believes that, regardless of where one resides, it’s essential to venture elsewhere, as expressed in his sentiment: “I required a push to depart, and my dad realized there was more for me beyond Oakland.

Moving to New York City represented his application of all the knowledge he gathered in Oakland and utilizing those talents there, as he explains further. He mentions that during his initial year on the East Coast, he’s been able to develop personally and rediscover himself, something he felt was impossible out West. Despite this, he frequently returns home, describing it as a comforting embrace – something even East Oakland rappers could use from time to time.

In his hometown, Silas Wilson remains essentially the same as he was before – the one responsible for managing the lyrics during church services. As he puts it, “I’ve learned music in a structural sense,” a realization that seems to dawn on him suddenly. “I developed an instinctive ability to discern when something within the song would shift – when the verse would transition into the chorus, when the chorus would morph into the hook.

Navigating through the lyrics of “Amazing Grace” was equivalent to browsing music websites such as DatPiff, Napster, and LimeWire from his couch, deepening his exploration into digital music and curating a personal collection based on his preferences. Initially captivated by punk rock, he filled his playlists with Green Day, Plain White T’s, and The All-American Rejects. Even today, he can still match beat for beat in “Gives You Hell,” providing a brief, emotional release just as we do when revisiting that song.

At fifteen years old, he discovered the wide world of hip-hop and found a connection to it, particularly the energy of the California-based group Odd Future. His words were, “Why wouldn’t I get involved in something filled with people who share my tastes? It seems too good to pass up!

As he explored his preferences within the music world, the rapper began to align himself with other trailblazing artists such as Madlib, MF DOOM, J Dilla, Chance the Rapper, and Joey Bada$$. It was a specific track by Joey Bada$$ that Kast remembers sparked his fascination with production – specifically the song “Killuminati” featuring Capital Steez from 1999.

Although I hadn’t initially researched who the producers were, that intense beat piqued my curiosity and I felt compelled to discover its creator – which led me to Knxwledge and his entire music collection. At the time, I didn’t have any funds, so I illegally downloaded several of his tapes and became utterly captivated by his work. I feel obliged to express my apologies to Knxwledge.

At the age of seventeen, Kast created his initial beat, following the technical guidance from one of his teachers at West Oakland’s Ralph J. Bunche High School – Mr. Holliday. Coincidentally, he approached me in the school hallway, seemingly aware of my interest, and said, “Hey, you know how to produce beats? I thought not, but would you like to learn? Let’s meet in the cafeteria at lunchtime.

Each lunchtime, Mr. Holliday guided Kast daily, teaching him drum loop creation, sample chopping from his vast library, and more. As time passed, these lunchtime lessons turned into after-school sessions and eventually extended past the school’s closing hours until security asked him to leave. These countless hours spent together are vividly remembered by Kast. He chuckles as he recalls, “He would let me play my mediocre beats for hours every day on the loudspeakers!” To this very day, Kast attributes his launchpad to Holliday’s tutelage, describing it as a unique experience. “Having him as a mentor was incredibly precious, man.

During his high school years, Kast’s mentor-apprentice bond remained strong, preparing him for his initial dive into the world of music in 2015. Alongside his classmates and dear friends demahjiae and Kayvon, he formed Kinfolk – a rap group that Kast humorously referred to as “a fellowship of guys who produced less-than-stellar tracks.” Kast primarily handled the production for the trio, later sharing an incomplete beat with his companions so they could contribute their verses.

Kinfolk played a pivotal role in kick-starting Kast’s musical journey. For him, it represented his inaugural venture into creative collaboration with others, a skill he considers crucial in the world of music. In his words, “If you can’t work well with others, you’re in trouble.” Interestingly, this encounter was the prelude to one of Kast’s most prolific collaborative partnerships in his career.

In the same year, Ovrkast crossed paths with MAVI, a fellow artist hailing from North Carolina, both of them just beginning their careers in music. The first beat sold by Ovrkast was actually the very first one that MAVI had purchased. Fast forward a decade, and these two musicians continue to collaborate closely, having released several studio tracks together. Later on, Mav featured on the song “MAVKAST!” from the album “While The Iron Is Hot”, a track that celebrates their harmonious rise in the music industry.

Approximately a week before the interview, MAVI and Earl Sweatshirt reunited for their first collaboration since the notable “EL TORO COMBO MEAL” produced by Kast in 2019. This reunion took place about two years following Sweatshirt’s departure from his LoFiction rap collective, a ten-member group that created a West Coast version of Boom Bap music in Oakland. The group aimed to emulate the styles of Sweatshirt and his associates, while also gaining more collaborative experience. Before many of them, including Kast, decided to pursue solo careers, they honed their skills together.

He initially linked up with Sweatshirt through MAVI a few months prior to the release of “EL TORO.” At first, the collaboration seemed like just another track featuring mediocre drums. However, after Kast tweaked the initial loop only once, he sent it separately to both rappers. Following this, Sweatshirt and Earl both contributed their verses to the track. Upon receiving Sweatshirt’s verse, he also shared his with Kast, marking the completion of the song that has since amassed over 13 million streams on various platforms. Throughout the process, Earl played a significant role in promoting Kast’s work.

As a devoted fan, I’m thrilled to share that Kast built upon his song’s achievements by launching his inaugural solo studio venture, titled “Try Again.” This sonic landscape embodied his feelings of “uncomfortableness.” In his own words, he admitted, “I couldn’t be the person I yearned to be, and this was my attempt at becoming that person.” The album boasts collaborations with his longtime friend demahjie, his somewhat older companion MAVI, and new acquaintances Pink Siifu and Navy Blue, whom he met through MAVI. This nine-track project serves as a vivid portrayal of Kast’s personal struggle.

Additionally, he conceived an album named CLOSURE, birthed during the pandemic, that served as a confrontation of all his burdens. He poured every difficult experience from life into this project, stating that it was more a means for his inner dialogue rather than intended public consumption. To this day, it remains unfinished, but Kast feels that it was destined to stay incomplete, serving as a tool for his inner monologue instead of widespread release.

To put it simply, the self-proclaimed “lazy perfectionist” has a hard time declaring his work done, constantly thinking he could have improved each of his projects. After releasing “Try Again” and its deluxe version, as well as the 2023 six-track “RESET!”, followed by the 2024 collaboration mixtape with Cardo Got Wings titled “KASTGOTWINGS“, which includes the notable collaboration track “silent heel” with Messiah x MAVI x Kast, and contributing two tracks to Drake’s “Scary Hours Edition,” namely “Red Button” and “The Shoe Fits.

Drake chose beats different from what I expected, but that’s what makes it special,” he notes, emphasizing the importance of letting the artist take the reigns when producing for someone else. It’s taken him time to build up the courage to share his beats with others, as he honestly admits, “There’s no easy way to overcome the discomfort. You just have to face the awkwardness of showing someone your work. There’s no formula; you just have to go for it. You have to push past the embarrassment.

In every one of his creative endeavors, the rapper played a pivotal role in all aspects of the album While The Iron Is Hot, producing nearly everything and even editing the videos himself. This was a recurring topic during the panel at the listening party, where the Creative Director Kufu sat alongside him. According to Kast, their collaboration is mutually beneficial, with the rapper offering his sharpest creative focus yet and Kufu helping bring these ideas to life.

Kast maintains a collection of digital archives and playlists for things that spark his creativity, however, regarding this particular album, he utilized Milanote to record all his goals. This well-structured collection included videos, tasks, quotes, songs, and various media, effectively serving as the inspiration board for the project. On this board, you’ll find the 1970s Japanese horror film “House,” Glen Campbell’s “Rhinestone Cowboy,” and the documentary-short “Don’t Go Tellin’ Your Mama.

Kast shares, “I was fully focused,” he says. “I had a clear idea of what I aimed to achieve […] Money isn’t essential for success. What matters is having a strong vision and the right team.” Alongside MAVI, his project While The Iron Is Hot also includes Samara Cyn, tourmate Saba during the summer, and fellow Oakland native Vince Staples, whom he connected with Maxo at Camp Flog Gnaw 2024.

Despite his most concentrated musical work garnering significant success, the rapper recognizes that he has returned to the most under-the-radar level of his career.

Regardless of how many renowned hip-hop artists endorse him, or how far he moves away from East Oakland toward mainstream success, his unique energy stays constant – it’s the essence that fills the Carhartt WIP store, fills the atmosphere at Marsha P. Johnson, and drives every lyric he pens. His energy is his most valuable asset, which he nurtures through visits home, movie nights with his girlfriend watching Harry Potter, and leisurely park walks – lots of visits home, in particular.

Read More