Genesis Owusu

Genesis Owusu Takes You On A Trip With “STRUGGLER”

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Experimental and alternative hip-hop artist Genesis Owusu has returned with another quirky album experience. This new project STRUGGLER details a story that maybe not one other artist would ever think to address. What is that you ask? Well, Owusu details the tale of a cockroach avoiding being squished by God and eventually, he begins to question why he is doing this. The Ghana-born and Australian-raised idiosyncratic artist is no stranger to thinking outside the box, and that is no different on STRUGGLER.

The beats and production choices are vibrant and feature lots of different drum patterns. The tracklist is 11 songs and it has a run time of 38 minutes and change. Owusu has two other projects to his name, those being Smiling with No Teeth and Missing Molars (Swnt Deluxe) which is the expanded version of No Teeth. Both were released in 2021 and it gave an immediate impression that Owusu is not your typical alternative rapper.

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Where Did Owusu Get His Inspiration?

What is more interesting is the inspiration behind this new effort here. Owusu spoke with CD 92.9 FM about the journey to make this story come to life, “I feel like I kind of came to it almost as if like a like I was writing a fiction, like a short story, rather than like me documenting my life.” He continues, “So I kind of feel like it’s a world that lives on its own. I separated myself from it, and in doing that, I can make it as fantastical and as literary and otherworldly as possible.” Genius also says that he discovered this idea from absurdist literature and Franz Kafka’s, The Metamorphosis. This book also tells the tale about a cockroach and information on that is readily available.

What are your thoughts on this new album, STRUGGLER, by Genesis Owusu? Which songs are sticking with you the most? How do you feel about Owusu telling this tale of a cockroach and the inspiration he found for this project? We want to hear what you have to say, so be sure to leave all of your thoughts for us in the comments section below. Additionally, keep it locked in with HNHH for all the hottest album releases and breaking news around the music world.

STRUGGLER Tracklist:

  1. Leaving The Light
  2. The Roach
  3. The Old Man
  4. See Ya There
  5. Freak Boy
  6. Tied Up!
  7. That’s Life (A Swamp)
  8. Balthazar
  9. Stay Blessed
  10. What Comes Will Come
  11. Stuck To The Fan

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The post Genesis Owusu Takes You On A Trip With “STRUGGLER” appeared first on HotNewHipHop.

Genesis Owusu Is ‘Tied Up’ In His ‘Struggler’ Era With His Energetic, Fight-Themed Single

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In late May, Uproxx‘s David Brendan Hall identified Genesis Owusu as “the strongest standout” among diverse acts at the 2023 Boston Calling Music Festival. The musician’s latest single from his forthcoming Struggler album, “Tied Up!,” amplifies his striking artistry.

“The Roach continues to run through an absurd world, trivially trying to make sense of it,” Owusu said in a statement. “Maybe looking internally, focusing inward instead of outward, will provide some guidance? Who knows.”

The accompanying video begins with Owusu in the corner of a boxing ring, but he quickly finds his way to the center. He grabs the microphone and sings, “I’m feeling tied up / Tied up / Tryna be a better man / Caught! / And I’m feeling fired up / Fired up / Hot than a ceiling fan.” Later in the song, Owusu nods toward the video’s imagery, “I’m fighting through life, I have no boxing gloves.”

The three-minute visual was made in collaboration with Lisa Reihana.

“Tied Up!” comes roughly two months after Owusu announced Struggler and released its lead single, “Leaving The Light.” A press release bills “Tied Up!” as Struggler‘s “magnum opus.”

Watch the “Tied Up!” video above, and check out the Ghanaian-Australian artist’s upcoming headlining tour dates below.

10/12 — Minneapolis, MN @ Fine Line
10/13 — Chicago, IL @ Thalia Hall
10/14 — Ferndale, MI @ The Loving Touch
10/15 — Pittsburgh, PA @ Thunderbird Music Hall
10/17 — Toronto, ON @ The Velvet Underground
10/18 — Montreal, QC @ Le Studio TD
10/19 — Boston, MA @ The Sinclair
10/20 — Brooklyn, NY @ Elsewhere
10/21 — Philadelphia, PA @ Underground Arts
10/25 — Washington, DC @ Union Stage
10/27 — Charlotte, NC @ Visulite Theatre
10/28 — Atlanta, GA @ Terminal West
10/29 — Nashville, TN @ The Basement East
10/31 — Austin, TX @ Empire Control Room & Garage
11/01 — Dallas, TX @ The Studio at The Factory
11/03 — Denver, CO @ Globe Hall
11/06 — Los Angeles, CA @ The Fonda Theatre
11/07 — San Francisco, CA @ The Independent
11/09 — Seattle, WA @ Neumos
11/10 — Portland, OR @ Star Theatre
11/11 — Vancouver, BC @ Rickshaw Theatre
11/15 — London, UK @ Heaven
11/16 — Paris, FR @ Café de la Danse
11/17 – Berlin, DE @ Hole44
12/01 — Perth, AUS @ Ice Cream Factory
12/08 — Melbourne, AUS @ Festival Hall
12/09 — Canberra, AUS @ UC Refectory
12/14 — Brisbane, AUS @ Fortitude Music Hall
12/15 — Sydney, AUS @ Hordern Pavilion
12/16 – Adelaide, AUS @ Hindley St Music Hall

Struggler is out 8/18 via Ourness/AWAL. Find more information here.

Genesis Owusu Begins Unfolding His ‘Struggler’ Era With His Energetic ‘Leaving The Light’ Single

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Genesis Owusu executed his first US tour in early 2022, and he’ll deepen his stateside imprint with a lengthy North American run this year, beginning as an opener for Paramore on May 23 in Charlotte, North Carolina.

But Owusu’s opening dates for Paramore have taken a backseat to his own headlining world tour in support of his forthcoming album, Struggler, due out on August 18. Both announcements were made on Thursday, May 18, in addition to the release of “Leaving The Light.”

The electronic-inspired, paranoid single’s accompanying video was directed by Lisa Reihana, and it finds Owusu blindfolded and constrained. “Leaving the light,” he sings. “Always thought I was living a lie / Wasn’t feeling it right.”

The beat kicks in, and Owusu’s flow speeds up to match its frenetic energy and textured sonic landscape. He raps of not being intimidated by “chaos” because “they can try and swat me down, boy, I’m the pest.” Roughly one minute in, Owusu is running away from a lava explosion and fittingly chanting, “Better run, there’s a God / And He’s coming for me.”

“Leaving The Light” immediately catapults listeners into the world Owusu hopes to convey with Struggler, as he stated in a press release: “The Struggler runs through an absurd world with no ‘where’ or ‘why’ at hand. Just an instinctual inner rhythm, yelling at them to survive the pestilence and lightning bolts coming from above. A roach just keeps roaching.”

Watch the “Leaving The Light” video above, and check out the Struggler tracklist as well as Owusu’s upcoming 2023 live dates below. Find all ticketing information here.

1. “Leaving The Light”
2. “The Roach”
3. “The Old Man”
4. “See Ya There”
5. “Freak Boy”
6. “Tied Up!”
7. “That’s Life (A Swamp)”
8. “Balthazar”
9. “Stay Blessed”
10. “What Comes Will Come”
11. “Stuck To The Fan”

05/20 — Coffs Harbour, Australia @ Storyland @ Park Beach Reserve
05/23 — Charlotte, NC @ Spectrum Center**
05/25 — Atlanta, GA @ State Farm Arena**
05/28 – Boston, MA @ Boston Calling
05/30 — New York, NY @ Madison Square Garden**
05/31 — New York, NY @ Madison Square Garden**
06/02 — Washington, DC @ Capitol One Arena**
06/04 — Cleveland, OH @ Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse**
06/05 — Indianapolis, IN @ Gainbridge Fieldhouse**
06/07 — Detroit, MI @ Little Caesars Arena**
06/08 — Toronto, ON @ Scotiabank Arena**
06/10 — Columbus, OH @ Schottenstein Center**
06/11 — Pittsburgh, PA @ PPG Paints Arena**
06/13 — Orlando, FL @ Amway Center**
06/14 — Hollywood, FL @ Hard Rock Live**
10/12 — Minneapolis, MN @ Fine Line
10/13 — Chicago, IL @ Thalia Hall
10/14 – Ferndale, MI @ The Loving Touch
10/15 – Pittsburgh, PA @ Thunderbird Music Hall
10/17 — Toronto, ON @ The Velvet Underground
10/18 – Montreal, QC @ Le Studio TD
10/19 — Boston, MA @ The Sinclair
10/20 — Brooklyn, NY @ Elsewhere
10/21 — Philadelphia, PA @ Underground Arts
10/25 — Washington, DC @ Union Stage
10/27 — Charlotte, NC @ Visulite Theatre
10/28 — Atlanta, GA @ Terminal West
10/29 — Nashville, TN @ The Basement East
10/31 — Austin, TX @ Empire Control Room & Garage
11/01 – Dallas, TX @ The Studio at The Factory
11/03 — Denver, CO @ Globe Hall
11/06 – Los Angeles, CA @ The Fonda Theatre
11/07 — San Francisco, CA @ The Independent
11/09 — Seattle, WA @ Neumos
11/10 — Portland, OR @ Star Theatre
11/11 — Vancouver, BC @ Rickshaw Theatre
11/15 — London, UK @ Heaven
11/16 — Paris, France @ Café de la Danse
11/17 — Berlin, Germany @ Hole44
12/01 — Perth, Australia @ Ice Cream Factory
12/08 — Melbourne, Australia @ Festival Hall
12/09 — Canberra, Australia @ UC Refectory
12/14 — Brisbane, Australia @ Fortitude Music Hall
12/15 — Sydney, Australia @ Hordern Pavilion
12/16 — Adelaide, Australia @ Hindley St Music Hall

** opening for Paramore and Bloc Party

Struggler is out 8/18 via Ourness/AWAL. Find more information here.

Some artists covered here are Warner Music artists. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group.

Genesis Owusu Shares The Colorful Video For The Groovy ‘Get Inspired’

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Genesis Owusu‘s “Get Inspired” is possibly the catchiest song to end up in an ad. You may have heard it while scrolling TikTok and coming across a clip for Apple Fitness+; the groovy chorus makes it impossible to skip. The track follows the 2021 release of his debut LP Smiling With No Teeth, which won Album of the Year at the Australian Recording Industry Awards, and that was only one of four awards he took home that night.

He’s back now with a video for “Get Inspired.” Directed by Babekuhl and Chris Yee, the video is chaotic and entrancing, full of bursting color and glitches. The dancing is plentiful to the absurdly infectious, energetic hook: “Shawty, get inspired / How ’bout that / How ’bout that this time.”

In July of last year, the Ghana native released “GTFO,” a metaphorical song about ambition and desperation. “There are many people like Roach. Strugglers, doing whatever they can to get through hell and high water,” Owusu explained in a statement at the time. “Bankruptcy, depression, sickness; God himself can try to stand in the way, but a struggler has to keep struggling. And a Roach has to keep Roaching. Even when it’s told to GTFO.”

Watch the video for “Get Inspired” above.

Genesis Owusu Finalizes Dates For His First US Tour And Shares The Fiery Video For ‘Black Dogs!’

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The reigning ARIA Artist of the Year with the Album Of The Year award as well at essentially Australia’s version of the Grammys, Genesis Owusu is coming to the US for his first headlining tour in the country. Backing his stellar release, Smiling With No Teeth, he’s also shared the new video for the bombastic “Black Dogs!”

“It’s a straight-to-the-point song encompassing a day in the life of me, or just any Black person in Australia,” Owusu said in a statement. “It’s not that I’m getting abused by police every day, but it’s all the little microaggressions. Sonically speaking, it plays into how I feel every day, going into white spaces and feeling a bit paranoid.”

The video is an intense expression of the above sentiment and it showcases the pointed aesthetic that has made the Ghanaian-Australian soar as an artist. He’s an important voice for Australian hip-hop and will be surely welcomed with open arms when he arrives in the US next month.

Watch the video for “Black Dogs!” above and check out Genesis Owusu’s full US tour dates below. Tickets are now on sale here.

03/20 — San Francisco, CA @ The Independent
03/21 — Los Angeles, CA @ The Roxy
03/24 — Boise, ID @ El Korah Shrine (Treefort Music Fest)
03/25 — Seattle, WA @ Neumos
03/28 — St. Paul, MN @ Turf Club
03/29 — Chicago, IL @ Schubas
03/31 — Philadelphia, PA @ Underground Arts
04/02 — New York City, NY @ Bowery Ballroom
04/03 — The Sinclair @ Boston, MA
04/08 — DC9 Nightclub @ Washington, DC
04/09 — Durham, NC @ Motorco Music Hall
04/10 — Atlanta, GA @ Terminal West
04/12 — Nashville, TN @ Basement East
04/14 — Austin, TX @ Antone’s
04/15 — Studio at the Factory @ Dallas, TX
04/16 — Houston, TX @ White Oak Music Hall [upstairs]

Genesis Owusu Delivers An Imposing Performance Of ‘Gold Chains’ On ‘The Late Show’

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Last March, 23-year-old Ghanaian-Australian singer Genesis Owusu released his debut album Smiling With No Teeth, which earned him great success in Australia as it landed him trophies for Album Of The Year, Best Hip Hop Release, Best Independent Release, and Best Cover Art at the 2021 Australian Recording Industry Association Music Awards. After releasing a deluxe edition of the album, titled Missing Molars (SWNT Deluxe), last summer, Owusu is seeing some success in the US. Now he’s on The Late Show With Stephen Colbert, performing his song “Gold Chains.”

The performance found Owusu standing in front of the mic in a regal bright red suit with a beautiful chandelier hanging above him and his band. In addition to being a standout on Smiling With No Teeth, “Gold Chains” also made an appearance on Barack Obama’s list of favorite songs from 2021.

The Late Show appearance comes after he shared a video for the remix version of “Waitin On Ya,” which features some help from Jagwar Ma’s Jono Ma. Owusu also revealed the dates for his first headlining tour in the United States. He’ll hit the road starting on January 13 in Los Angeles and continue for a little over two weeks before bringing things to an end on January 30 in Austin, TX.

You can watch Genesis Owusu perform “Gold Chains” in the video above.

Smiling With No Teeth is out now via House Anxiety / Ourness. Get it here.

Genesis Owusu Drops The ‘Waitin On Ya (Remix)’ Video Shortly After His Big Night At The ARIA Awards

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At last week’s Australian Recording Industry Awards (ARIA), Canberra singer Genesis Owusu was the big winner of the night. The Ghanaian-Australian won four awards, including Artist of the Year and Album of the Year, for Smiling With No Teeth. For comparison, the ARIA’s are essentially Australia’s version of the Grammy Awards, and Owusu’s feat is damn near Eilish-ian in nature.

Smiling With No Teeth is a jovial, soul-packed expression of hip-hop; more melodic than rugged, more danceable than pensive, more rock & roll than R&B, and cheekier than stoic. In short, it’s hella fun. Today, Owusu has shared a new video for the remix version of “Waitin On Ya” (which he performed at the ARIA gala.) It’s a time-and space-shifting visual that features Jagwar Ma’s Jono Ma assisting on the mix. There’s a lively snare drum beat with a hint of the amen break in the background, breathing new energy into the song. A spritely sax peppers its way in as Owusu plays a shady travel agent that teleports to tropical locales while smiling broadly through gold teeth.

Watch the video for “Waitin On Ya (Remix)” above and check out the tour dates for Owusu’s first US headlining tour below. Get tickets here.

01/13/2022 — Los Angeles, CA @ The Roxy
01/15/2022 — San Francisco, CA @ The Independent
01/17/2022 — Seattle, WA @ Neumos
01/19/2022 — Denver, CO @ The Bluebird
01/25/2022 — New York, NY @ Bowery Ballroom
01/28/2022 — Atlanta, GA @ Terminal West
01/29/2022 — Nashville, TN @ Basement East
01/30/2022 — Austin, TX @ Antone’s

Smiling With No Teeth is out now via House Anxiety / Ourness