One Self Preview

One Self
Abbey Pub, Chicago
Saturday, October 21, 2006

International trio One Self is quite possibly the most culturally diverse act in hip-hop. These globe-trekking Ninja Tune reps aren’t an A&R-contrived entity though. After performing together throughout Europe, Russian-born Londoner DJ Vadim decided to officially pull together Swedish MC Yarah Bravo (of Chilean/Brazilian descent) and D.C.-area MC Blu Rum 13 (originally from New York) to create an eye-catching group that is steadily becoming a global hip-hop sensation.

Of course, you’re not going to hear One Self’s material on mainstream radio anytime soon, as their 2005 debut, Children Of Possibility, isn’t always that pop friendly. Their last single, “Paranoid,” is powerful yet rather dark; Vadim’s menacing violin loop and suspenseful drums here are paired with Blu Rum’s double-time wack MC roasting. Sitar-laced slow-roller “Hollow Human Beings” is just as fascinating albeit not in a marketable sense.

One Self isn’t all about the subterraneous beats and rhymes. Songs like the funk-filled “Bluebird” see the trio uphold their socially conscious mindset while providing a more easygoing, feel-good vibe. With DJ Vadim being all across the board with his medley of riddims, the one consistency you can always expect from One Self is it’ll deliver intelligent hip-hop that at the very least will have you nodding your head.

As Vadim and Bravo recently relocated to New York, it’ll be interesting to see how the Rotten Apple has rubbed off on these sonic travelers. For now, One Self will be touching down in Chicago, performing tracks off Children Of Possibility and adlibbing like it has done so well since ’99.

One Self will share the stage with Mr. Invisible, Visual, Rhyme Scheme, Earatik Statik, and Underground Railroad.

— Max Herman

Category: Stage Buzz, Weekly