Oh No

Matthews composed an orchestral piece based on a single Oh No beat - hinted at the scope of things to come from the young underground impresario. The hip-hop world can now witness Oh No's musical vision with Exodus Into Unheard Rhythms, a unique concept album made of beats derived solely from Galt Macdermot samples. Known primarily as the composer of the late-'60s smash musical HAIR, Galt MacDermot distilled the essence of R&B rhythms and Broadway melodies into a unique and potent groove for the Age of Aquarius. After his breakthrough hits from HAIR, MacDermot perfected his sound throughout the following decades on his own imprint, Kilmarnock Records, backed by longtime collaborators, jazz/funk drumming legends Bernard Purdie and Idris Muhammad. MacDermot offered Oh No access to his huge (and still growing) catalog of music for his work on Exodus. Once he put his own sonic stamp on the composer's inimitable material, Oh No pitched the 70-plus beats he made to the MC's in his network. A formidable cast heeded his call to lyrically bless - from veterans like De La Soul's Posdnuos and Ditc legend A.G. to current indie powerhouses like Murs and Vast Aire. Longtime Oh No comrades like LMNO, M.E.D., Aloe Blacc, Wildchild and Dudley Perkins do their parts, while appearances from Buckshot of Black Moon and WISE INTELLIGENT of Poor Righteous Teachers lend additional weight to the all-star cast. While he only touches the mic on three tracks here, Oh No's production efforts alone prove that he is one of those musical mavericks who - like Galt - hear the unheard rhythms first, and lead the way for the rest. In 2007, Oh No followed up his Exodus Into Unheard Rhythms with Dr. No's Oxperiment, followed by 2009's Dr. No's Ethiopium, and most recently, 2012's OhNoMite, which is scheduled to be released June 5, 2012.