# opinion: osamaseason By [pluggvision](https://paragraph.com/@deanblunt) · 2023-08-03 --- _The rapid ascent of Osamason (_[_@slimepointe_](https://www.instagram.com/slimepointe/)_) has been nothing short of inspiring for those surrounding him since he first came on the scene. The Ohio born/South Carolina-based artist has generated a cult fanbase from his stewardship of the so-called dark plugg genre. Building significantly on his Soundcloud singles and earlier work with Smokingskul and Wildkarduno, Osama’s first studio album Osama Season has made waves online since its release._ With newgens labeling him a Ken Carson clone and various underground pages routinely backing his releases, attention is on Osamason all across the aisle. His style of glitchy and ad-lib laden delivery and signature choice of distorted beats by producers ok ([@wegonebeok](https://www.instagram.com/wegonebeok/)) and boolymon ([@boolymon](https://www.instagram.com/boolymon/)) both characterizes the direction the underground is heading while sounding dynamic and solitary in its own right. Infamous for his peculiar, experimental 808s that often sound more like fax machines than FL Studio elements, producer perc40 ([@perc40](https://www.instagram.com/perc40/)) has been another instrumental influence on Osamason’s sound. While this persuasion of beatmaking is located on the third track of Osama Season via the perc40-produced “Vlone,” it is even better captured by “slime krew,” a collaboration between Osama, Wildkarduno, and Smokingskul from several months ago. [https://soundcloud.com/osamason/slime-krew-ft-wildkaruno](https://soundcloud.com/osamason/slime-krew-ft-wildkaruno) Despite these experimental cues that have doubtlessly informed the progression of dark plugg, Osama has begun to achieve broader recognition for his recognizable flow and his unique persona. Not only is the cover of Osama Season derived from an unused alternative cover for Playboi Carti’s _Self-Titled_, but Osama’s album briefly surpassed _Whole Lotta Red_ on the Apple Music charts. ![Screenshot of the Apple Music Albums Chart, July 22nd 2023](https://storage.googleapis.com/papyrus_images/af4ef750a137e63f4b8262a07510cc5058f226647ff3583fe3656fbab88d5469.jpg) Screenshot of the Apple Music Albums Chart, July 22nd 2023 Like Carti, Osama has a penchant for revision and in some respects, perfection. At only 12 songs, Osama Season may seem short, but it amalgamates the artist’s varied takes on plugg into a unified whole. “Werkin” introduces a melodic, danceable side of Osama, while the Nine9-produced “Anti” provides an ethereal interlude before the hard-hitting, if not utterly villainous pieces on the tail end of the tracklist. Osama Season finishes off with the tempting synths of “Troops” — a song produced by ok and first released as a single — which will likely become Osama’s anthem going forward. What’s more, Osama’s following on Instagram has more than doubled to over 35k since the release of his album just a few weeks ago. Aided in great length by the unwavering support of underground music pages such as HBK ([@hbkundergroundsoldier](https://www.instagram.com/hbkundergroundsoldier/)) and Tubman ([@tubmanunderground](https://www.instagram.com/tubmanunderground/)), he has also benefited from a spur of live sets. On July 26th, Osama performed his debut album live for the first time at the Vercetti Way Show in NYC. Far from a headliner in the event’s lineup, his set nonetheless brought crazy energy from old and new fans alike. Creative director Tycho Burwell captured 4K footage of the event under his production handle ‘The Toxic Lifestyle’ below: [![]({{DOMAIN}}/editor/youtube/play.png)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YQ5l4kSaX2A) The underground rap music community has always existed in some form or another— and with the continued development of social media technology and the resurgence of SoundCloud rap post-COVID, it keeps steadily growing. Osamason’s success is partially owed to the strength of this community; but in the same regard, Osama’s popularity has emboldened the artists and media producers that made his current trajectory possible. The list of Instagram profiles that have promoted and spread Osama Season through sonic avenues online is impossibly long to list, but they all incrementally contributed to the publicity of an artist who several months ago was virtually unknown. Not only do I think Osama Season to be a significant contribution to dark plugg and its analog genres, it is a fantastic example of what can happen when small artists and creatives work together to advance an artistic movement forward. ![Primary poster for the TUB X HBK Atlanta Show](https://storage.googleapis.com/papyrus_images/a7344b9210a16658448ce198b9972e2cee16118c10a5c45ff7e88db3e31635da.jpg) Primary poster for the TUB X HBK Atlanta Show Music, memes, independent journalism, and fashion have collided in a way that was never before possible. Influencers can now shape what becomes discovered and integrated into popular culture. And in the case of Osamason, anyone who works hard enough and hones their style can take the spotlight. His craft of atmospheric synths and a new take on rage is a fresh premise backed by practically everyone in the underground rap scene. This Friday August 4th, Osamason will lead the lineup of the TUB X HBK Atlanta show. From the more well-known Smokingskul to to budding mainstays Siyahxo ([@siyahhendrix](https://www.instagram.com/siyahhendrix/)), 1oneam ([@1oneam](https://www.instagram.com/1oneam/)), and Percosits ([@mikebrokeasf](https://www.instagram.com/mikebrokeasf/)), the concert will be an era-defining moment for the culture. _If you want to find more of Osamason, check out his tape with Boolymon and one of my favorite projects by him to date,_ [_2 slime_](https://soundcloud.com/boolymon/sets/2slime)_. Furthermore, be sure to follow_ [_@osamaseason_](https://www.instagram.com/osamaseason/) _on Instagram, Osama’s alt and the first place to hear snippets and other artist content._ _Thanks so much for reading this piece and be sure to follow me on Instagram_ [_@pluggvision_](https://www.instagram.com/pluggvision/) _to see what’s coming next. If you want to financially support further work, feel free to contribute to my ENS address on Ethereum, deanblunt.eth._  [Subscribe](null) --- *Originally published on [pluggvision](https://paragraph.com/@deanblunt/opinion-osamaseason)*