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The worlds of hip-hop, dub, and soul collide in mesmerizing fashion on Odario’s latest single, The Situation—a deep, hypnotic groove that brings together UK dub pioneer Mad Professor and Canadian soul singer Yolanda Sargeant. This genre-blurring track, recorded at Mad Professor’s legendary Ariwa Studios in South London, is a lush blend of analog warmth, beat poetry, and sonic innovation.
Odario’s distinctive slow-flow lyricism, a signature of his work with Grand Analog and as a solo artist, finds a new home in the echo-drenched textures of Mad Professor’s signature dub production. “The Situation is a fresh rare groove that sounds like a manual no longer in use—three coats of dust mixed with the lush sound of the city at night,” says Odario. “It’s a reminder of where hip-hop and dub connect, two worlds of sound that have always belonged together.”
Odario’s journey with Mad Professor began in 2016 with their first collaboration on Grand Analog’s "Love Is A Battlefield." Since then, the two have cultivated a brotherhood through sound and their shared heritage of being born in Guyana, leading to this latest single and an upcoming full-length project, tentatively titled Toaster Boys, set for release in late 2025.
A B-side dub version of The Situation, mixed by Mad Professor himself, strips the track down to its rawest elements, allowing the deep bass and haunting reverb to speak for itself. As the song fades, Mad Professor delivers a final mantra: "Dub music is a natural creation. Analog is our only sound. We don’t know nothing else."
Joining Odario and Mad Professor on The Situation is the effortlessly soulful Yolanda Sargeant, whose smooth, ethereal vocals glide over the track’s deep, pulsating groove. Best known as one half of Sargeant X Comrade, Yolanda has been hailed as “Canada’s Queen of Lo-Fi Soul” and has built a career pushing the boundaries of jazz, hip-hop, and soul.
The track also features a powerful lineup of musicians, all masters in their craft. Warren Bray (bass, guitar) brings a deep, groove-heavy foundation to the track, while Alister Johnson (drums, keys) adds a rhythmic complexity that blends seamlessly with Mad Professor’s analog magic. Rounding out the sound is Aubrey McGhee (saxophone), whose subtle yet commanding horn arrangements elevate the track’s rich sonic landscape.
A Winnipeg-raised artist now based in Toronto, Odario has spent his career blending storytelling, hip-hop, and jazz-infused grooves. As a solo artist and former frontman of Grand Analog, he has worked with legends like Posdnuos (De La Soul), Shad, Maylee Todd, Cadence Weapon, and Saukrates. His music reflects his lifelong immersion in sound, from tagging along with his DJ father at late-night reggae and funk gigs to discovering the revolutionary work of King Tubby, Sister Nancy, and Scientist.
Available now, The Situation is a sonic meeting of minds, a tribute to the deep roots of dub and hip-hop, and a bold step toward Odario’s highly anticipated 2025 album.
