Oddisee probes society below the surface in his music

Oddisee is a prolific hip-hop artist who has specialized in producing thought-provoking lyrical content augmented with soulful live instrumentation for over a decade. His latest album, the Iceberg, urges resilience and positivity in the face of adversity. As its title suggests, the Iceberg's theme is based on believing there's more to the issues we're grappling with as a society than what we see at the surface.

As a Muslim having spent a significant amount of time in the Washington, D.C., with a father from North Sudan and an African-American mother, Oddisee has an interesting perspective that isn't often given widespread attention. 

He talks to Tom Power about the current political reality in the United States where he, by virtue of his birth name Amir Mohamed and his father's country of origin, is subject to increased scrutiny. Oddisee opens up about how the political issues he voices in his music are influenced by world events and how those messages are translated to the people who attend his shows — and at the White House.

— Produced by Ty Callender