Seiji Oda's Singles "CYBORG" and "no fillins" Showcase Bay Area Past and Future
Coming straight from the Bay Area, Seiji Oda is a producer, rapper, and singer. This week he returns with two new singles "CYBORG" - which dropped with its own visual - and "no fillins." Both single complement each other with their different styles. Perhaps best known for his work on "TRAPANESE" with lil ricefield, Seiji Oda frequently integrates his heritage and hometown culture into his music - and these singles are no exception.
Seiji Oda's "CYBORG" is a melodic hip-hop track synthesizing lo-fi styles into something that is truly unique. The track name is a reference to the metal inside Seiji Oda's body from receiving treatment after he broke his neck snowboarding. When we spoke about this, he had a good sense of humor about the incident, and his light-heartedness seems to have bled into the video as well. Visuals of the Oakland artist rapping are interposed amongst goofy shots eating ice cream, playing with a toy robot, and dancing by Bay Area landmarks. Though "no fillins" is comparatively more laid-back and R&B-inspired, Seiji Oda's music still carries its subtle links to classic Bay Area hip-hop. "no fillins" is a spiritual reference to the Trunk Boiz track "Cupcake No Fillin," and Seiji Oda interpolates this classic into something that looks to the past instead of to the future. While "CYBORG" may be an indication of things to come, "no fillins" celebrates the music that helped foster his creativity growing up.
Seiji Oda is not done with 2021 just yet, as he plans to release his upcoming project ORA soon. Unlike his introspective 2020 record "BLUE+," Seiji Oda plans on having his next record focus on warm 80's sounds, analog instruments, and upbeat mixes. Though the release date for ORA may be unknown, there is no doubt that Seiji Oda will deliver innovative and subversive tracks to hip-hop and R&B fans alike.
