Dope read

A first time listener dipping randomly into the station’s 24-hour programming might very well pick up the latest Drake x 21 Savage collaboration…or might just as easily land on an amapiano or UK drill track or a set of Stone Love sound system running through the latest dancehall and JA trap (or as it’s known in Jamaica, “chop”). They might find themselves immersed in a white label-heavy set of South African deep house from guest DJ Fka Mash or a surprisingly granular exploration of regional Detroit rap. Or a slowed-and -throwed remix of a pop song on Houston legend OG Ron C’s The Chop Not Slop Show. Or Kodak Black doing his take on Memphis jook. There’s everything from the Afrobeats vibes of Tems, Wizkid or Burna Boy to French rapper Freeze Corleone.

OVO is for real music lovers

Of the tone that gives Sound 42 its remarkable consistency, he says simply, “Look we want to create a trusted brand but not by being safe. I take the ‘art gallery' part seriously; you might not get everything you see in a gallery show but hopefully it moves you. Indifference would be the worst reaction. OVO Sound Radio is like my Scorcese movie. I’ve got my regular cast of characters, you’re gonna have your Pacino and Deniro but I’m always looking to cast the next DiCaprio for that movie in my mind. This week I might cast Central Cee or Skillibeng…or it could be Rondodasosa from Italy, or Spanish-Moroccan rapper Morad.”

Great read and definitely an extension of OVOSR

You ever peep the other shows they have?

Just OVOSR and Fry Yiy, I actually tune in more to Fry Yiy nowadays cause of the banter

We got the Mr Morgan origin story

I legit don’t even use streaming services like Apple Music or Spotify anymore. I just stream sound 42 because they play dope new music I would’ve never heard before.

Sheesh that’s crazy, you have a Sirius sub?

Nah I just listen live from the link on sound 42s bio on IG! And if I ever want to listen to something specific I’ll just go to YouTube or SoundCloud.

"This week I might cast Central Cee or Skillibeng…or it could be Rondodasosa from Italy, or Spanish-Moroccan rapper Morad.”

He needs to tap into the Australian Rap game!

Frank Ocean on Apple + Sound 42 are definitely pushing boundaries in music curation. I wish S42 was a little more experimental in their selections, would love to tune in (or have a show) and hear some of 40s influence when it comes to that cinematic side of his work. The interludes prior to launch were some of my most played tracks of 2020.

You heard this?

ktt2.com/australian-drill-going-crazy-32523980

One thing about Mark and Noel, they PLAY that South African house

Do they mention NTS at all in this

Dope

loop like the first 10 seconds or so put hard hitting drums on it you got yourself a beat

Yup

That is not Australian drill brother

Missing some nerve

OVOSR/Sound42 has been the biggest inspiration in music for me

It’s crazy how tapped in they are

What is it?

Even moments before he steps back into the Apollo’s spotlight, Drake consistently speaks of these interlocked creative endeavors in terms of we. “Me and Oliver–and everyone else that has a show on the station–we’re just so passionate about music that to have that platform for us to play what we love or–what we make or just things that we’d like people to know about–it's been such a great experience for us,” Drake says. “And I think it came in two parts: a station that obviously if you have satellite radio you can experience but even initially in the partnership we talked about making it more tangible at some point and I think that's what Apollo was. Gathering what felt like, almost like a friends and family rehearsal for an arena tour. You know we used to do those back in the day,” he adds. “Before OVOfest I would invite our closest people in the city out before we did the actual concert. And that's what last night felt like.”

Apollo version of OVO Fest

You know...I'm really surprised he did this interview considering GQ and Vogue are both owned by Condé Nast. Maybe they came to an agreement on the lawsuit.