As I have mentioned in many blog posts over the last several months, the Milwaukee Hip Hop scene is as diverse and wide-ranging as any in the country. Although most people would associate Milwaukee with the quirky and fun Drill music made by artists like AyooLii, myaap, and J.P., Milwaukee Hip Hop goes way beyond this style of rap. Don’t get me wrong, I love the Drill music that is putting Milwaukee on the map right now, but I think more attention should be given to the many other Milwaukee Hip Hop artists creating styles of music that go against the grain of what most people think of the city. An artist with a unique sound from Milwaukee that I think has a ton of potential is OTR Melly. He has been making waves around Milwaukee for a while now, and it is time for people around the country to see why we in Milwaukee are so drawn to his music. OTR Melly has been honing his craft for much of his life, as he has stated he first started creating music at the young age of 10. OTR Melly has been putting music online for quite a while, as his first releases on Soundcloud date back to 2018. After releasing a couple of singles on Spotify in 2021 and 2022, OTR Melly ramped up his output in 2023. Last year, OTR Melly put out 8 stand-alone singles and three albums, titled A Rock Song Never Ends, Sincerely, Moonboy, and Fucked Up Greatness. These singles and projects established OTR Melly as one to watch in Milwaukee, as his capitating music and presence make him stick out from the crowd. OTR Melly has started 2024 strong, as he has already released one single, as well as a new album called FUCKED UP EMO. Here is my review of this new project from OTR Melly. Please let me know in the comments below what you think about OTR Melly’s FUCKED UP EMO, and also comment the names of any new up-and-coming artists you think I should check out!
FUCKED UP EMO gets started on an intense and abrasive note with the song ‘DEEBO.’ This is a gritty, in-your-face banger that packs a hell of a punch. The melody for this is bright and anxious sounding. This melody is driven by high-pitched synths with a very shimmering feeling that is inviting and foreboding at the same time. The beat for this track is extremely punchy and massive. The bass on ‘DEEBO’ absolutely rattles, and the distortion on the drums makes the song feel all the more jarring. OTR Melly’s vocals on ‘DEEBO’ match the energy of the track very well. The lofty pitch he sings-raps with gives the song texture, and his rapid flow sits on this beat nicely. ‘DEEBO’ is a short and impactful way to begin this project. ‘KING OF THE KONGZ’ has a much deeper and darker sound than the song that precedes it. The way the synths that drive this melody are arranged almost has an electric guitar feeling to them. The tone of these synths has a harsh Metal music tone, making this song feel so foreboding. The beat of ‘KING OF THE KONGZ’ is super intricate and absolutely bangs. When paired with this brash melody, I can not help but want to headbang when this track comes on. Like ‘DEEBO,’ OTR Melly’s tone and flow on ‘KING OF THE KONGZ’ is high-pitched and rapid; his vocal performance makes the song hit that much harder. ‘KING OF THE KONGZ’ is a colossal Metal-Trap track that injects me with life when I hear it. ‘CHROME HEART,’ which features Tay, Vegaz has the same kind of grating and bold energy as the first two tracks of the record. This one has a slightly metallic sound, though, that almost feels futuristic. There is something about this melody that is so robotic. The synths that drive the melody sound like they came out of some dystopian future. The beat on this track is very tinny as well; it definitely adds to the dystopian feeling of this track. Both of the vocal performances on this track are significantly lower pitched than what we heard on the first two songs. Both OTR Melly and Tay, Vegaz rap with a gruff tone on ‘CHROME HEART;’ these tones contrast the sound of the beat and melody, giving the song a cool texture. ‘CHROME HEART’ is a quick song that feels like a vigorous flash in the pan because of how hard the song hits.
‘I KNOW,’ which features Borynnstarr, is a song with a totally different tone and sound than anything before it. This one has a much softer and more Pop feeling than the first three songs of the record. It has a sound that makes me think of the Atmospheric Emo Trap that was massive in the Soundcloud Rap era a couple of years ago. When I hear ‘I KNOW,’ I think of some of the best music from artists like 6 Dogs or Juice WRLD. The melody for this track, which sounds like it is provided by a distorted guitar riff and twinkling keyboard riff, is melancholy and sunny at the same time. The beat on ‘I KNOW’ is a lot less tough than the ones on the first three tracks, and its mellow nature fits the melody so well. ‘I KNOW’ has great vocal performances from both OTR Melly and Borynnstarr. The lower pitch from Borynnstarr creates an interesting juxtaposition with the higher pitch of OTR Melly; both artists rap with a flow and tone that contains a palpable amount of emotion that makes the song hit so hard. ‘I KNOW’ is a great switch-up from the intensity of the first three tracks, and it shows a softer side to OTR Melly that I appreciate a ton. ‘DEMON GIRL’ is the second song in a row with a way lighter and easy-going feeling than the first three tracks of the record. Like ‘I KNOW,’ this one definitely feels inspired by Atmospheric Emo Trap music. ‘DEMON GIRL’ is more downtrodden and gloomy than the song before it, though. The keyboard-driven melody for this track is dark yet warm; it has the kind of sound that draws you in as a listener, but also feels a bit apprehensive. ‘DEMON GIRL’ has the most understated beat of the project to this point. The beat fits the melody perfectly, as its laid-back tempo makes the song feel all the more weighed down. ‘DEMON GIRL’ has my favorite vocal performances of the record to this point. I especially love the range that OTR Melly sings with, as it gives the song so much texture and makes it feel all-encompassing. ‘DEMON GIRL’ is a super riveting track that shows off the complexity of OTR Melly as an artist and person. ‘LONELY GIRL’ is easily the most Poppy song of the project so far. Like the last two tracks, it does have a melody that feels inspired by Emo music. This guitar-driven melody is charming yet somber; it feels welcoming and isolating at the same time. The thing about this track that makes it feel more Pop than anything that precedes it is the beat. ‘LONELY GIRL’ has a bubbly and upbeat drum pattern that will make anyone bob their head when they hear it. This song has the kind of tempo that just gets me moving; when paired with this pleasant melody, it makes ‘LONELY GIRL’ such a fun song to listen to. OTR Melly’s vocal performance on ‘LONELY GIRL’ may be just as good as the one on ‘DEMON GIRL.’ His flow sits on this song perfectly, and the range that he sings makes the song so lively. ‘LONELY GIRL’ is a dope track that shows a different side to OTR Melly’s artistry that I appreciate. OTR Melly closes out FUCKED UP EMO on a celestial note with ‘REMEDY.’ This song has a Cloud Trap sound that makes me think of the hazy music made by artists like Nav, Gunna, and even Don Toliver. The melody for this track has an ethereal sound that makes me feel like I am floating. This melody is inviting and cold at the same time; it has a bit of a cozy tone to it, but also someone feels steely and frigid. Like ‘LONELY GIRL,’ the drum pattern on ‘REMEDY’ is pretty quick. It does not exactly have the same kind of Pop-Trap sound as that one, but the beat on ‘REMEDY’ will get anyone moving when it comes on. Like so many other moments on this project, OTR Melly’s vocals stand out on ‘REMEDY.’ His flow is rapid and punctual, and his sing-songy tone adds so much emphasis to the track. ‘REMEDY’ is an additional moment on this project where OTR Melly shows off a totally different side to his artistry, and it ends FUCKED UP EMO on a very strong note.
OTR Melly is an artist who completely sets himself apart with his sound and style. In a Milwaukee Hip Hop scene that is growing exponentially and has interesting artists popping off seemingly every week, OTR Melly has the qualities to be one of the next ones in Milwaukee to take that quantum leap. FUCKED UP EMO is short and compact but still makes a massive impact. One of the things I enjoy the most about this project is how eclectic it is. OTR Melly shows how diverse of an artist he can be on FUCKED UP EMO, creating songs that can appeal to a wide range of Hip Hop listeners. There is something for everyone to love on this project. OTR Melly also proves how dynamic of a vocalist he can be on FUCKED UP EMO. Every vocal performance on this track is awesome, and they all fit the individual sounds of the songs so well. FUCKED UP EMO is a fun project that shows off OTR Melly’s major potential, and it is a great start to what could end up being a huge year for one of Milwaukee’s many extremely talented Hip Hop artists.
EAST SIDE VIBES 