Urban Pulse Magazine

OMF Block has always let his life speak through his music. From paying bills with rap to sharing his experiences on an international stage, he embodies the grit and authenticity of true hip-hop. His approach is unfiltered: he doesn’t write lines—he steps in the booth and channels his life into lyrics and energy that listeners can relate to. OMF Block blends influences from legends like Styles P, Jadakiss, Mobb Deep, DMX, Jay-Z, and newer voices like Albee Al and Tsu Surf, transforming personal struggles into music that resonates worldwide. In this interview, he talks about the challenges he’s faced, the lessons learned, and what fans can expect from his upcoming projects.

When did you first realize rap was more than just a hobby for you, and what was the moment that made you say, “This is it”?
I realized rap was more than a hobby when I started paying my bills off rap. It was “This is it” for me when people started hearing me internationally, singing my songs, and making videos to my music.

When you’re writing, do you start with the beat, the lyrics, or a feeling you want to capture?
I really don’t write—I get in the booth and just rap my life experiences. I go off the energy and the vibes.

Which artists or life experiences have shaped your style the most, and how can listeners hear that influence in your music?
Artists like Styles P, Jadakiss, Mobb Deep, DMX, Albee Al, Tsu Surf, and Jay-Z influenced me, but really, I just turned my life experiences into music. Listeners can hear that in my raw, authentic raps—they can tell I relate because they can relate to me.

If someone had never heard your music before, which one track should they start with, and why?
I’d tell them to listen to Started Off. That song really gives you who I am, what I’ve been through, and a raw, authentic style. It’s also relatable because I touch on so many subjects in that track.

What’s the hardest obstacle you’ve faced in your career, and how did you overcome it?
The hardest obstacle has been staying consistent and being real, raw, and myself despite trials and errors in life. I’m still overcoming it to this day. I just keep believing in myself, put my head down, and keep going.

You’ve probably lived through moments your fans don’t know about—what’s one personal story behind a song that changed how you see life or music?
One story is when my lung collapsed twice, called a spontaneous pneumothorax. It made me realize life can be over any second, so I need to be grateful and do the most I can. I almost died, and it pushed me to go harder every day. I’ve seen the grim reaper more than once.

How do you feel about the current state of hip hop, and where do you see yourself fitting into it?
Hip-hop has always had controversy, ups, and downs, but I feel the original hip-hop is coming back stronger than ever. I see myself as one of the originals from where hip-hop started, keeping it alive along with other artists.

What’s the most misunderstood thing about you as an artist or person, and how does your music set the record straight?
The most misunderstood thing about me is my background, my loyalty, and my will. People don’t always understand me or what I’ve been through. My music sets the record straight because when you listen, you can tell I’m not trying to be like anyone else. You hear the pain, the authenticity—I’ve lived it, and I tell it.

When people talk about you years from now, what do you want them to say about your impact on the culture?
I want them to say my music helped them through situations or inspired them, and that I stayed true to the culture and kept it alive.

What’s coming up next that fans should be excited about—whether it’s music, performances, or collaborations?
I’m releasing a new single called Miss Me, a new EP with King Hansom, and an album called Black Sheep. I’ve got shows, new merch, over 50 unreleased songs, new music videos, clothing, and more music coming soon.

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