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Sudbury's rapping miner branches out with debut solo album, My Drift

Single 'Groundhog Day' a scathing critique of religion's dark side
210319_Mike_OBrien
(Supplied)

Local rap artist Mickey O'Brien's new single and music video, “Groundhog Day,” is about a subject that is making the headlines a lot lately — the dark side of religion.

O'Brien, a Copper Cliff native also known as OB or OreBody, released the single earlier this month ahead of the March 22 release of his debut solo album, My Drift.

“It's a 21st century critique on modern religion and how corrupt religious organizations have become,” he said. “It's not hating on spirituality, but it's not a necessity for a lot of us now.”

History is doomed to repeat itself, like in the Bill Murray movie, as long as humanity as a whole doesn’t evolve together, said a press release about the video, which was filmed in a church in Toronto.

Sharing vocal duties with O'Brien on the single is anti-capitalist rapper Lee Ree (Strange Famous).

Back in 2011, O'Brien, who works as a miner here in Sudbury for his day job, released a rap album with a local group he was part of called Kill the Autocrat, which also featured Scott Swain and Trevor Johnston.

That album featured material which meshed with O'Brien's interests as a social activist. 

Kill the Autocraft grabbed attention in 2010 with the release of O'Brien's song and music video “One Day Longer.” He wrote it while he was on strike against Vale for nearly a year.

As evidenced by “Groundhog Day,” O'Brien has branched out, although he says he's still an activist and always will be. 

He said a lot of the tunes on this album come from a more personal place. 

O'Brien said he's struggled with substance abuse, relationship breakups and the death of several friends and even his beloved dog Odie over the past few years.

He poured all of that hurt into his songwriting.

“Being in that dark, shitty place, any emotion that I'm feeling that's negative, I'm able to write it down and create a song out of it,” he said. “That's how I process and deal with my personal traumas.”

While the rap artist was recording most of the album, he was commuting between Sudbury and Toronto, where his girlfriend at the time was living and where he was recording the album.

“I would work my run at the mine and sleep on a bus and go and record and get back just in time for my run at work,” he said.

But now the album is done, and O'Brien said he's stoked about the result, and is looking forward to everyone hearing it.

The album was produced by Canadian beat-master and MPC button-masher Fresh Kils, with cuts contributed by DJ Uncle Fester. 

“OB’s transformation into the artist he is now, from when we began working on this record, is nothing short of astonishing, for real,” said Fresh Kils, in a written statement. “Proud to be a part of his inspiring story. Strap in folks!” 

My Drift also features guest appearances from some of the most unique voices in Canadian hip hop: D-Sisive, Mindbender Supreme, More Or Les, The Mighty Rhino and Lee Reed (who, as previously mentioned, appears on “Groundhog Day.”)

The album is carried by the indie rap label Hand'Solo, which has been around for more than 20 years, and has produced albums by rap artists including Buck 65 (also known as Rich Terfry, a CBC Radio host).

“It's real humbling honour to be on there,” O'Brien said.

The album is available to stream on online platforms including iTunes and Spotify as of March 22.

Check out “Groundhog Day” below:


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