Gambian-born, Maryland-based artist OoZ, and producer Rick Roman seamlessly and uniquely blend Rap, R&B, Pop and Afrobeats on their newest EP, AutoMatic. Recorded over a few, rapid-fire sessions during the pandemic, OOZ flexes his versatility.

The intro to AutoMatic has OoZ getting introspective and flexing his Hip-Hop muscle. On “Movie”, co-produced by JayWatts and Sippi Boy, Ooz and Rick Roman build a UK Rap vibe, distorting 808s and using Jamaican/London slang. “NBA”, the smooth, post-Maybach song, NBA YoungBoy’s name is flipped into a hook, while OOz leaves the soulful singing to Tracie Josephine. “On One” is the first track we hear the DMV artist properly singing, using Autotune, but on “James Bond” Ooz shows that he doesn’t need vocal tuning. “Going Thru” featuring Pac Marly, and “Riot” are especially relevant during the pandemic, with “Riot” explicitly addressing the fight for racial injustice for Black people, worldwide. The final track, “Mona Lisa” is the most reminiscent of a modern, Afrobeats-tinged Pop R&B song. Kolten Perine handles hook duties over a floaty guitar melody while Ooz spits about his “Mona Lisa”. If you’re looking for a new artist, especially if you want an introduction to music with an Afro-centric sound, look to AutoMatic by Ooz and Rick Roman. Be on the lookout for more from both, this EP seems to be a warm-up for something bigger.

Stream below via Audiomack, or click here to listen on your platform of choice.