In my week since meeting a Hip Hop producer hero, Saint Alan The Alchemist, I wanted to test whether there was some kinda of energy transfer in the embrace. I headed home, dug out my DJ mixer from 2006, grabbed a vinyl from the shelf and tried to make a sampling vinyl banger using my AKAI Professional MPC Live 2 Retro.

As much as my Sunday sess didn’t produce anything worthy of sharing, aside from this cool picture, I did realise how powerful the sequencer on the MPC is for generating ideas. I tend lose interest once I get a loop as my other production weapons of choice feel restrictive. The MPC workflow is flexible enough to support mute, solo and editing once a sequence is duplicated. Going from a loop to a song feels so much more intuitive than others.

The following 5 days were spent exploring this box of delights pre and post shift, watching AKAI’s playlist on YouTube using the #mpc Live 2 on my lunch break and commutes to and from work. My eureka moment came on Day 4 when I finally figured out how to record vocals into the MPC Beats software, when using the Live 2 in controller mode.

On Thursday, having finished early, I raced home with the intent to record a piece of poetry I wrote, about a gloomy April morning, called Modest in Monochrome. I was going to stay in my comfort zone, which was to open a VST of the drum machine DAW in Logic Pro X, but I decided to break the pattern and stretch myself to learn something different. I’m glad to I took the 5mins to learn how because it means I can decrease my dependence on rerouting across software.

TLDR: How one chance encounter with someone can serve as a reminder to make time to explore your hobbies and interests.

I wanted to try a new way of working so I opted to go down the super duper vortex of DAW-lessness. This machine is synonymous with a close knit community of Hip Hop producers and live performers, most iconic being Dilla (rip) himself who used a similar iteration on his album Doughnuts. I wasn’t exactly sure how I’d best utilise this machine but I wanted to try it as an alternative to always using my MacBook and Machine or carrying around the heavy MPC Live 2. The SP-404 MK2 would be my mobile way of working for the commute to work or to jam out whilst on my lunch break.

Although receiving mine, there are so many others who have yet to get theirs as supplies at the time of recording were super limited. I’m glad in hindsight that I ordered when I did because at the time of updating this blog, many people in different regions who ordered a few weeks after me still haven’t received theirs yet.

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YouTube.com/c/KhalidOmari

Autobiography of a Nobody commemorates 20yrs in retail come August 2021 and features satirical songs I wrote and recorded during my time in the sector. All tracks were made between 2004-2012 and were produced by myself. The concept of the project was birthed in 2012 but it wasn’t until earlier this year when I was going through some kind of burnout and vlogging my way through it that I set myself a goal of releasing it on my birthday August 25th.

Comparatively it’ll sound like a collision between Peep Show and Curb Your Enthusiasm with a grime backing track. It’ll arrive on your favourite streaming services on August 25th 2021 via link below.

Let me know your thoughts and whether you’re going through the same tribulations with your job sector.

https://distrokid.com/hyperfollow/khalidomari/autobiography-of-a-nobody-struggle-raps-on-grime

In the final phase of Autobiography of a Nobody which pretty much went from a vlog recording where I was open and honest with myself into a whole EP of tracks that will be release on Friday 3rd Sept.

Pre-Order/Listen Directory: https://distrokid.com/hyperfollow/khalidomari/autobiography-of-a-nobody-struggle-raps-on-grime

My friend M1ke Whit3 has a new single out called Your Love which is available here.

After sitting on the idea for a few years I’ve decided it was time to release Autobiography of A Nobody to coincide with my 20th anniversary in the retail sector and my futile attempts to escape the trap.

Created a theme song for the Khalism Podcast using Native Instruments Maschine MK3 and the Maschine 2 software before going into Logic Pro X and finishing it with freestyle vibe vocals.

Available to Stream: https://distrokid.com/hyperfollow/khalidomari/khalism-podcast-theme

Following a train of thought that everyone is trying to buy their freedom whilst merchants are earning a living by branding themselves or their ‘products’ conduits to freedom.

Before starting my journey into learning a language I wished I’d of considered these three important things.

Giving myself a mirror talk because I’m getting impatient and anxious so its imperative that I remind myself to focus on working towards what I want, than dwelling on what I don’t have.