BY JAKE PAINE • JUNE 18, 2019

For more than 25 years, O.C. has been a vicious MC. From JAY-Z to Big L, Pharoahe Monch to Murs, rappers across the Hip-Hop landscape have been eager to work with the Diggin’ In The Crates member. O’ has fed the masses, from the acclaimed Word…Life and Jewelz one-two punch, into two LPs in 2018. He is poetic, prolific, and purposeful.

Now, the MC who divided his youth between Brooklyn and Queens has gone into the archives and curated more than three hours of songs that fans may not have heard. The O-Zone includes 51 songs from various points in the D.I.T.C. lyricist’s career. It includes moments from his pre-deal days when he was running with Organized Konfusion, including a 1993 freestyle alongside Monch, Prince Po, Kool Keith, and Large Professor. 3rd Bass’ MC Serch, who managed O.C. and Nas at the same time back in 1994, appears on several rare radio promos. There are demo versions of memorable songs from O’s first two albums, as well as DJ Ron G moment that linked O.C., Biggie Smalls, KRS-One, Raekwon, and Killarmy’s Killa Sin. Some of these songs are familiar to many fans. Others are just now scratching the surface.