Plugging In with Oddisee, Who Is Not the Poster Boy for Anything

It’s nearly impossible not to learn something while listening to Oddisee’s latest mixtape, Alwasta. Whether it’s a lesson about the black American experience on “Asked About You,” or the effects of Islamophobia on “Lifting Shadows,” the rapper-producer (born Amir Mohamed el Khalifa) is not afraid of exploring weighty themes. But unlike many conscious MCs, Oddisee has no interest in telling you how to think; that’s your job.
“I do think a