Onry Ozzborn

Michael Martinez was born and raised in a small town in Farmington, New Mexico. Here, he grew up playing baseball and creating hip hop music. In the small town's elementary school, he came to know another hip hop artist named Sleep, who alongside Pale Soul, created his first hip hop group, Oraclez Creed.{{Cite web|url=http://www.seattleweekly.com/2010-12-22/music/an-inco%E2%80%A6|title=Seattle News and Events {{!}} News|website=Seattle Weekly|access-date=2017-03-08}} Following Martinez's graduation, the group was put on hold as the members disbanded, with Martinez attending college in Arizona for his scholarship earned as a baseball player.{{Cite web|url=https://70elevators.com/2013/09/14/elevator-21-onry-ozzborn/|title=Elevator 21: Onry Ozzborn|last=joelwilsonfilmmaker|date=2013-09-14|website=70 elevators|access-date=2017-03-08}} Following a year, Sleep invited Martinez to visit Seattle, Washington. This visit led Martinez to drop out of school and focus solely on his musical career. Oraclez Creed soon came back together and through making connections in the Pacific Northwest hip hop scene, they met another trio of rappers named Frontline, which consisted of Destro, Nyqwil, and Snafu.{{Cite news|url=http://www.rapstation.com/article/onry-ozzborn-rs|title=Onry Ozzborn: The RAPstation Interview|date=2015-12-12|work=Rapstation|access-date=2017-03-08|language=en-US}} Soon enough, the six founded the prominent collective known as Oldominion.{{cite web|url=http://www.seattleweekly.com/2009-01-28/music/oldominion-s-too-awesome-to-sell-records/|title=Oldominion's Too Awesome to Sell Records|last=Bricker|first=Sara|date=January 27, 2009|work=Seattle Weekly}}

In 2002, Onry Ozzborn formed the duo Norman, consisting of Oldominion emcee Barfly and Onry himself. Together, they released the critically acclaimed rap opera album Polarity. Pitchfork gave it a very favorable 8.3 out of 10, saying: "The duo's cadences play leapfrog with the beats, and they often rap at halftime for a surreal effect. The depressive, layered production reflects the isolating, wet darkness that grips the Pacific Northwest nine months out of the year. It's the unmistakable sound of Seattle hip-hop."{{Cite web|url=http://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/5837-polarity/|title=Norman: Polarity Album Review {{!}} Pitchfork|website=pitchfork.com|language=en|access-date=2017-03-08}}

Following various solo albums being released independently, Onry Ozzborn released his 2003 breakthrough solo album The Grey Area. It features guest appearances from Qwel, Luckyiam and Sleep, among others. The album was given very positive reviews, with XLR8R saying: "Onry Ozzborn gives us an album of wonderfully intricate storytelling and mostly tight production. Call it goth hop, call it abstract, call it what you want-we call it dope."{{Cite news|url=https://www.xlr8r.com/reviews/2003/05/the-grey-area/|title=Onry Ozzborn The Grey Area|work=XLR8R|access-date=2017-03-08|language=en-US}} The album also featured Onry's first collaborations with producer Mr. Hill, another Oldominion member who would help shape a new sound for Seattle and Grayskul alike.{{Cite web|url=http://www.thestranger.com/seattle/the-hiphop-tip/Content?oid=14583|title=The Hiphop Tip|website=The Stranger|access-date=2017-03-08}}

Through other Oldominion members and the local Seattle scene, Onry met another emcee named JFK Ninjaface.{{Cite web|url=http://www.allmusic.com/artist/grayskul-mn0000818475/biography|title=Grayskul {{!}} Biography & History {{!}} AllMusic|website=AllMusic|access-date=2017-03-08}} JFK Ninjaface was new to the circuit, as he had just moved from Virginia Beach, Virginia to live with his aunt after several run-ins with the law.{{Cite web|url=http://www.thestranger.com/seattle/my-philosophy/Content?oid=4180245|title=My Philosophy|last=Mizell|first=Larry Jr.|website=The Stranger|access-date=2017-03-08}} At the time, JFK Ninjaface was only freestyling before meeting Onry Ozzborn, who had encouraged JFK to write.{{Cite news|url=http://www.seattleweekly.com/2010-03-24/music/corner-closed/|title=Corner Closed: Belltown loses a hip-hop night, hip-hop loses a gem|work=Seattle Weekly|access-date=2017-03-08}} Not much later, the two formed the hip hop duo Grayskul.{{Cite web|url=|title=Catching Up With Grayskul|last=|first=|date=|website=Super Happy Wax|publisher=|access-date=}} The duo's music went from being released independently to being in the hands of Siddiq, the CEO of indie hip hop label Rhymesayers Entertainment. Siddiq signed them and released their 2005 album Deadlivers, with most production handled by Mr. Hill. The album featured appearances from Canibus, Mr. Lif and Aesop Rock, the latter becoming a frequent collaborator to Onry Ozzborn.{{Cite news|url=http://www.weouthere.net/2012/05/interview-with-onry-ozzborn-and-jfk-of-grayskul/|title=Interview with Onry Ozzborn and JFK of Grayskul|date=2012-05-31|work=We Out Here Magazine (WOHM)|access-date=2017-03-08|language=en-US}}{{Cite web|url=http://thesource.com/2016/02/17/onry-ozzborn-to-release-duo-march-25-ft-aesop-rock-p-o-s-homeboy-sandman-dem-atlas-eligh-of-living-legends/|title=Onry Ozzborn To Release Album W/ Aesop Rock, P.O.S., Homeboy Sandman, deM atlaS, Eligh of Living Legends|last=Eustice|first=Kyle|date=2016-02-17|website=The Source|access-date=2017-03-08}} In the same year, Onry Ozzbron released his solo album In Between.{{Cite web|url=http://www.thestranger.com/seattle/cd-reviews/Content?oid=31780|title=CD Reviews|last1=Mudede|first1=Charles|last2=Seling|first2=Megan|website=The Stranger|access-date=2017-03-15|last3=Reighley|first3=Kurt B.|last4=Henriksen|first4=Erik|last5=Chun|first5=Kimberly|last6=Gnade|first6=Adam|last7=Brissey|first7=Grant|last8=Porter|first8=Christopher|last9=Beta|first9=y}}

Subsequently following the release of two Grayskul albums on Rhymesayers, Onry released No Hoax separately as EP's in preparation to the release of his solo album Hold On For Dear Life. The album reached #3 on KEXP charts and garnered favorable reviews as well.{{Cite web|url=https://www.kexp.org/charts/Northwest/2011/1|title=KEXP 90.3 FM - where the music matters|website=www.kexp.org|language=en|access-date=2017-03-08}} In 2009, he met the Chicago producer Zavala and formed the group Dark Time Sunshine.{{Cite web|url=http://fakefourinc.com/artist/dark-time-sunshine|title=Dark Time Sunshine {{!}} Fake Four, Inc|website=fakefourinc.com|access-date=2016-08-19|archive-date=2016-08-02|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160802072941/http://fakefourinc.com/artist/dark-time-sunshine|url-status=dead}} Later that year, he signed to Ceschi's indie label Fake Four Inc.{{Cite web|url=http://www.allmusic.com/artist/onry-ozzborn-mn0000467906/discography|title=Onry Ozzborn {{!}} Album Discography {{!}} AllMusic|website=AllMusic|access-date=2016-08-19}}

In 2013, Grayskul released their long awaited follow up album Zenith.{{Cite web|url=http://2dopeboyz.com/tag/onry-ozzborn/|title=onry ozzborn {{!}} 2DOPEBOYZ|website=2dopeboyz.com|language=en-US|access-date=2017-03-08}}

In 2016, Onry Ozzborn released Duo, a solo album which included guest features on every track from artists such as Kimya Dawson, Rob Sonic and P.O.S, among others. The album was released with a video consisting of short snippets of the album and played together as a short film.{{Cite news|url=http://www.axs.com/onry-ozzborn-s-duofilm-is-a-personal-prelude-to-forthcoming-album-77229|title=Onry Ozzborn's 'duofilm' is a personal prelude to forthcoming album|work=AXS|access-date=2017-03-08|language=en-US}}

In February 2017, Onry released [https://onryozzborn.bandcamp.com/album/c-v-p-ii-d C V P ii D] (pronounced as Cupid) featuring Alison Baker.{{Cite news|url=https://hiphopdx.com/videos/id.25831/title.dxclusive-onry-ozzborn-reveals-trailer-for-new-album-h-3-b1rth-of-c-v-p-ii-d|title=DXclusive: Onry Ozzborn Reveals Trailer For New Video "+ h 3 B1RTH of c v p ii d"|work=HipHopDX|access-date=2017-10-23|language=en-US}}

In September 2018, Onry released Nervous Hvnd,{{Cite web|url=http://scratchedvinyl.com/?q=node/3937|title=Onry Ozzborne - Nervous Hvnd|website=scratchedvinyl.com|language=en|access-date=2018-10-31}} a solo album which included guest features from DJ Comfortable Kathy/vioLit, [https://akaethos.bandcamp.com/ Ethos], and [https://swamburger.bandcamp.com/ Swamburger]. Like previous albums, Nervous Hvnd released with a music video{{Citation|last=Onry Ozzborn|title=Onry Ozzborn feat. vioLIT - Holy Moly/Nervous Hvnd/Bummer (Official Music Video)|date=2018-09-11|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x2iXzWQTT04|access-date=2018-10-31}} featuring short snippets from the album.

In October 2018, Onry released a surprise mixtape THE RvTTLESNvKE MvRTINEZ MIXTvPE which included guest features from Iame and Scotty Del.

Onry Ozzborn's lyrical style has been described as brooding, thoughtful, and unique. He is also known to use different names depending on the project he is working on.{{Cite web|url=http://ballinpr.com/seattle-emcee-onry-ozzborn-readies-new-lp-duo-on-fake-four-inc-march-25-2016/|title=Seattle Emcee Onry Ozzborn Readies New LP: DUO on Fake Four Inc–March 25, 2016|website=ballinpr.com|access-date=2017-01-06}}

{{See also|Grayskul#Discography|Oldominion#Discography|Dark Time Sunshine#Discography|l1=Grayskul discography|l2=Oldominion discography|l3=Dark Time Sunshine discography}}

• Knightingale
• Released: March 22, 1997
• Label: Self-released
• Alone
• Released: January 8, 2002
• Label: BSI Records/One Drop Records
• The Grey Area
• Released: June 17, 2003
• Label: One Drop Records
• In Between
• Released: November 8, 2005
• Label: Camobear Records
• Hold On For Dear Life
• Released: January 25, 2011
• Label: Fake Four Inc.
• Duo
• Released: March 29, 2016
• Label: Fake Four Inc.
• C V P ii D
• Released: February 28, 2017
• Label: Ted Records
• Nervous Hvnd
• Released: September 13, 2018
• Label: Ted Records
• Tantrum (Nigel)
• Released: November 22, 2019
• Label: Michael Martinez

• Venom EP
• Released: January 31, 2001
• Label: BSI Records
• No Hoax (1-4)
• Released: December 26, 2010
• Label: Fake Four Inc.

• "Black Phillip"
• Released: July 17, 2017
• Label: 300 Club Records
• THE RvTTLESNvKE MvRTINEZ MIXTvPE
• Released: October 31, 2018

• "S7V7N Days" (with Sleep)
• Released: July 14, 2001
• Label: Momentum Studios

• Polarity (with Barfly)
• Released: March 4, 2003
• Label: Under The Needle

{{reflist}}

• [https://www.discogs.com/artist/147758-Onry-Ozzborn Onry Ozzborn] at Discogs
• [http://fakefourinc.com/artist/onry-ozzborn Onry Ozzborn] at Fake Four Inc
• [http://www.rhymesayers.com/grayskul Grayskul] at Rhymesayers Entertainment
• [https://www.discogs.com/artist/388024-Grayskul Grayskul] at Discogs
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20160802072941/http://fakefourinc.com/artist/dark-time-sunshine Dark Time Sunshine] at Fake Four Inc
• [http://www.discogs.com/artist/Dark+Time+Sunshine Dark Time Sunshine] on Discogs

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Category:Living people

Category:American male rappers

Category:Record producers from Washington (state)

Category:Record producers from New Mexico

Category:Underground rappers

Category:1979 births

Category:21st-century American rappers

Category:People from Farmington, New Mexico

Category:Rappers from Seattle

Category:21st-century American male musicians