We’ve recently covered a few releases from Omega The Poet — a neo-soul adjacent lyricist who captivates us with his emotional rhymes and constantly unique subject matter. 

We sat down with him for a new series: Behind The Music — covering what our favorite artists are interested in outside of their current releases. Grab a cold lemonade, sit on the couch, and discover more about one of the most exciting new faces in rap today. 

How did you get your rap name?

Initially, when I first started making music I was just looking for a name that fit me. There were so many options that I was deciding between. But Omega The Poet seemed like it had the most flow without being either corny, or feeling like it didn’t have much longevity attached to it. In actuality, I want my stage name to be just “Omega” but I’ll be working to make that happen soon as far as legalities are concerned.

Are you into poetry? If so, who’s your favorite poet? Why? 

Definitely, for a long time growing up I used to write poems often. Then when I went to college & started hanging around friends that were musicians I started converting my poems into songs. I wouldn’t necessarily say I have a favorite poet, but I will say that I inspire myself. Especially after I write something extremely profound & different.

Outside of other music or artists, what influences your creative process? 

Outside of those, things like architecture, interior design, nature, & cuisine all influence my creative process.

Are you a spiritual person? If so, how does that factor into your creativity? 

100%, I actually just got my Master’s in Spirituality, Culture & Health a few months ago. Spirituality influences my creative process in so many ways, from the way I look at people to be inspired, to the jewelry that I wear to write upper echelon raps.

Do you approach music by trying to fit into a genre or do you do your own thing and classify it later? Which do you prefer? 

Interestingly enough, as I’ve stepped into more of a business executive role through my company For The Record. I do follow & observe trends closely to stay up to date on what’s happening in the creative world. However, I think naturally with this knowledge in mind I always tend to make things unique to me. It’s like a chef, they all could have the same recipe but in the end things might end up tasting & being presented differently.

What’s the scariest song you’ve ever released? What made it scary? 

Probably my first ever song, mainly because when you’re not necessarily known for making music it will raise a lot of eyebrows, laughs, & more. Which it did. I also wouldn’t say I was “scared” either but I didn’t know what to expect. I definitely always had the confidence & energy to know I was going to excel no matter what.

Is there a person outside of music that inspires you? If so, who?

Maybe Neville Goddard, an author who wrote one of my favorite books “Feeling is The Secret”. Which covers the law of assumption & to create any reality you must first assume the feeling of what you wish to obtain.

If your artistry could be described in a pinterest board, what four images would you put on it? 

There’s a lot of soul and neo soul influence in your music. How would you describe what your music sounds like to you? 

Good, undeniable. I like to describe myself as someone that doesn’t miss. 

What type of music haven’t you made yet, that  you’re scared to make, that you want to make before your career is over? 

I don’t think I’m scared to make any music, but I do want to make a house album. Similar to the sound of Kaytranada.

What type of art do you consume when you’re not making or listening to music? 

Photography for sure, I love how photos are timeless. Which is why I’m a big fan of good album art.

Who’s one artist outside of your atmosphere that you’d want to collaborate with? How would that collab work?

I can’t think of anyone specific, but I do want to work with an architect to build a home. Somewhere on the side of a mountain or boulder. Somewhere warm, but not tropical. With a small underground studio.

Making music ain’t just something you do for a day and call it quits — you’ll never take off like that. It has to be a lifelong journey, filled with dedication that makes you love what you do. Omega The Poet’s obsession with the craft, which began as a child, has evolved into a career full of creativity that’s been driven by his years of experience. From his early beginnings to owning a record label and his lofty plans in the future, Omega’s had and has it all figured out.

Everyone has a unique way that they discover music. For some, it’s experiencing what their parents listened to. For others, it’s randomly vibing to a song on the radio. Omega’s origins had a bit of a holier beginning.  “I got into music by attending church,” he shares. “My introduction to music was unique in the sense that most of my ‘music-making’ abilities came from reading and the development of that skill.”

From there, he participated in a children’s choir, learning about different vocal registers—soprano, alto, tenor—and understanding the foundations of music theory. These formative years gave him an understanding about song structure that would prove pivotal to his development as an artist in later years. 

Soon, Omega became a lyricist that didn’t find inspiration in whatever was on the radio. He studied musical legends for their craft and their personalities to discover what kind of artist he’d want to be — specifically André 3000, Wale, Frank Ocean, and Kanye West (before he was a dickhead).  “I enjoy how unapologetically unique these artists are, how they push boundaries sonically, and their undeniable influence on the culture,” he explains.

In recent years, his inspirations have expanded to include experimental artists like Solange, Steve Lacy, Childish Gambino, and Daniel Caesar because of their fearless approach to music-making. “These artists have this ability to merge genres and create something truly special,” he says. “I want to bring that same level of originality and fearlessness to my own work.”

After the release of his debut EP Eros in 2020, Omega took a step back from releasing music — but now, he’s back with a reinvigorated sense of purpose. “Recently, I’ve been releasing songs that I’ve had stashed in the vault since Eros,” Omega explains. “My goal is to release one song of mine every month for the whole year.”

This consistent rollout strategy isn’t just about holding on to the huge and organic momentum that he’s building — it’s also about evolving and wanting his fans to experience his growth and versatility in real time.  As he’s doing this though, he’s also working with others to develop their talent in an exciting way. “I plan to introduce the music of artists under my publishing company and record label, For The Record.”

Working as an executive producer and record label founder, he’s bringing something special with For The Record. “I drew inspiration from Kanye West’s former label, G.O.O.D. Music,” he says. “I loved the grandeur and exclusivity that surrounded that label.”

However, as he matured, he realized that creative vision alone wasn’t enough. He wanted to combine artistic innovation with solid business practices founded in realness. “It was a true step-by-step journey toward creating and solidifying my record label,” he explains. “But the idea was developed incrementally, and it’s like God revealed each piece I needed at the perfect moment to allow the business to flourish.”

Today, For The Record is home to a growing roster of artists, including Nylo Cash, Tajé, 7Reazon, and JSavv, with more names coming soon. They’re set to takeover this year, so stay tuned for this exciting new chapter.  

With so much on Omega’s plate, he (and his label) are destined to make a definitive impact in an industry that often is only focused on making a splash.  “I want to create music that resonates, that stands the test of time,” he reveals. “And I want to help others do the same.”

The best music comes from a real place. It’s easy to make up a story and translate it rhythmically, but it often sounds better, and is more relatable, when a musician draws from their real life to entertain listeners. 

Omega The Poet proves that with his new track, “Nina Simone.” Named after the Civil Rights activist and singer of the same name, it covers a situation with an amazingly unpredictable woman that he’s experienced before. The soulful track that features both Tajé and Innanet James make you think about similar experiences that you’ve had, succeeding in being both relatable and extremely listenable. 

Here’s an interview with Omega The Poet about how “Nina Simone” came about and what’s coming next for him. 

What was the inspiration behind Nina Simone?

Generally, the song is about a love affair I had with a young lady whose name also happened to be Nina Simone. Listening back to my verse, I’m taken back by how witty the lyrics are. I promise, nothing in that song is made up.

For example, the first line “Nina Simone, my ace of hearts…“ is something I said because she has an ace of hearts tattoo on her chest. So the inspiration was to express my adoration for a lady that was (and is) very significant in my life — in the most coded way.

How did this collaboration come about?

The collaboration with Tajé was a no brainer. He’s one of my closest friends & we went to college together at NCCU. He was a Jazz studies major & I would always hang around him and improve on my skill set and musicality. We just developed a genuine brotherhood. Given that, I thought he was the perfect person for the hook. As far as how Innanet James got on the track, I’ve always been a big fan of his music and the collaborations he’s done with other artists (Like Pusha T, Mac Ayres, etc.)

I also like to think my “musical palette” is very advanced & sometimes peculiar. So sonically, I thought he would be a great addition to the song. I reached out, he liked the song and he hopped on.

Have you ever had your own Nina Simone experience? If so, did that factor into how you made the song?

I think I have, now that you bring it up. I think at the time of making this song I was super young and, shamefully to say, in a serious relationship while also navigating the “secret” relationship with the young lady the song is about. I know that Nina Simone, as an activist, addressed issues like love and freedom. And as I relate her life to my life and this song, I’m drawing synchronicities as in how while I’m generally ( and always have been) a very loyal person…how certain phases of your life as it relates to growing, and freedom can cause you yearn freedom even if it is slightly deceitful. And even more — create such an amazing (and again) coded song.

What’s your favorite part about the track?

My verse for sure, I think since it’s such a 100% real story from beginning to end. It almost amazes me how I wrote it so fluently. I think it’s easy to get caught up in the melody of the song, but if you really listen to the lyrics…it’s kinda’ mind blowing. Bar’d up too on the rap side of things.

What will “Nina Simone” appear on? Can you tell us more about the project?

Nina Simone is actually a single from my last EP Eros. Eros explored the time of my life where I was budding as a young kid newly out of college and into the world. Still finding myself, but very complex and poetic given my age. I called it Eros because that is the name of Cupid in Greek mythology and I felt like that was the effect I had on women at the time.

What’s next for you?

Lots of new, highly developed yet egoless music. Some artists that inspired the music I’ll be releasing this year is Solange, D’angelo, Daniel Caesar, and Steve Lacy. Lots of beautifully simplistic, niche yet gravitational music. The type that is undeniable and forward. I haven’t released music since 2020…so everything in the vault since then will be coming out in 2025. I also started my own music publishing company and record label, called For The Record. So, I’m excited to introduce the artists under my direction as well.