My mom raised me to be a black superhero. I was raised on Malcolm, Stokley, Angela, Harriet, but also watched the Dukes of Hazzard (WTF?) and loved the OG “BAMF” “zap” Batman show. 

 

I’ve lived (in order) Long Beach, Compton, Culver City, Los Angeles, Inglewood, Venice, West L.A., Koreatown, and now reside in San Diego. When people ask where I’m from, I say L.A. because my growing up years, teen to adult, were spent off of Slauson and Overhill. 

 

I was a kid in the 80’s. Radio stations in L.A. in the late 80’s were diverse. I would listen to a station and record straight off the radio. My mixtapes had John Mellencamp’s “Jack and Diane”, Grand Master Flash and the Furious 5’s “The Message” (which is still relevant in 2020), The Time’s “Cool” and Def Leppard’s “Foolin.” You could find me on my bmx bunny hoppin curbs listening to a mix of Public Enemy, Suicidal Tendencies, Prince, and Duran Duran. I love music. Like love, love, love music!

 

Who am I? I’m Omar. Interested in the world. I don’t believe in limits. 

 

At 16 I was learning to work as a tattoo shop manager at Sunset Strip Tattoos cause I loved tattoos. 

 

I saw a guy paddle boarding 10 years ago and it looked amazing. So I started.

 

I’ve always liked Bootsy Collins so I learned to play the bass. 

 

If you bump into me, nine times out of ten I’ll be wearing a band t-shirt and I’ll usually have a book in my car in case I’m forced to wait in any way…. and I’ll most likely smile…….and ask you to be on the podcast.

 

I’ve never felt like I belonged in any one place or with any one tribe. 

 

So, welcome to the tribe. (I decided to create my own) 

 

P.S.

Fellow music lover? As I write this I’m jamming to Theme Podcast playlist  ( Hint: Click "Playlist") I’m listening to Baby Rose, Queens of the Stone Age, Robert Glasper, Kamasi Washington, The Isley Brothers, and Piano Concerto No. 4 in G Minor by Segei Rachmanioff.