From repurposed tracks to building a movement, O-Z shares his vision ahead of February 22nd
The day before the big snow, I pulled up to O-Z’s spot, my tires crunching over the gravel driveway. This felt familiar. It had been over a year since we last chopped it up. The air was crisp but not unbearable — cold enough to remind you winter had settled in, but not so biting that we couldn’t stand outside, talking like two old friends catching up. We stood in front of the now-iconic dumpster fire, a staple in O-Z’s videos, flames flickering against the backdrop of towering trees. The trees themselves seemed to mirror O-Z — tall, steady, and unwavering. There’s always a certain stillness around him, a quiet self-assurance that makes every conversation feel intentional.
Before we started, I exchanged a few words with his wife, the illustrious Zhea Aqueen, who’s a diverse artist in her own right. Then, without hesitation, O-Z and I dove into it — his steady stream of repurposed music, the ethos behind All Out of Gas, and of course, his upcoming show with Chandler on Saturday, February 22.
The Richmond Seen: So, you hit me up, you got the show coming up this weekend with Chandler.
O-Z: Saturday 22. Two 2s, and also my 10-year anniversary of being with my love. That’s crazy, right? A lot of people don’t make it.
TRS: Last time we talked, for Flag on the Moon, we were looking at the artists to watch out for this year. You mentioned that one of your main goals for 2025 was to intentionally repurpose a lot of your material. How’s that process coming along?
O-Z: So far, bro, it’s crazy. It’s sprung back at me how dope it’s gone. I feel like I only explained that to you, but other people are tapping in and explaining it to me. Like, “Yo, I see how you’re going into your older stuff. I like that,” or “You inspire me to do the same thing.” And I think that’s dope. We have so much music, why not tap into what you already have? It’s definitely been working for me the way I calculated it, but it’s still playing out.
“I want to create an EXPERIENCE similar to how a CHURCH organizes COMMUNITY EVENTS — not necessarily spiritual, but with that same SENSE of ENERGY and PURPOSE.“
TRS: Who’s doing your video production?
O-Z: Right now, Uno Forever. Father Time on Instagram.
You can listen/ watch O-Z’s new song “Peace & Love” here.
TRS: By the way, you mentioned another video is dropping soon.
O-Z: This one isn’t repurposed; it’s all fresh content—new bars and everything!
TRS: That’s dope. What else do you have coming up?
O-Z: From a branding standpoint, we’re tapping into the “All Out of Gas” community, bringing it together with fundraisers and community cleanups. I want to create an experience similar to how a church organizes community events—not necessarily spiritual, but with that same sense of energy and purpose. I want everyone to leave with a positive outlook. That’s how I envision “All Out of Gas.” It’s about community love, not just the smoke, but the irony is that the smoke is part of it.
TRS: When I asked him (referring to Chandler), he said he feels like a lot of people get good energy and familiarity at his shows. Do you agree?
O-Z: My first time at a Chandler show, it felt like I knew everybody. It’s like the difference between going to a club where nobody’s dancing versus one where everyone is. If you walk in and everyone’s dancing, you’re going to dance too. That’s the energy at Chandler’s shows. It’s not about being better or worse—it’s just different. And that difference is what people are looking for, whether they know it or not.
TRS: What can we expect from your set this weekend?
O-Z: Honestly, I plan to kick things off with an introduction since there will be some new faces in the crowd. After that, I’ll dive into my usual routine and performing a curated set. Typically, my sets are 50 to 75% the same, while the other 25 to 50% is me improvising, adding crowd interactions, new music, and special guests. I’m really excited about the new material!
TRS: Is there anything else you want to share?
O-Z: If you’re hearing this after February 22nd, look forward to more dope stuff like this. But February 22nd is going to be the show of the year. We got Zuri, TMA, me, Lunch $pecial, Chandler, Fellaair on guitar, DJ TuffLuck on the ones and twos. Shout out to the Broadberry. That’s it, bro. I appreciate you guys.
Tickets Available Here.
