I AM
 

LYLE OMOLAYO

HIP HOP, ART & COMMUNITY

There is an abundance of emcees within the music industry, and it is the artist’s job to not only rock the crowd, but they must stand out, be memorable, and influential as well. Many artists may use their personalities to their advantage. Others may use their image, while there are artists who simply let the music speak for itself. Lyle Omolayo just so happens to embody it all, from his charming personality to his consciously appeasing music.

The Plainfield, New Jersey native is a breath of fresh air for those who truly love hip hop. Lyle Omolayo‘s musical influences include Lauryn Hill, Redman, Wu-Tang Clan, Busta Rhymes, The Fugees, Will Smith, Outkast, The Roots, Sean Price, Slum Village and Black Star. His sound presents the rawness of hip hop, through a different scope, as he delivers diversity through his rhymes with an international feel and flow. Lyle Omolayo uses the art of music to express his views on love; seeing beauty in the struggle, political freedom, equality and justice. His music is revolutionary and thought provoking while at the same time being witty and lighthearted in its delivery.

Lyle Omolayo began working on his craft back in 2002, by making mixtapes in high school with his partner in rhyme Bixop. In 2006, he created a scholarship for his alma mater, Plainfield High School.  It’s called the Emagin Book Scholarship, awarding college bound graduating seniors money to help pay for books during their freshman year.  

Hopping back on the music scene, Lyle Omolayo released his debut album (as mc enigma) Emagin in 2010. After noticing the steady influx of Latinos within the United States, Lyle Omolayo and Bixop saved up money and spent an entire year living in the barrios of Panama in 2011. This gave birth to Negros Americanos, a tri-lingual, hip hop duo rapping in English, Spanish and Portuguese. While in Panama, Lyle Omolayo recorded and released three projects (as mc enigma); S.A.R.A.H. (Someone As Real As Her), which was a gift and dedication to an ex-girlfriend, The Sweatbox Unmixedtape named after Lyle’s cuarto in Ciudad Radial in Panama City and the introduction to the Negros Americanos sound, L.y.l.e. Rainy Season.

Lyle Omolayo has rocked over 500+ stages within the United States and internationally. He has opened up for many legends, pioneers and unsung heroes of music such as Kool Herc, Afrika Bambaata, Grandmaster Melle Mel and the Furious Five, Naughty By Nature, Immortal Technique, Abiodun Oyewole of the Last Poets, Large Professor, Masta Ace, Styles P, Rahzel from The Roots, The Artifacts, El Da Sensei, Lord Jamar, Sadat X and Grand Puba, Brand Nubian, Hasan Salaam, John Robinson, Napoleon Da Legend, Ray, Goodman, and Brown, Blue Magic, Ally-US, ScienZe, Chelsea Reject, Hakim Green of Channel Live, and Silent Knight and the Band Called Fuse and Panamanian Reggae artists Renato, I-Nesta, Dj Rhythm X, Rebel Mike, La Collecion, CoshoMan

Lyle Omolayo is currently gearing up for the release of his next two solo efforts.  One is a free ep titled Flippin' Tables which drops October 14th 2017 and the full-length project Dry Season, the highly anticipated follow up to L.y.l.e. Rainy Season. Dry Season is a double album and was inspired by the highs and lows of living abroad in Panama. The project features musical productions from Te Kamau, Chaotic Flame, Loot Fatig, and many more.  Dry Season features Bixop, C Rayz Walz,  Eli Black, Amani Fela, StrangeLove, Silent Knight, Latasha Alcindor, Napoleon Da Legend, Jenny Wren, Danielle Watson, Hendii, Baxter Wordz,  Indra, Seluna and many more.