O.C. (rapper) explained

O.C.
Background:	solo_singer
Birth Name:	Omar Gerryl Credle^[1]
Birth Date:	13 May 1971
Birth Place:	Brooklyn, New York City, U.S.
Occupation:	Rapper
Genre:	Hip hop
Years Active:	1990 - present
Associated Acts:	Organized Konfusion, Buckwild, Big L, DJ Premier, Jeru the Damaja, Freddie Foxxx, Showbiz, Lord Finesse, Nas, Guru, Ill Bill, Jay-Z, Cormega, Pete Rock, Sadat X, Ras Kass, Royce da 5'9"

Omar Gerryl Credle (born May 13, 1971), better known by his stage name, O.C., is an American rapper and member of the group D.I.T.C. He has been involved with several underground hip hop groups, namely Crooklyn Dodgers '95, Luv NY, and Perestroika.

History

Recording career

Credle was born in Brooklyn, May 13, 1971,^[2] and raised in the Bushwick section. O.C. cites legends like Kool G. Rap, Rakim, Big Daddy Kane and Slick Rick as his main influences.^[3] In 1991, he made his recording debut on Organized Konfusion's "Fudge Pudge". One year later, he made an appearance on the remix of MC Serch's "Back to the Grill" (which features a young Nas) after meeting Serch on the inaugural Source tour. Following the tour, O.C. signed with Wild Pitch Records in 1994 where Serch was vice president. O.C. also met Lord Finesse and Buckwild on the first Source tour, marking his introduction to the D.I.T.C crew. After the tour he connected with Buckwild and started recording a demo that would become his debut album Word...Life.

By 1994, he had finished the album Word...Life, which included everything from his demo, along with "Time's Up," the song that would go on to be his most notable single. "Time's up" was initially a record for Pharoahe Monch from Organized Konfusion. Beyond a quick outro from Prince Po, Word...Life does not have any guest appearances; Nas was supposed to be on the album but never showed up to the studio for the recording session.

In 1997, O.C. signed to Pay Day Records, where he released his second album Jewelz, featuring collaborations with DJ Premier, Da Beatminerz and Freddie Foxxx. The single "Far From Yours" peaked at #81 on the Billboard Hot 100, making it his highest-charting single to date. O.C. is also known for his feature on the Clockers soundtrack as part of the Crooklyn Dodgers, which also featured rappers Chubb Rock and Jeru the Damaja on the now classic DJ Premier produced "Return of the Crooklyn Dodgers". This is the only time the group has ever collaborated.

Ray's Cafe was released on Red Apples 45, a small label co-founded by A.G. and West. O.C. joined D.I.T.C. for their 2016 release Sessions which was preceded by the lead single "Rock Shyt".^[4] ^[5]

Discography

Albums

Album information
Word...Life Released: October 18, 1994 Certification: None Label: Wild Pitch/EMI Records Singles: "Born 2 Live"/"Let It Slide", "Time's Up"/"Time's Up (Buckwild Remix)"
Jewelz Released: August 19, 1997 Certification: None Label: Payday/FFRR/PolyGram Records Singles: "Far From Yours"/"My World", "Can't Go Wrong"/"Dangerous"
Bon Appetit Released: April 24, 2001 Certification: None Label: JCOR/Interscope/Universal Records Singles: –
Star Child Released: 2005 Certification: None Label: Grit Records Singles: –
Smoke and Mirrors Released: 2005 Certification: None Label: Hieroglyphics Imperium Recordings Singles: "Challenge Y'all" / "Guns And Butter"
Oasis w/ A.G. Released: November 24, 2009 Certification: None Label: Nature Sounds Singles: –
Trophies w/ Apollo Brown Released: May 1, 2012 Certification: None Label: Mello Music Group Singles: "Prove Me Wrong"
Ray’s Café w/ Ray West Released: Jan 21, 2014 Certification: None Label: Red Apples 45 Singles: "YMI"
Ray’s Café: The After Hours EP w/ Ray West Released: November 11, 2014 Certification: None Label: Red Apples 45 Singles: "After Hours"
Dive In w/ Debonair P Released: December 9, 2015 Certification: None Singles: Label: Gentleman's Relief Records
Same Moon Same Sun Released: January 30, 2017 Certification: None Label: DITC Studios/Slice of Spice, LLC Singles: "Serious"/"Good Man"
Perestroika w/ Apathy Released: September 22, 2017 Certification: None Label: Dirty Version Records Singles: "Soviet Official" / "Live from the Iron Curtain" / "Globetrotters"
A New Dawn Released: February 16, 2018 Certification: None Label: DITC Studios/Slice of Spice, LLC
Opium w/ PF CUTTIN Released: October 22, 2018 Certification: None Label: Hendrix St Records

Compilations

The Underground King

Released: 2006
Label: Next Mill Entertainment/Re-Up Recordings
Singles: –

Hidden Gems

Released: April 3, 2007
Certification: None
Label: Next Mill Entertainment
Singles: –

In Guud Taste

Released: 2008
Certification: None
Label: Next Mill Entertainment
Singles: –

O-Zone Originals

Released: September 21, 2011
Certification: None
Label: No Sleep Recordings
Singles: –

Luv NY

Released: July 24, 2012
Label: Ascetic Music
Singles: –

Appearances

1991: "Fudge Pudge" (with Organized Konfusion: Organized Konfusion)
1992: "Back to the Grill [Remix]" (with MC Serch: Back to the Grill 12")
1994: "Let's Organize" (with Organized Konfusion: )
1995: "Return of the Crooklyn Dodgers" (with Crooklyn Dodgers: Clockers [Soundtracl])
~~~: "You Won't Go Far" (with Organized Konfusion

New Jersey Drive, Vol. 2 [Soundtrack])

~~~: "Men V. Many" (with Mic Geronimo, Royal Flush: The Natural)
~~~: "Stop the Breaks" (with The Notorious B.I.G., KRS-One, Killa Sin, Raekwon: Single)
1996: "Give Me a Little More Time [<nowiki/>[[Buckwild (music producer)|Buckwild]] Remix]" (with Gabrielle: 12")
~~~: "O Lord", "Brainstorm P.S.K. [No Gimmicks Remix]" (with Lord Finesse: The Awakening)
~~~: "What I Represent" (with Buckwild

America Is Dying Slowly)

~~~: "Metal Thangz" (with Street Smartz, Pharoahe Monch

12")

1997: "Love Child" (with Buckwild:)
~~~: "Your Life" (from Soul in the Hole [soundtrack])
~~~: "Internationally Known" (D.I.T.C. 12")
~~~: "Droppin' Gramma [Nick Wiz Mix]" (with Main One: 12")
~~~: "Day One" (with D.I.T.C.)
~~~: "Crew Love" (with Jay-Z & Tone Hooker: 12")
~~~: "Spitgame" (with Da Beatminerz

12")

1998: "Full Scale", "Dignified Soldiers", "Time to Get This Money", "Themes, Schemes & Dreams" (with Showbiz & A.G.: Full Scale)
~~~: "Down 4 Whateva" (with M.O.P

First Family 4 Life)

~~~: "Respect Mine" (with Pete Rock

Soul Survivor)

~~~: "Action Guaranteed" (with Ras Kass

Lyricist Lounge, Volume One)

~~~: "Watch Ya Step" (with Xperado: 12")
1999: "Weed Scented" (with AG, Gang Starr: The Dirty Version)
~~~: "Rollin" (with Saukrates, Masta Ace: The Underground Tapes)
~~~: "Connection": (from Organized Rhymes Volume 2)
2000: "Thick"; "Get Yours"; "Foundation"; "Champagne Thoughts"; "Stand Strong"; "Tribute" (from D.I.T.C.)
~~~: "The Triboro" (with Big L, Fat Joe, Remy Ma: The Big Picture)
2002: "Beyond" (with DJ JS-1: Ground Original 1)
2003: "Lake of Fire [Remix]" (with Lordz of Brooklyn: Graffiti Roc)
2005: "Chase Game" (with Show & A.G.: Street Talk)
2007: "Marquee" (with Marco Polo: Port Authority)
2009: "Ridiculous" (with DJ JS-1, Pharoahe Monch: Ground Original 2: No Sell Out)
2010: "Trouble Shooters" (with DJ Muggs & Ill Bill: Kill Devil Hills)
~~~: "There Will Be Blood" (with Celph Titled & Buckwild: Nineteen Ninety Now)
~~~: "Warsaw Outdoors" (with HiFi Banda, A.G., Boogie Blind: 23:55)
~~~: "Nostalgic" (with DJ Perro: Praedictus 2 From Filters)
2011: "Life Word" (with DJ JS-1: Ground Original 3: No One Cares)
~~~: "Life & Time" (with Murs, Ab-Soul: Love & Rockets, Vol. 1)
2012: "Prestige of a King" (with Mello Music Group: Self Sacrifice)
~~~: "Don't Worry" (with Showbiz & A.G.

Mugshot Music)

~~~: "Mic Bless'n Gun Press'n Impress'n" (with Bumpy Knuckles

Ambition)

2013: "Hello Everybody (with Neek the Exotic, Satchel Page, Sadat X: Hustle Don't Stop)
~~~: "Power" (with Ill Bill, Cormega: The Grimy Awards)
~~~: "Astonishing" (with Marco Polo, Large Professor, Inspectah Deck: )
~~~: "Catch Wreck" (with Kid Tsunami: Underground Nation)
2014: "Smash" (with Prince Po, Oh No, Pharoahe Monch: The Album)
~~~: "Light Years" (with DJ Skizz, Roc Marciano, A.G.: 12")
~~~: "Deep Breath" (with DJ Doom & Blacastan

12")

~~~: "On the Bklyn Side" (with Illa Ghee, Steele

Social Graffiti)

~~~: "Turn the Tables" (with DJ JS-1: 12")
~~~: "First 2 Rise Pt. 2" (with Vstylez, Royce da 5'9"

At Odds Till I'm Even)

2015: "Revolutionary Ride Music" (with DJ EFN, Your Old Droog, Royce Da 5'9", Reks: Another Time)
~~~: "In the Moment" (with Apollo Brown

Grandeur)

~~~: "What U Kno" (from In Ya Ear Recordings Presents: In Session Volume 1)
2016: "Don't Touch That Dial", "Run for Your Life" (with Apathy, Ras Kass: Handshakes with Snakes)
~~~: "Hakim" (with Vinnie Paz, A.G.: The Cornerstone of the Corner Store).
~~~: "Genuine Article", "Right What I Write" (with TRUTH: From Ashes to Kingdom Come)
2018: "Street Corner Shit" (with Rasheed Chappell: First Brick)
2019: "Black Sharpie" (with Dirt Platoon: Get Ya Handz Dirty)
~~~: "Got It Covered" (with Diamond D: The Diam Piece 2
2021: "Spontaneous" (with Jeru the Damaja: 12")
2022: "For Everyone" (with Rising Suns: 'Rising Suns')
~~~: "All In" (with Ghettosocks, DK, Moka Only: Listen to the Masters)

Notes and References

Web site: BACK TO CALL . ASCAP . American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers . April 29, 2023.
Bush, John "O.C. Biography", Allmusic, retrieved 2011-06-19
Web site: Hip Hop Icon Series: O.C.. Halftimeonline.net. 1 January 2013. https://web.archive.org/web/20160420035522/http://halftimeonline.net/portfolio/o-c/. 20 April 2016. dead.
Web site: D.I.T.C. Announce 'Sessions' Album, Drop "Rock Shyt" Featuring Fat Joe, Lord Finesse and Diamond D - XXL.
Web site: New Music: D.I.T.C. – 'Rock Shyt' (Feat. Fat Joe, Lord Finesse & Diamond D) | HipHop-N-More . 2016-10-04 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20161005212357/http://hiphop-n-more.com/2016/10/new-music-d-i-t-c-rock-shyt-feat-fat-joe-lord-finesse-diamond-d/ . 2016-10-05 .