Best of Soundcheck: Dessa, Omar Offendum

Soundcheck | Aug 29

For this episode of Soundcheck, the rapper, singer, and author Dessa gets political, and Syrian-American rapper Omar Offendum gets historical. Minneapolis-raised singer and rapper known as Dessa has found a way to reflect modern society with scathing satire and wry humor, in both her songs and in her essays and poems. Her explicit commentary on the state of American politics, along with digressions on art, science, business, love, failure, and creativity fuel her latest songs, which she performs in-studio.

Set list: 1. Camelot 2. Tough Call 3. What if I'm Not Ready

And the Syrian-American rapper, poet, and peace activist Omar Offendum offers a musical history lesson of sorts, one with uncomfortable echoes of our own time, in “The Little Syria Show.”  It’s about a remarkable immigrant neighborhood in New York that lasted from the 1880s to 1940 and was a center of music, poetry, and publishing – including a book you may well have on your shelf.  In a celebration of Arab-American cultural heritage, Omar Offendum shares insights on diasporic memory and performs some of the songs from The Little Syria Show, in-studio.

Set list: 1. Peddling Dervish 2. Mojaddareh 3. Not Quite White

Be alert for scams. WNYC never asks for nor accepts money for coverage or interviews. Anyone making such a request does not represent WNYC.

Top Stories

Where Red Flipped to Blue

The Brian Lehrer Show |

Actor and Playwright Tracy Letts on His Many Recent Roles; New Play About a Drag Queen's Presidential Run Amid the AIDS Crisis

All Of It with Alison Stewart |

Inside New York's bitter Republican civil war after blue wave

New York Republicans are openly calling for a shakeup of the state party.
Gothamist |

The "Gamification" Strategy Behind Lula's Victory

Outwitting the far-right at its own game.
On the Media |
YOU ARE ONLINE