Oddjobs
| Company type | Music group |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1995 |
| Defunct | 2005 |
| Headquarters | Minneapolis, Minnesota , United States |
| Products | Albums, EPs, singles |
Oddjobs was a Minnesota-based alternative hip hop ensemble established in 1995. Over their career, they issued three full-length albums and multiple EPs, notably the critically acclaimed 2003 release Drums. The group dissolved in 2005, later re-emerging under the names Kill the Vultures and Power Struggle.
History
The lineup of Oddjobs featured three vocalists—Advizer (Adam Waytz), Crescent Moon (Alexei Casselle), and Nomi (Mario Demira)—alongside two producers and DJs—Anatomy (Stephen Lewis) and Deetalx (Devon Callahan).
Emerging from the mid-1990s Twin Cities hip-hop environment, Oddjobs shared the scene with artists such as Atmosphere and the Rhymesayers collective. They played a significant role in boosting the visibility of Minnesota hip-hop both nationally and internationally. Stanton Swihart of AllMusic attributes to them a postmodern approach to rap influenced by groups like De La Soul and the Beastie Boys. Their style, featuring multiple MCs exchanging verses, drew parallels to underground acts like Jurassic 5, while their incorporation of jazz, psychedelic, and funk elements aligned with artists such as DJ Shadow. Their sound oscillated between lively performances and more somber lyrical content, akin to Minneapolis-based Atmosphere. Chicago Tribune writer Soren Baker characterized their music as "moody and cerebral, with spare, jazzy beats and rhymes focusing on verbal dexterity rather than materialism or violence."
Throughout their active years, Oddjobs shared stages or toured with prominent figures including DJ Shadow, De La Soul, Blackalicious, El-P, Atmosphere, Buck 65, Eyedea and Abilities, and Cannibal Ox.
Formation and early work
The origins of Oddjobs trace back to around 1995 when students from Minneapolis’ South High School and St. Paul’s St. Paul Central High School united. The group evolved from a larger collective known as Cases Of Mistaken Identity (CMI), which encompassed graffiti artists, break dancers, and musicians such as Kanser and Heiruspecs. In 1998, CMI released a cassette titled Case Studies before narrowing down to the five core members who formed Oddjobs. According to Casselle, "Oddjobs was... everyone who was serious enough to want to continue music after high school."
Their debut album, Conflict & Compromise, came out in 1999 and was recorded at producer Jason Heinrichs’ (Anomaly) home studio—he had previously contributed to CMI’s earlier project. Around 1,000 copies were pressed. Reflecting on this release later, members regarded it as an essential step in shaping their artistic identity. In collaboration with Eyedea, they also produced the cassette-only The Whereabouts of Hidden Bridges in 1999, recorded within a week on four-track equipment; one track from this session was later included on their 2003 EP The Shopkeeper's Wife.
Following their 1998 high school graduation, Deetalx and Advizer relocated to New York for college. Their subsequent output was the ten-track EP Absorbing Playtime, which they created remotely through telephone calls and email exchanges between cities. Stanton Swihart from AllMusic lauded it as "one of the most exciting creations to hit the hip-hop world in 2000," emphasizing its inventive production and forward-thinking lyrics. In 2001, Deetalx released a mix CD titled Roaming the Tracks. To overcome logistical hurdles and engage more directly with New York’s hip-hop industry, the rest of the Minnesota members moved there as well, positioning themselves within the genre’s commercial center.
During this period, Oddjobs circulated an unofficial EP called Fun Boy, which received an official but limited release in Japan in 2002 and became widely bootlegged elsewhere. While Swihart considered it somewhat superficial, he described it as "a buoyant, whimsical listen." Just prior to relocating to New York, they recorded Live! at the Bryant-Lake Bowl, 17–18 August 2001, featuring guest appearances by Chicago’s Typical Cats and Twin Cities’ Heiruspecs. Though less refined than their studio recordings, this live album was noted for its vitality and impact. The Star Tribune placed it ninth among Minnesota’s top records of 2001, commending its instrumental richness and raw energy.
New York: Drums and Shopkeeper's Wife
Following their move to New York, the members of Oddjobs established themselves in a communal residence located in Fort Greene, Brooklyn. They secured a deal with the independent label Third Earth Records and partnered with Caroline Distribution to expand their promotional efforts and commercial presence. Prior to releasing their 2002 album Drums, Oddjobs put out two singles. The lead single, "Blue Collar Holler," was lauded as a highlight track that skillfully combined '70s organ funk with the dynamic energy characteristic of early '90s rap. It climbed to No. 6 on the CMJ New Music Monthly Hip-Hop singles chart in July 2002 and was acknowledged as one of Minnesota’s premier songs that year. The follow-up single, "Dry Bones," included a remix featuring contributions from Aesop Rock, Vast Aire, and Kimani.
Drums stands as Oddjobs’ most acclaimed and commercially successful release, reaching No. 30 on the CMJ New Music Report hip-hop albums chart in January 2003. Critics praised its groundbreaking blend of psychedelic sound textures and urban beats, drawing favorable comparisons to experimental hip-hop groups like cLOUDDEAD. The album was also seen as emblematic of the group’s evolution from the underground Twin Cities rap scene into the New York music landscape.
In 2003, Oddjobs unveiled the six-track EP The Shopkeeper's Wife, which garnered positive reviews for its sophisticated and avant-garde interpretation of hip-hop. This EP marked their final entry to charting success, peaking at No. 40 on the CMJ New Music Report hip-hop chart.
The closure of Third Earth Records in 2004 brought an end to Oddjobs’ association with the label.
Berkeley, Expose Negative, and dissolution
During 2003, Oddjobs supported Atmosphere on the Seven's Travels tour. In search of a fresh environment, the group relocated first from New York back to Minnesota, then onward to Berkeley, California, where they began work on a new album. This phase proved difficult for the band and ultimately contributed to their breakup.
Creative differences between producers Deetalx and Anatomy surfaced prior to completing Oddjobs’ final album, Expose Negative. The project diverged: Deetalx took charge of producing Expose Negative, while Anatomy developed material that later formed Kill the Vultures’ debut release. In 2006, Casselle reflected that artistic disagreements between Steve and Devon significantly influenced the group’s trajectory and led to their separation. Anatomy described his vision as favoring a minimalist, abrasive sound contrasting with Deetalx’s preference for polished hip-hop production. These fundamental conflicts culminated in the band’s disbandment in 2004. The album Expose Negative was subsequently released in 2005 through Raptivism Records.
Aftermath
Following the breakup, Lewis and Casselle returned to Minnesota and formed Kill the Vultures, briefly including members Nomi and Advizer. This new project embraced more unconventional and experimental material inspired by film noir aesthetics and jazz influences. Their debut appeared in 2005, followed by several albums and EPs extending into the mid-2010s. Meanwhile, Deetalx and Nomi stayed in Berkeley, creating Power Struggle, which produced four albums between 2005 and 2014. Over time, Nomi increasingly concentrated on Power Struggle while exploring Filipino cultural themes and progressive activism. Deetalx’s participation diminished after 2005 as he departed prior to later releases.
Advizer (Adam Waytz) completed his studies at Columbia University and pursued a career as a neuropsychologist at Northwestern University in Chicago.
Band members
- Advizer (Adam Waytz): vocalist
- Crescent Moon (Alexei Casselle): vocalist
- Nomi (Mario Demira): vocalist
- Anatomy (Stephen Lewis): producer and DJ
- Deetalx (Devon Callahan): producer and DJ
Studio albums
- Conflict & Compromise (Interlock Records, 1999)
- Drums (Third Earth Music, 2002)
- Expose Negative (Raptivism, 2005)
Live albums
- Live! at the Bryant-Lake Bowl, 17–18 August 2001 (CMI Records, 2001) – featuring Typical Cats and Heiruspecs
EPs
- The Whereabouts of Hidden Bridges (Advizer, Crescent Moon, DJ Anatomy with Eyedea) (1999)
- Absorbing Playtime (CMI Records, 2000)
- Fun Boy (2002)
- The Shopkeeper's Wife (Third Earth Music, 2003)
Singles
- "Dry Bones" (2002)
- "Blue Collar Holler" (2002)
Guest appearances
- Sixth Sense – "Laws of Gravity" on Grand's Sixth Sense (2011), a posthumous album containing recordings from the late 1990s and early 2000s