South of Oslo

South of Oslo: A Hip-Hop Journey from Norsk SP-Forum
The Oslo Fjord region has always been intertwined with hip-hop culture. Countless jams in Buskerud, Telemark, and Vestfold reached their peak around the turn of the millennium. Back then, hip-hop events were promoted with printed flyers, boasting open mics, breakdancing, and appearances by various rap chiefs.

South of Oslo, a collective still influenced by this era continues to shape their coming-of-age story. Eager vinyl collectors, former rappers, and graffiti artists find meaning in exploring the past and unearthing undiscovered music. "Norsk SP-Forum," as they call themselves, is a group of music enthusiasts who still swear by creating music as it was done in the days of NAS and Tupac.

In "South of Oslo," the sampler takes center stage. It creates a workflow that's both limiting and liberating, encouraging experimentation within set boundaries. This balance between constraint and freedom has kept samplers and their associated methods a favorite among hip-hop producers to this day.

"South of Oslo" marks the group's third release, curated by beatmaker "Jøgge" (Jørgen Ottesen). Hailing from Sandefjord, Jøgge is a familiar face to those versed in Norwegian hip-hop history. The album reflects his deep knowledge and keen ear for the genre, featuring carefully selected instrumental beats from the collective.

Norsk SP-Forum, who both produce and perform their beats live, have earned praise from Tee Productions, Hip-Hop Norge, Østen, and Martin Horntveth. They've quickly generated buzz in Norway's hip-hop scene, opening for artists like Tommy Tee, Gouldian Finch, and Ole Vuyo. The group performs year-round and remains active in numerous hip-hop projects.

"South of Oslo" drops digitally and physically on August 16, 2024

Fifteen years ago, Japanese manufacturer Roland released a music instrument called the "SP-404" - a compact sampler and effects box designed for creating music and rhythms. Small enough to hold in your hands, it almost resembles a toy.

Unlike traditional computer-based music production setups, the SP-404 offers a more constrained workflow. With no screen and limited conventional options, it challenges users to create music within its unique parameters. The end result often bears the machine's distinctive imprint, which perhaps explains its charm and adoption by artists like J Dilla, Flying Lotus, DIBIAE, Radiohead, and James Blake.

After 15 years on the market, this toy-like sampler has garnered a dedicated following. It can be credited as one of the driving forces behind the "lofi" genre as we know it today.

The hip-hop scene has also felt its influence. While the extent is debatable, Roland's SP-404 has clearly helped foster a new subculture of beatmakers and artists, including in Norway.

In 2018, Norwegian beatmaker Doydank founded "Norwegian SP-Forum" - a community for Norwegian artists who share a passion for these Roland samplers from Japan. It didn't take long for members to decide to create a beat tape, "Bank A," which stands as a small piece of Norwegian music history. It's the first beat tape made exclusively on Roland's SP series in the country, which was the premise for its release. The tape featured a wide range of beats and performances, from relaxed lofi and jazzy yacht rock vibes to more classic hip hop, reflecting the diverse tastes and styles of the forum's members.

Since then, the forum has come together in a new live format. Beatmakers perform on stage together, each with their SP-404, as a unified crew. In a collective show of force, they play countless cool beats in turns, with frequent transitions to give the audience a broad spectrum of hip-hop beats to groove to.