Since producing and performing the hit track "Musik Lounge" for DJ Jazzy Jeff's "Magnificent" LP, Amir "Oddisee" Mohamed has pushed his involvement in the music industry into fifth gear. Taking advantage of working at A Touch of Jazz studios, Oddisee has incorporated the neo soul vibe of Philly into his eclectic and well decorated resume. Coming from a diverse background, the half Sudanese half African American was blessed with musical talent from both sides of his family. Oddisee was influenced by the accomplished singers, guitarists, and poets on his Sudanese side, and on his American side, by the gospel singers, blue grass guitar players, and older cousins who gave him his first taste of hip-hop. Ironically, it was his Sudanese father that gave Oddisee the vinyl that fueled his passion for producing hip-hop music.
Since turning his focus towards hip-hop in 1999, Oddisee has worked with the likes of Gary Shider of Parliament and Funkadelic, DJ Jazzy Jeff, Talib Kweli, J-Live, Asheru, Little Brother, and many other respected recording artists. Now signed with Halftooth Records, Oddisee will soon be invading air waves and record stores near you with a unique sound that's impossible to ignore. With his incredibly distinctive and mesmerizing style, Oddisee covers just about every sect of hip-hop music, creating a sound that is appealing to all music lovers. Born in Washington D.C. and raised in Maryland, Oddisee and his "Low Budget Crew," including such hip hop artists and producers as Cy Young, Kevin Brown, Kenn Starr, have already managed to leave their mark within the hip-hop community of the D.C. metropolitan area.
In 2008 Oddisee signed with Mello Music Group and released a string of critically acclaimed projects that he either produced or rhymed on: 101, Mental Liberation, Everything Changed Nothing, Odd Seasons, and Traveling Man. He also created the break out DMV group Diamond District, which released In the Ruff in 2009, along with Uptown XO and yU. Oddisee has recently seen his music featured on ESPN during the NBA Finals, and in commercials for companies such as Quiksilver and Burton Snowboards, among others. Oddisee’s debut solo album People Hear What They See, was released on June 5, 2012 via Mello Music Group, and is a culmination of the duality of his life experiences, from DC internal politics to third world struggles, the line between love and selfishness, and the personal conflict between self-sabotage and progress, set to a backdrop of intricate drums, lush instrumentation, and soul-stirring harmonies.
Today, Oddisee splits his time between his Brooklyn, New York apartment, his DC stomping grounds, and his London base, while continuing to tour, develop new artists, consult for MMG, and create new music. Oddisee is ready to introduce his remarkable sounds to the world and influence the entire music community. This producer/emcee extraordinaire is poised to be your favorite beat maker and lyricist in one. Watch out world!
Maybes
Oddisee Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The way you left me earlier left plenty on my mind
Saying I ain’t deserving you, blaming me for the fall
Or the decline, I ain’t involved in us
My heart of ice left you salty, dissolving trust
I know I’m faulty but, that’s not a crime
In forty eight hours we’ll be fine like Nolte
Normally that’s like the case but this time around
Your number, wonder, we can reconcile
If we could work it out, like plumbers
That’s water under, the bridge, we lost it
Fire when we fight so that bridge we lost it
Let me pipe down, emulating a faucet
I’m smoking like a muffler, you’ve got me exhausted
Chorus
Maybe I’ve been drinking, maybe i’ve been smoking
But baby I’ve been thinking, that maybe we’re just broken
& Maybe we can’t fix it, see maybe we’re just hopeless
Or maybe we need romance, so maybe we’ll just hold hands
Maybe
Hi, It’s me again, in need again, I’m really high
See what I see us being in can we pretend
That this never happened look, I’m really smacked & shook
The weed begins, to kick in action, don’t get it twisted
Cause these thoughts are with reason &
I go & twist it, so yeah, I’m lifted
Spoken like I’m truly broken so you can get it
Our happy home had a foreclosure so we’re evicted
So now our clothes are, sitting on the street
& I sifted through my sleeves to find my heart still had a beat
Now that’s thrifty, seemed like I’m tailored new/ Why you trying to rip me
I know I sounded sincere when I said that it was over
Don’t ever listen to me when I’m sober
Chorus
In the song "Maybes" by Oddisee, the first verse talks about the aftermath of a breakup, where the singer is trying to reconcile with their ex-partner. The singer admits that they called their ex multiple times, perhaps out of desperation, after being left with a lot on their mind. The ex blames the singer for the downfall of their relationship, although the singer thinks otherwise. This leads to trust issues and dissolving trust, causing the ex to be salty. The singer acknowledges their faults, trying to convince the ex to reconcile with them, so they can "work it out like plumbers." However, the singer is also aware that maybe this time, they can't fix it, and they just need to hold hands and be romantic.
In the second verse, the singer calls their ex again after getting high and being under the influence of weed. They try to pretend that the breakup never happened and show their sincerity in wanting to reconcile. The singer admits to being truly broken, as their relationship faced foreclosure, and they were evicted, resulting in their clothes being left on the street. The singer sifts through their "sleeves" (meaning their thoughts) but still realizes that their heart still beats for their ex. The singer confesses that they sounded sincere when they broke up with their ex, but they shouldn't have been listened to because they weren't sober.
Overall, the song "Maybes" depicts the aftermath of a relationship where both parties are invested in reconciliation, but the uncertainty of the outcome remains.
Line by Line Meaning
Sorry I called, too many times
Apologizing for multiple calls, reflecting on the breakup and thinking about the situation repeatedly.
The way you left me earlier left plenty on my mind
The departure of the partner has caused a huge impact and a lot of thinking for the singer.
Saying I ain’t deserving you, blaming me for the fall
The partner says that the singer is not worth it and blaming the singer for the relationship's downfall.
Or the decline, I ain’t involved in us
The artist believes that the decline of the relationship had nothing to do with them.
My heart of ice left you salty, dissolving trust
The artist's cold behavior has caused mistrust and bitterness in the partner.
I know I’m faulty but, that’s not a crime
The singer admits their mistakes, but it's not a criminal offense.
In forty eight hours we’ll be fine like Nolte
After two days, the singer hopes that they both will be okay, referencing actor Nick Nolte's recovery after an infamous mug shot.
Normally that’s like the case but this time around
Usually, the artist assumes they will be fine, but this time it's different.
I’m bent around five, intent just to dial
The artist is under the influence and has an intention to call the partner.
Your number, wonder, we can reconcile
While dialing, the artist is questioning the possibility of reconciliation.
If we could work it out, like plumbers
Like plumbers, if they could fix the relationship and make it work, it would be great.
That’s water under, the bridge, we lost it
The subject regards the past as gone, like water under the bridge.
Fire when we fight so that bridge we lost it
The singer emphasizes how destructive they are when fighting, leading to the lost bridge (relationship).
Let me pipe down, emulating a faucet
The singer tries to calm down, like turning off the faucet's water pressure.
I’m smoking like a muffler, you’ve got me exhausted
The partner has made the singer incredibly tired and stressed, and the exhaust fumes emulate this feeling.
Maybe I’ve been drinking, maybe i’ve been smoking
The artist admits they have been under the influence of both drinks and smoke.
But baby I’ve been thinking, that maybe we’re just broken
The subject thinks that their relationship may be beyond repair.
& Maybe we can’t fix it, see maybe we’re just hopeless
The singer expresses they may not be able to repair the relationship and that they might be completely hopeless.
Or maybe we need romance, so maybe we’ll just hold hands
The singer proposes that maybe they could still have romantic moments and opt for physical affection instead.
Hi, It’s me again, in need again, I’m really high
The artist has gotten high again and appears to be calling once more in desperation.
See what I see us being in can we pretend
The artist wishes that they could pretend the break-up never happened and misguidedly clings onto hope of a reunion.
That this never happened look, I’m really smacked & shook
The artist is very high and emotional while talking about pretending the break-up never happened.
The weed begins, to kick in action, don’t get it twisted
The singer warns not to get things confused while admitting that they are starting to feel the effects of the drug.
Cause these thoughts are with reason &
Despite being on drugs, the thoughts and emotions have a valid reason.
I go & twist it, so yeah, I’m lifted
The subject tends to exaggerate the situation and the feeling of being high for dramatic effect.
Spoken like I’m truly broken so you can get it
The singer is telling things like they are genuinely broken to make the partner understand the depth of their emotions.
Our happy home had a foreclosure so we’re evicted
The happy relationship has ended and they are now apart.
So now our clothes are, sitting on the street
The metaphorical comparison to the clothes sitting on the street represents the couple's relationship ending publicly.
& I sifted through my sleeves to find my heart still had a beat
After searching through emotions, the artist still feels love for the partner.
Now that’s thrifty, seemed like I’m tailored new/ Why you trying to rip me
The singer feels that despite the rough end of the relationship, they are different and improved, but the partner wants to hurt them nonetheless.
I know I sounded sincere when I said that it was over
Despite a lack of control over their emotions, the singer was sure it was over when they declared that the relationship was done.
Don’t ever listen to me when I’m sober
The artist expresses they are not trustworthy and emotional when sober, and recommends the partner not to believe them in these moments.
Contributed by Madelyn I. Suggest a correction in the comments below.