He started his career by creating and uploading his songs to the DIY streaming platform SoundCloud. During this time, he worked at Jimmy John's and Guitar Center and lived in an attic. In 2017, using $30 borrowed from a friend, he uploaded his song "Ugotme" to Spotify, where it was soon playlisted on the platform's Fresh Finds and racked up 20,000 streams in a day. A year later, the song would cross more than 15 million streams. He released his first EP, Stereo in 2018, which was similarly well received.
In 2018 and 2019 he went on two tours, the "Want Tour" and the "Voyager Tour". During the 32-date "Voyager Tour" he released his second EP, Friends, in April 2019. He went on his first European tour in 2019 as well, and played at Lollapalooza in August.
In late 2019, Apollo released the singles "Frรญo" and "Hit Me Up", both collaborations with producer Kenny Beats. In April 2020, Apollo released the single "Imagine U", another collaboration with Kenny Beats, and on August 7, he released "Stayback", the lead single from what would come to be his first mixtape, Apolonio,. On September 10, he released the second single "Kamikaze".
On September 25, Apollo appeared on alternative R&B Japanese-Australian singer Jojiโs second album Nectar on the track "High Hopes".
Apollo released "Dos Uno Nueve (219)" and "Want U Around" (with the last one featuring Ruel) before releasing Apolonio on October 16.
In 2021, Omar released "Go Away" and "Bad Life", the first two singles from his debut studio album, Ivory. "Bad Life", which features Kali Uchis, marked the second time the singers collaborated together, with the first being "Hey Boy", from Apollo's first mixtape, Apolonio.
In February 2022, Apollo released Invincible, the third single from Ivory, featuring Daniel Caesar, and announced the release date for his album. On the following months, he'd go to release "Killing Me" and "Tamagotchi", with the latter one being co-written and produced by The Neptunes.
Ivory received mostly positive reviews with praises going towards Apollo's musical growth and vocal performance. The album entered the Billboard 200 chart, marking his first-ever entry on the chart.
In September 2022, the track "Evergreen" went viral on TikTok which helped boost the song to enter the Spotify and Apple Music charts and eventually debut on Billboard Hot 100 at number 62 for the week ending of October 1, 2022, earning Apollo his first-ever entry on the chart. In response to the rising success, the song was chosen as the album's next single and was later sent to contemporary hit radios on October 4, 2022, making it his first-ever radio single.
In 2022, Apollo also performed at Coachella and in early 2023, opened for SZA on her SOS Tour.
In September 2023, Omar was honored with the Inspira Award at the 2023 Hispanic Heritage Awards.
In October 6th, 2023, Omar released his third EP, Live For Me, which contains the single "Ice Slippin".
Apollo is openly gay and has denied queerbaiting allegations, stating, 'It's not a choice, it's just what I am. (...) I'm totally aware of the privilege we have now to be ourselves and still have a career (...) people thought I was queerbaiting before. I wasn't super open about my sexuality, but people were hearing things. (...) It had a lot to do with me growing up in Indiana which is very conservative. I stopped putting pronouns in my music for a couple of years then I just realized, I can't let other people's opinions influence and dictate my life".
In an interview in 2022, Apollo discussed the labeling of his sexuality, saying "I feel like in the beginning, (...) I was trying to keep the mystique. But I don't even care anymore (...) now I'm just like, I'm very gay".
Growing up, he listened to his parents' favorite musicians such as Pedro Infante, Los Panchos and The Beatles. His own influences include diverse musicians such as Neil Young, John Mayer, Prince, Bootsy Collins, and The Internet.
His parents gifted him a guitar when he was 12, but, unfortunately, it was an eletric guitar without an amp. He traded it for an acoustic guitar at a pawn shop and eventually learned how to play it by watching and mimicking YouTube cover videos. A newer guitar heโd bought later on got stolen when he was 15 and it took him a couple years to get a new one and get back into playing. He then also learned how to sing on YouTube, after receiving criticism on his voice from his dad and friends.
Omar attended Indiana University Northwest, but dropped out two weeks in because he felt like he was supposed to be doing something else and wanted to focus on music.
Kickback
omar apollo Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Wonder what made you feel like I could be the one, oh ah
Lately, it's been me, I pissed you off
I let you in my feelings, you really feel, yeah
Uh-huh, sayin'
You been high, I get that
Nothing will content me
Doesn't matter
I thought you came from nothin'
Trade, I'll ask my cousin
You should like my brother
Doesn't matter, ah
I've had a taste of how you feelin', yeah
Yeah, I've been hiding how I feel for way too long, oh
Lately it's been me, I pissed you off
I let you in my feelings, you really feel, yeah
Uh-huh, sayin'
You been high, I get that
I've been at the kickback
Nothing will content me
Doesn't matter
I thought you came from nothin'
Trade, I'll ask my cousin
You should like my brother
Doesn't matter, ah
You been high, I get that
I've been at the kickback
Nothing will content me
Doesn't matter
I thought you came from nothin'
Trade, I'll ask my cousin
You should like my brother
Doesn't matter, ah
In "Kickback" by Omar Apollo, the singer takes us through his emotions and feelings towards a person who he seems to have grown distant from. He gives us insight into the fact that he's been away for a while but now he feels this person and wonders what made them feel like he could be the one for them. He acknowledges that lately, he's the one who has created distance between both of them and has made this other person upset. The singer opens up to this person and says he has let them into his feelings and it's significant that they reciprocate.
The chorus of the song is where the title "Kickback" comes into play. The singer mentions that he has been at a kickback, which means a small gathering or get-together. He is trying to find contentment, but nothing seems to satisfy him, indicating his emotional and mental state. The next verse beautifully portrays the inner conflict and emotional turmoil of the singer. He confesses that he has hidden his feelings for too long and it's time to come out with them. He repeats the same chorus as the first one, showing that he's still in the same emotional state.
The overall theme of the song is the feeling of distance and disconnection from someone you still care about. The singer is trying to connect with this person again, but he's not sure if they're on the same page emotionally. The kickback is a representation of his constant search for peace of mind, but he finds no comfort in it. The song ends with him repeating the chorus and saying that it doesn't matter. It indicates his state of mind in terms of his attempt to connect with the person.
Line by Line Meaning
I been away, but now I feel you, yeah
I've been gone for a while, but now I'm back and I sense a connection with you
Wonder what made you feel like I could be the one, oh ah
I'm curious about what made you believe I could be your ideal partner
Lately, it's been me, I pissed you off
Recently, I've been the source of your annoyance
I let you in my feelings, you really feel, yeah
I opened up to you about how I feel and you truly understand me
Uh-huh, sayin'
I acknowledge what you're saying
You been high, I get that
I understand that you've been feeling euphoric
I been at the kickback
I've been attending social events with friends
Nothing will content me
Nothing can satisfy me
Doesn't matter
It's not important
I thought you came from nothin'
I believed you came from humble beginnings
Trade, I'll ask my cousin
I'll talk to my relative about making a deal
You should like my brother
You should get along well with my sibling
Yeah, I've been hiding how I feel for way too long, oh
I've been concealing my emotions for an extended period of time
Lyrics ยฉ Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Omar Apolonio Velasco
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@knziec
Lyrics <3
I been away, but now I feel you, yeah
Wonder what made you feel like I could be the one, oh ah
Lately, it's been me, I pissed you off
I let you in my feelings, you really feel, yeah
Uh huh, saying
You been high, I get that
I been at the kickback
Nothing will content me
Doesn't matter, ah
Thought you came from nothin'
Trade, I'll ask my cousin
You should like my brother
Doesn't matter, ah
I've had a taste of how you feeling, yeah
Yeah, I've been hiding how I feel for way too long, oh
Lately it's been me, I pissed you off
I let you in my feelings, you really feel, yeah
Uh huh, saying
You been high, I get that
I've been at the kickback
Nothing will content me
Doesn't matter, ah
Thought you came from nothing
Trade, I'll ask my cousin
You should like my brother
Doesn't matter, ah
You been high, I get that
I've been at the kickback
Nothing will content me
Doesn't matter, ah
Thought you came from nothing
Trade, I'll ask my cousin
You should like my brother
Doesn't matter, ah
@OmarApollo
don't forget to buy tickets to tour before they sell out: https://omarapollo.com/#TOUR
@symphonyharris2375
sorry, Iยดm broke
maybe next time tho
@jasminasadi8264
I would, but turns out you wonโt come to Germany;โ(
@chex4923
youre coming to my city on my bd!
@carinaabreu2264
Come to Portugal
@toptruckin8256
See you in Dallas all the way from Kansas.
@sahwols98
talented, brilliant, incredible, amazing, show stopping, spectacular, never the same, totally unique, completely not ever been done before, unafraid to reference or not reference, put it in a blender, shit on it, vomit on it, eat it, give birth to it.
@letssuitcase
love that
@jcmlchuy
Maria Sangria .
@daliarisme
yโall donโt know how long iโve waited for this i frickin love omar with all my heart