WHEN IT'S NOT SAID, BUT DONE

By Mariam Jibril

Big O is an American hip-hop record producer, DJ, and mixing engineer who has carved out a niche for himself in global production. While originally American, he has spent years traveling, immersing himself in different cultures, and evolving musically, and now calls London, UK, home. Big O first started making beats at 13,  and started his audio studies in Orlando, which he continued in Miami, then professionally in LA before spending time in Germany, and finally moving to the UK. With a signature soulful, smooth, and experimental style, he has worked with and produced for acclaimed artists such as Skyzoo, Fashawn, P-Rawb, L.O.U., Bizarre Ride, and Dunkery Harv (Frank N Dank). His music is warm, nostalgic, and layered cinematically, a signature that shines on his latest instrumental album, "When It’s Not Said, But Done."

The latest release by Big O features 15 tracks and runs for 46 minutes, an instrumental ambiance that feels meticulously and purposefully sequenced from start to finish. As the title suggests, "When It’s Not Said, But Done" is an album that can be described as having a narrative that is conveyed through atmospherics, textures, and rhythms instead of conventional words. The album begins with a powerful cinematic introduction, “From The Ashes (Rebirth).” This track capably serves as the spiritual ignition point of the journey to the album. The introspective mood continues through “M! dnyght Ryde” and “What’s in This World,” with both offering darker nighttime tones and a reflective mindset. “Sound of Broken Pieces” is the emotional centerpiece and the highlight of the album. Big O fuses sadness with unyielding strength through soulful chords, intricate drum patterns, and harmonies that are woven together and aligned to resonate with the listener.

The middle section of the album illustrates Big O’s warm, uplifting disposition. “A Bit of Hope,” “Still Standing,” and “New Found Joy” bring restorative energies as well as brighter hues as the album continues to advance emotionally. “Free Spirit” is intended to be breezy and liberating, and this energy is punctuated with the collaboration of Jeronimo G on the track “Walking into Next Week,” the collaboration designed to add a new musical personality into the mix.  “A Better (Me)” featuring IB Delight adds another layer of reflection and growth, blending mellow groove with emotional earnestness. These tracks highlight Big O’s ability not only to build moods but to evolve them thoughtfully.

With the last few tracks of the album playing, Big O begins to perform more soul-searching tracks once again. With “Relaxing My Emotions” and “Till My Time Comes,” Big O encourages the audience into a quieter and deeper space. I particularly appreciated “A Piece of Mind” because the emotional complexity of the piece was thoughtfully balanced with more steady, grounding elements. “In the History Book” seems to be a more passive, reflective, and reminiscence piece as a way to possibly recount and narrate Big O’s past and life history as he traveled to, and through, different countries and cultures. “Bigrodamous’s Closing Theme” is the last and closes the album with a final artistic touch, pulling away to complete the 46 minutes with clarity and resonance of the notes.

I remind listeners that “When It’s Not Said, But Done” isn’t just a beat tape. it is the work of a producer who has lived, traveled, and with each of those changes, and the pulling together of years of refinement of his craft, a producer who also has a cohesive and instrumentally mature statement to reason and finish with. Big O has followed through with his promise. For the album, he has gone to the further and more unusual parts of the realm and crafted a complete work as the finished product. It is a pleasure to listen to this album. It would work best for a good company, as a companion to encourage those who do deep thinking, on the introspective late-night drives, as instrumental music that flows with the silence and encourages thought along the way. This is a collection of tracks celebrating Big O’s artistic and emotional versatility, and a testament to the instrumental hip hop community.