Whether you’re spinning his tunes on your favorite music platform or perusing his online clothing website, Dare 2 Be Different (D2BD), Matthew Osivwemu, also known by his stage name as Oke Junior, is making his homecoming debut this Sunday at BottleRock. After Manifesting his dreams and a 2016 tweet to reality, stating he’d one day play at BottleRock, The Recording Academy recently listed him as one of the 10 Must-See Acts at BottleRock.
The Bay area native, who moved from Oakland to Napa, was initially inspired by his brother to make and utilize music as a means of expressing himself to work through the trials and tribulations he faced early on in his youth, including losing his father shortly after high school graduation. The Sacramento State alum’s journey to the top is no coincidence. With an unmatched and diverse flow filled with a lineup of singles and albums full of emotion discussing his struggles, mental battles and drive, Oke Junior has attracted listeners all over the world garnering over 2 million streams across various platforms—getting attention from various artists like Mistah FAB, Too Short, 2 Chainz, Nef the Pharaoh, and others. Most recently he signed with United Masters, a testament of this rising hip hop star’s greatness and his official breakthrough in a cut-throat industry.
Through his ascension and continuous accolades (did I mention his music was picked up by ESPN?!), Oke Junior never forgets about the community that continuously uplifted and supported him. Reminiscing on his formative years, he works diligently to inspire the next generation by working closely with youth throughout various Napa Valley schools and using music & art to discuss mental health issues impacting their daily lives.
Sip with us to learn all about how Oke pays homage to his father every time he takes the stage and be sure to catch him on the Truly Stage at 1pm this Sunday. For my music festival fans who unfortunately can’t attend, we’ve got three killer musical surprises sprinkled in throughout our inspiring conversation. We hope you enjoy!