*Actor/rapper Omar Gooding a/k/a Big O is in a zone these days after recently dropping two re-released rap singles, Swim and Homage. Both songs will be featured on Omar’s upcoming album, The Excuse, scheduled for release in the spring of 2023.
The two singles, both written by Omar, are distributed through Amplified Distribution and are available for purchase at popular digital music online stores/platforms and music streaming services, including Apple iTunes, Amazon, Deezer, Spotify, YouTube, and others.
Many who know the name Omar Gooding associate him with starring in numerous popular television shows or films over three-plus decades, including Family Time, Barbershop, Baby Boy, Hangin’ With Mr. Cooper, Playmakers, Smart Guy, and more. Omar is still in the game, as he will star alongside actresses Danielle Jalade and Golden Brooks (Girlfriend) in the upcoming Disney television series Saturdays.
Cal Johnson (Omar) and Deb Johnson (Golden) play the parents of 14-year-old Paris Johnson, played by Jalade. Produced by Marsai Martin of Black-ish, Saturdays will premiere on the Disney Channel on Friday, March 24, 2023, at 9:00 p.m. EDT, and the following day on Disney+.
MORE NEWS ON EURWEB: The Main Ingredient Releases Two Evolutionary Classic Songs featuring Darryl Tookes, Actor/Rapper Omar Gooding | LISTEN
Saturdays is a coming-of-age comedy centered on the life of teenager Paris Johnson and her two best friends, all looking forward to the weekend when they can lace up the roller skates and sharpen their skills skating at Saturdays Rockin’ Roller Palace, an ultra-popular skating venue in Chicago.
“I’m really excited about the new series,” said Omar. “People are going to love it because the entire family can watch Saturdays together. And working with the entire cast, crew, and producers was fun. I even get to show off my roller skating skills.”
Omar will also be featured in two films later this year. Nevertheless, music remains a huge part of who Omar is.
“Parallel to my acting career, I’ve been into music for a while,” said the younger brother of Oscar-winning actor Cuba Gooding, Jr. “My father, Cuba Gooding, Sr., was the talented lead vocalist of the Grammy-nominated R&B singing group, The Main Ingredient, for decades. My mother, Shirley Gooding, was a talented vocalist with a popular female singing and recording group called The Sweethearts in New York City many years ago. So I have always had music around me and inside of me, but people didn’t realize how good I am because I didn’t put out music until later in my life.”
Omar expressed excitement over the double-sided release and explained their importance.
“Swim is about how sometimes people don’t want to help you reach your goals because they want to see you swim on your own,” said Omar. “And there are people who would rather see you drown than swim or help you out. Nevertheless, you got to keep on swimming to reach your goals.”
The guest performer on Swim is Blakk Soul…The guest performer on Homage is Focus…
“Homage is an upbeat, double-time song that I wrote to pay homage to some of the rappers I grew up listening to, mainly Busta Rhymes,” Omar said. “In writing Homage, I was influenced by his cadence, speed, and technique. And in the song, I rap about the state of hip hop as I flex my lyrical muscles.”
Previous music projects with Omar have mainly been part of groups, beginning with Sons of Pangaea, an R&B-hip hop unit consisting of childhood friends in Southern California. He has also released hip-hop songs under the name The Big O. Unbeknownst to many – even some of his fans – The Big O is actually Omar Gooding. Omar also raps on the late February 2023 release of the “re-imagined and evolutionary” version of the R&B classic Everybody Plays The Fool recorded by The Main Ingredient featuring Darryl Tookes. Omar’s late father, Cuba Sr., was the lead vocalist of the group when the Grammy-nominated Gold Record was originally released in 1972.
Now, for the first time, Omar Gooding is releasing songs and music as a “solo artist” – and he’s on a mission.
“The mission is for my music to touch people in various but positive ways,” said Omar. “Some things that I rap about literally happened to me, but some things are metaphorical or a figure of speech. But it’s up to the people to listen and interpret the true meaning of my songs and how the songs may play out in their own lives. Listen to the lyrics and messages of both Swim and Homage because they will take listeners on an incredible musical journey, and I hope they will enjoy the ride.”
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