“This song is an exclamation point on the fact that I am from Hawaii, and Hawaii’s rap scene is stale,” OTUYYUTO said of his recent release, “808/MVP.”
It’s a different mission statement than most other artists, who may feel overwhelmed with the number of competitors looking to accomplish their dreams in their cities. Yet for OTUYYUTO, there is no anger at the competition, rather there’s anger at the lack of competition; with each new drop, he proves that he’s one of the state’s best rappers, and “808/MVP” is no different.
“I have always been different among the people here…[and] if you are fashionable, artistic or creative in Hawaii, you are often looked at as an outsider,” OTUYYUTO said. “This song is an ode to my recognition as being different and embracing it fully, but it is also a track full of frustration that I am almost exiled from the rest of the islands.”
“I wanted to show that I am essentially the ‘MVP’ of the [Hawaii area code] 808, and it is a cry for people to start taking me seriously and almost a warning for the competition to fear me,” he elaborated.
OTUYYUTO also dropped a music video for “808/MVP” that sees him spitting his bombastic bars through a black and white filter, that is until “MVP” comes on and the entire vibe is switched to include lots of color, representing OTUYYUTO’s desire to stand out while remaining himself at the same time.
Next up for the Hawaiian superstar in the making? A fully self-produced debut album that further chronicles his sonic journey. He’s also looking to perform in Japan for his ever-growing Japanese fanbase, but overall, OTUYYUTO is looking to put himself — and everything he knows and loves — on the map.
You can watch the video for “808/MVP” by clicking here.
To learn more about OTUYYUTO, follow him on Instagram.