It seems Rock Creek Park was inspired by Oddisee’s local scenic refuge while growing up in Prince George’s County, Maryland. The Washington, D.C. woodland that is this album’s namesake represented somewhat of an escape from the metropolitan bustle for the Diamond District emcee/producer. Littered with cascading percussions and triumphant horns interpolated with occasional break beats, sonically, this ten-track largely instrumental offering is a serene detour from the conventional. Somehow, Rock Creek Park is equal parts progressive and nostalgic.
Fellow Diamond District-er, yU details the journey to Rock Creek Park’s monument laden landscape on opener, “Still Doing It.” 
“Feeling dynamite / Riding a bike / I’m downing Marlboro Pike, peddle at the speed of light / I hit a hill / Switch gears into a lighter one / Made it to the top and looked down peeping what I had done / Water bottle before I hit full throttle / Just a sip ‘cause a cramp could cause problems,” he raps over Oddisee’s hollow drums and funky bass riffs blaring subtly in the background. yU’s verses not only set the scene, but are this album’s only vocal contributions. In a sense, that’s Rock Creek Park’s coolest part. Oddisee succeeds in painting the narrative with no rapping required.
“Skipping Rocks,” with its wailing horn section layered lovely over subtle violins and groovy guitar strings feels like the soundtrack to a Spike Lee Joint or the opening scene to a blaxploitation flick. “All Along The River” screams relaxation while “The Carter Barron” screams triumph. “Uptown Cabaret” harkens Sugar Hill Gang’s, “Apache” when it first hops in, then settles into almost disco territory, then hops to a close. It’s enough to want to chant “Jump on it!” in celebration. Flares of distortion over a break beat and sporadic bouncing keys on “Closed After Dark” lurks more than the rest of the project and fittingly signals Rock Creek Park’s conclusion.
Oddisee continues to evolve as a producer. He continues to expand his range and perfect his layering. Rock Creek Park seamlessly blends live percussion with strings and blips and riffs and grooves. It’s a picturesque listen ready made for a movie score or moments of solitude and self reflection. It would be interesting to hear how he and his Diamond District cohorts would approach each instrumental, but honestly, raps aren’t necessary here. On some occasions, dope beats are all that’s needed.
If this is anywhere near good as yU’s ‘Before Taxes’ it should be dope as fuck.
amazing album. great production.
One of the best instrumental albums I’ve heard in ages. Oddisee doesn’t ever let genre define his boundaries. Classic album.
TOP 5 ALBUMS OF THE YEAR
1 BROTHA LYNCH HUNG-MANNIBLELECTOR]
2.GAME-THE R.E.D.ALBUM]
3.http://www.datpiff.com/JO-To-No-Avail-mixtape.230133.html – CHECK THIS OUT
4.TYLER THE CREATOR-GOBLIN
5.BIG KRIT-THE RETURN OF 4 EVA
And how does this relate to the article at all?
tyler the creator = garbage
Very nice to see this project honored with a thought-out review. Oddisee is a veteran… and one of the guys who deserves more recognition for growing.
So far this album is pretty great. not completely done yet, but I’m gunna give it a 5 anyhow. If you enjoy albums like shades of blue, and Spare time, you’ll enjoy this.
Copping it… nig had me at Shades of Blue!
good
Oddisee is the truth!!! Between him and Apollo Brown, Mello Music Group have really set themselves apart from other independent hip hop labels!
Oddisee came with the funk on this one…very soulful, melodic beats and probably his most coherent album to date. Smoke a fat one to this and try telling me you don’t feel it.
4/5
Classic…Oddisee is instant classic
solid. Mello Music Group should work The Left album more instead of dropping these projects like pigeons shit.
ill
Agree with Ron
great .
I love this album.
This album sounded really boring to me.
If you haven’t heard “Rock Creek Park” by the Blackbyrds, give it a listen. Good music, and Oddisee pays homage to them in “Still Doing It”. Anyways, this album is sounding NICE!
Fuck yeah….name just reminds me of home gotta get this shit.
This album is a classic. Still bumping it.
still a classic