Album Notes

Smoke billows up the stained wall filling the small 17th floor public housing studio apartment with a dim haze. In the corner with windows facing an expansive cemetery sits Optimo who takes a plentiful sip of Bacardi Limon.

Optimo then turns his attention to the task at hand. An expansive keyboard, microphone, and digital recording device flanked by user manuals, a past years subscription to Murder Dog, and notebooks overcrowd this small corner of the world.

Optimo grew up in Chicago, Illinois. Living the heart of the streets where the concrete literally bleeds blood. At the age of 17 he left for a safer lifestyle in St Paul, Minnesota. The move solidified the drive for Optimo to pursue a career in music. Through out his teen years Optimo would battle on the streets, write rhymes, and refine his ability on a karaoke machine. By the time he moved to the twin cities he was producing, writing and recording all of his own material.

Once in St Paul Optimo joined up with a local group of rappers known as Generation Click. Generation pumped out a street release and held it down with such songs as Ride With Us and If You Wanna roll with me.

In 2001, Optimo sent off an e-mail to Scott Scanlon of Crazy Loot Records. Crazy Loot set up a show in Minnesota for Optimo to show case his talents. Unfortunately at that time Crazy Loot and Optimo was on different paths. About a year later Crazy Loot called Optimo for a follow up call and received an 8 song demo. Within 2 months business was handled and Optimo was in a local studio in Minneapolis recording with the backing of Crazy Loot Records.

With one release entitled Until under his belt Optimo is currently working on his full length album due out late 2002. This release will give deeper insight into the world as seen through Optimo's eyes.