REDEMPTION vol. 1

Soft Spots

HELLO AND WELCOME to -- The Optometrist's Office w/ Okel Mark Thomas

     I started writing The Optometrist's Office after my freshman year of college, during the darkest time of my life. It was the first time I had zero love, unconditional or romantic, and the harsh reality of being alone in the world was starting to latch onto my body and mind, eating away at my vitality. So where did I turn? -- To hip-hop music. At this point, you know I recognize hip hop as medicine for the mind, and in a way, this tape is the second installment of M E D I C I N E, (https://soundcloud.com/okel/sets/m-e-d-i-c-i-n-e), but I chose to name it The Optometrist's Office because, to put it bluntly, I want to change the way YOU see shit, while M E D I C I N E was entirely focused on my personal escapism.

With M E D I C I N E, I chose to ignore my problems and run away to a fantasy land, recharging my exuberance in that manner, but after releasing it, I eventually realized that constantly surrounding yourself with the things that make you most comfortable is the equivalent of locking yourself away in a cage, and it always nice for a while, but you gotta break out and fly.

So, this mixtape to me, is like the final stages of a caterpillar's chrysalis and the beginning of its long flight home. I was in such a dark place for over two years, but after dozens of surreal experiences, good and bad, I've realized the only way to truly get something done is to attack it head on. That's when I started writing with the grit that I feel this project is centered around. Don't be scared of your thoughts, embrace them when they're positive and powerful, and analyze them when they're negative and feeble. Once you learn to see yourself from a 3rd person perspective you can learn a lot. You can become fully self aware, and your body and mind will tell you what it needs to function properly, and all my body needs anymore is some doses of reality and a little love. 

Please Enjoy! I love you forreal <3

https://twitter.com/o_k_e_l
instagram.com/ohkull

PRODUCERS:
Saito - https://soundcloud.com/bscsaito
Djemba - https://soundcloud.com/djembadjemba
Nvomi - https://soundcloud.com/naomizaloum
Mura Masa - https://soundcloud.com/muramasamusic
Sweet Valley - https://soundcloud.com/sweetvalley
Paisley - https://soundcloud.com/paisley
Shleepytime - https://soundcloud.com/shleepytimeprod
Chris McClenney - https://soundcloud.com/chrismcclenney

AUDIO ENGINEERS:
John McFarland
Nicco Catalano (https://soundcloud.com/neekattack)

FEATS:
The One, The Only, Woody Pond (https://soundcloud.com/gatsbypond)


Take Them On

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