“Things,” a bright and bouncy dance track, adds a new color to Oddisee’s production palette — but the song’s energy belies its lyrical content. It’s a confessional that finds the Maryland-born, Brooklyn-based rapper-producer wrestling with his status, summed up by a nod to The Notorious B.I.G.‘s “mo’ money, mo’ problems” mantra. Much of Oddisee’s career has been marked by that dilemma, and here, he likens it to a horror-film cliché: He’s unable to resist the urge to run towards the screams.

Still, Oddisee’s words have an equivocal quality to them. The third verse opens with a declaration that “we just want to matter more,” and in that moment, it becomes unclear whether “we” means underground rappers — or something else altogether. In fact, that entire section can be read as a demand for equity on multiple fronts. Perceived invisibility is, after all, a sentiment shared by any who are outcast. As the U.S.’s legislative tides turn — Oddisee explicitly engaged the possibility on March’s Alwasta EP — The Iceberg figures to stand as some of his most politically charged work. In those terms, the alternate reading of “Things” feels especially penetrating.

The Iceberg comes out Feb. 24 via Mello Music Group.

Copyright 2016 NPR. To see more, visit http://www.npr.org/.

Skyline Hotel – A Love I Won’t Mind
Oddisee – In My Day
Famous For A Century – Kindled (Reprise)
Jason Masi – Ease Your Worried Mind
aerialist – nebulon
Empresarios – A Fuego Lento
ZOMES – Black Magic Band
Jordan Clawson – Yes You Can
Atoka Chase – Iron, Blood, And Bones (or The Children’s Crusade)
Rumpole – Blue Note Special
Constant Alarm – I Am Lying
Vandaveer – Concerning Past & Future Conquests
Stephen Allen Kochersperger – Headhunter Serenade
Ben Kingsland – The King Beneath the Mountains
Zenon Slawinski – Loon Tune
Fat Kneel – Octolude
Jason A Mullinax – Home World
Thomas Zebovitz – Inspirited
Greenland – Silver Spring
Ben Williams – Things Don’t Exist

Higher Hands – Due Dilla-gence
Le Loup – I Had a Dream I Died
Miyazaki – Apparition
Oddisee – Fievre
John Lanou – Blackbird with Landon Letzkus
Vandaveer – Ways & Means
South Rail – Wandering Soul
Dale Holmes – Summer Rain
Tom McBride – Cheap Thrill
PS Music Group – Waiting
Xamin – Humidity ft. Alex Leipold, Rebecca Schrader
Max D – Slick
Peanut Butter and Dave – Egon
Q and Not U – We Heart Our Hive
Shannon Gunn and the Bullettes Septet – Warm Woman Blues
Frau Eva – Interlude
RDGLDGRN – Hangout
Outputmessage – Goldilocks Zone (Julius Jetson Remix)
Language of Sleep – Epilogue
Lungfish – Constellations

Oddisee – The Blooming
Studying – Because What Has Hardened Will Never Win
Zoe Ravenwood – The End of Something Beautiful
Jonathan Parker – CO86
Benjy Ferree – Leaving the Nest (It’s a Long Way Down)
Memphis Gold – Do You Still Want Me
Wes Swing – Blood Branches
Oooh Child Ensemble – Diko’s Groove
Sun Machines – Mare Island
Kev Brown – Always Instrumental
PLOY – XIX
igloo two – lokhu blues
Terracotta Blue – The Dust Settles
Luke Denton – Light & Happy
Girl Love Distortion – (You Don’t) Speak For Me
The Greatest Hoax – Opus no. 10
Derek Evry – Wake Me Up
Wild Flag – Racehorse
Zenon Slawinski – Sealed With a Kiss
Dan Deacon – Of the Mountains

Logikbomb – The Heights (aka: Her Lips)
Suzanne Brindamour – The Arrival
Den-Mate – For Free
Lungfish – Constellations
Wye Oak – Dogs Eyes
Screen Vinyl Image – Edge of Forever
Jonny Grave – Afraid of the Dark
Brûlée – Driftin’
Fat Kneel – Solaris
Marvin Gaye – What’s Happening Brother
Oddisee – In Your Eyes
Sansyou – Best Ones Choose You
AXB – Flea Markets
The Sea Life – Prozac & Merlot
Lance Neptune – Umbrella Girl.
Beautiful Swimmers – The Zoo
G-Flux – Cumbia Cosmica
Bucky’s Fatal Mistake – Hello
Aaron Gage – Vinayaka
They’ll Have Dreams – Walk to Freedom

Jason A Mullinax – Next Time We Fly
Suzanne Brindamour – Pop’s Theme
Astronaut Jones – Keep It Down
Lungfish – Cut to Fit the Mouth
Young Rapids – Melt
RDGLDGRN – Hangout
Moonlight Mask – The Nightingale
TRU Band – Thelonius Funk
Aaron Abernathy – Faded Pictures
Jonny Grave – L’Enfant Promenade
Oddisee – When Everything Changed
Bunny Man Bridge – Shush Mutt
Nitemoves – Music Song
Miter – Young
Matt Chaconas – Goodnight
Technicians – Low Tide
Koshari – Into Shreds
We Were Pirates – A Boy & His Tiger
AndrewN – Night Falls
The Acorns – Oak Follies