“Where did the name come from?” I asked.
“The name honors my dad.” He said, “We had a talk during my freshman year in high school. He said, ‘Someday you’re going to have to slow down." Rapping fast was the popular thing back then. He said, ‘People are going to hear what you have to say.’”
This past week, right after the Alfred Ratcliff interview, I reached out to a local hip-hop artist. In the past, I tried and had no luck breaking into the scene here in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, and I’m not saying I have made an entrance, but people welcomed me with open arms. The artist I reached out to is Christopher G. Acoff, also known as Original Flow. It''s not him only He performs with his band Fervent Route.
Christopher G. Acoff also known as Original Flow
The epicenter of hip hop culture in Oklahoma City. Hubbly Bubbly.
“So I noticed on your Bandcamp page there’s Flowmentality two through four, but what about one?” I asked. We ordered some turkey, egg, and cheese croissants with hummus and chips. Delicious.
“That was an experiment,” he laughed, “It was bad. The EQ was terrible. My first album was titled Original Flow. I was showing my peers I took my craft seriously.”
We continued eating, rabbit-trailing into different discussions about art and business. We discussed our different religious beliefs.
“I made $100 with Original Flow. I didn’t really get the business side yet,” Flow said.
The band chilling in the VIP and I was invited.
The bar was decorated with art on the restaurant side and assorted tables and chairs. It carried a Middle Eastern vibe. On the other side, where Flow and I sat, the building transformed. Furniture was assorted in different arrangements with little tables in the middle. Orange, yellow, and red lights hung from the dropped ceiling. People drifted slowly in to see The Art of Rap show; it’s a showcase where local hip hop talent can demonstrate the abilities. Flow has been coming for awhile.
“Liberated was the name of the second album. People didn’t share the same vision. They were trying to convert me into the stereotypical rapper. We had different visions.” Flow said.
I have it occasionally, hookah is pretty dees.
He expressed he had to stay true to his nature. He was concerned with demonstrating what was his life.
“I can’t rap about something I haven’t experienced,” Flow said. We’re enjoying Bubbly’s delectable turkey, egg, and cheese croissants. We drifted to discussions about Flowmentality 1.
“I had a CD label maker. My had helped me. He’s a former MC,” Flow said. His father has had an enormous impact on Flow’s career.
“It sounds like the man was a good dad.” I said in half question mode.
“He supports me more than anybody. I get my lyrical capabilities from him. I get the drive, honesty, and passion too,” Flow said.
“He’s a former MC?” I asked.
I don't think the drummer knows I shot this. Shhhhhh.
“No. He would kill me if I said former MC. He’s a former performer,” Flow said, “He could’ve moved to New York, but decided to accept his fatherly responsibilities.
“Back to talking about music,” I said. I laughed. I needed to concentrate on the music side.
The artists have prepared bars for an introduction.
“What about Flowmentality 2?” I asked. Further along, I discover these albums are more than mere compact discs or bits of music. These albums are chronicling his life experiences. The first three or two albums was Flow’s entrance into craft.
"Flowmentality two was about me getting experience,” Flow said. I breathe in the turkey, egg, and cheese croissant or what was left to consume. He elaborates about the Flowmentality two era. He started getting access to different venues. He met the owner of a local magazine that promoted local music., whose name was Marcus Hayes.
“He was an added-mentor onto my father," Flow said. He made other connections too. He met Main Frame Trax, which is an old school group centered here in Oklahoma City. Flow started getting more shows. Establishing connections and starting to perform all happened in 2012.
In 2013, he released Flowmentality 3.
Rock'n'Roll. Or Hip Hop.
“What does that album represent?” I asked accustomed to Flow having a deep connection to the art produced.
“I evolved. I grew. It was nostalgic. The first song –the intro—was a rap battle. I lost terribly. It was at Bora Bora,” Flow said. Bora Bora used to be a local club or bar located in the burgeoning Midtown in Oklahoma City. It has since closed down and been replaced by a local bar called The Pump. Flow elaborates more upon Flowmentality 3.
“I love my dad to death. He’s actually on the album,” Flow said. The two share a intimate love for the art. His dad is featured on the album as Pops.
“I wouldn’t be the man if wasn’t for my dad,” Flow said. We drift into critiquing the American public and how people only wants what is popular. We discuss how art in general is a business and art. If a person wants to make money, artists have to make the pop hits, but an artist balances that with music for the die hard fans.
“That person in the back of the club, nodding their head, is the person you want,” Flow said.
“That stereotype represents the person that loves the person and doesn’t ride the wave. They are on the journey with the artist and not just there for the trends,” I said. Flow nods his head. He offers some more comments. Uses another generalization.
“I love the side discussions, but what about Flowmentality 4?” I asked, “What’d that rep?”
They had the entire crowd moving.
“It wasn’t as impactful. It’s like showing my skills. I’m here,” Flow said. It was released in March 2014.
“I found my root fans. I have 16,000 fans in Nepal, India,” Flow said.
had the entire crowd moving.
“16,000 fans in India? How do you know that?” I asked.
“Facebook.” Flow said shortly. I laughed.
“It’s like a celebrity over there. They got pictures of me. I don’t mind being famous somewhere else and having little fans here in America.
Since Flowmentality 4, Flow has released any new albums. From FL1 to FL4, I listened to the albums. Each one is a transition of talent. FL1 was the experiment. FL4 is where the mad stands solidified in his voice, discovering who he is, finding his sound.
At the end of 2014, Original Flow and several others develop the Fervent Route concept. It’s a literal group that signifies as one whole. They have a drummer, guitarist, and keys player. Each person is chill. I sat in the VIP lounge with the band, meeting other local Oklahoma artists. They joke. They have deep discussions. It was enthralling to see a band acting like a family.
I'm not a photographer, but here is me trying to be a artistic artist. Hookah coals?
“What you’ve been doing since the last album?” I asked. He discusses how a woman left him.
“That was the first time I was in love,” Flow said. Local fans wonder about when Flow will be releasing a new album. However, the years haven’t been fruitless. He has toured relentlessly. I’ve seen him perform in Norman, Oklahoma. I’ve seen him at Hubbly Bubbly before.
“How many shows have you had?” I asked.
“I don’t even know,” Flow said. Hip hop isn’t the man’s single endeavor. He has a multidisciplinary associates from Oklahoma City Community College and is going for a Bachelors. Unlike waiting to make millions, Original Flow and Fervent Route give back to the community.
They performed at two local schools to raise money for the school. They performed with other local artists. They helped raise $1000.00 dollars. Making no money. Nothing went to their pockets. The band also helped raise money for Flint, Michigan with other local artists. Finally, they helped raise $1000.00 dollars for the Cavett Kids Foundation, which is an organization that helps children with chronic illnesses.
“We visited the foundation’s camp,” Flow said.
“To perform?” I asked.
Their a single unit, one organism.
“No, it was just to visit. It costs $720.00 dollars for each kid. The reason why it’s so much is because they have nurses on call and dialysis machines on call,” Flow said, “It’s changed my life. How I think about life and death,” Earnestness was all over his face. Eyes wide. He rubs a hand through his hair.
The band has performed at the Norman Music Festival. A homeless man came up to him and gave Flow a kiss. 200 hundred people showed up for the show.
“As of right now in August 2016, what are your plans,” I asked.
“I want to be officialized. I want to have an online presence, get my website up, all my music and social media in one place. I want to release Flowmentality 5. Release the first music video. Maybe, have huge tour in the works,” Flow said.
“What’s your career goals?” I asked.
“Travel the world and do this full time,” Flow said.
They were going at it.
I watched several performers. He was the second to last. Main Frame Trax was the last. I met a man and hopefully established a future fruitful friendship.
He’s more than modern hip hop. He’s a lost type of arist. He’s a man giving back to the community, chronicling his life through poetic rap flows.
Original Flow and The Fervent Route are breath of fresh of air for an over saturated genre where everybody claims they’re gods. His desires are for people to realize that they are important.
Check out his 2016 track The Summer.
Buy Flowmentality 4.
Twitter @Original Flow
Facebook @flowmentality or Original Flow
Instagram @original_flow
Bandcamp Original Flow
He represents what the love of music should be. He's chasing down the ultimate dream, full time artistry.
