As Odd the Artist was developing her latest project \u201cMothership,\u201d she started digging into the Blaxploitation films of the \u201970s. She was drawn to the portrayal<\/a> of strong Black women, like Pam Grier in \u201cFoxy Brown\u201d and Tamara Dobson in \u201cCleopatra Jones,\u201d ready to wield a gun and save the day.<\/p>\n There was an \u201cability to showcase that women are strong. There\u2019s an ability to protect and ascend. There\u2019s strength and leadership,\u201d says Odd, a New Orleans rapper<\/a>, producer, DJ and visual artist. \u201cThat was displayed mostly in the movies of that era. I see it now, but back then it was like a stamp in the community.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cMothership,\u201d released earlier this year<\/a>, is about motherhood and Odd\u2019s own journey as a new parent and a hard-working artist. She wanted to have that same Black feminist strength on the album \u2014 and there are \u201970s soul and funk-inspired samples in the production of the album.<\/p>\n \u201cThere\u2019s the realities of love and ambition,\u201d she says. \u201cThe ship symbolizes survival, leadership and the generational responsibility of Black women and what they shoulder. But there\u2019s also power to build and ascend and protect.\u201d<\/p>\n Odd the Artist, the performer name<\/a> for Jasmine Williams, grew up in New Orleans and graduated from Dillard University with a degree focused on the music industry. She started rapping and learning to produce her own music, using a MacBook and a Wii microphone, while in high school, and since 2019, she\u2019s released a steady string of EPs and singles.<\/p>\n In recent years, Odd has been hitting bigger and bigger stages, like the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival, French Quarter Fest and the now defunct BUKU Music + Art Project. She\u2019s also La Reezy\u2019s live DJ<\/a> and last fall went on tour with the ascendant New Orleans rapper<\/a> and played Tyler, the Creator\u2019s Camp Flog Gnaw festival.<\/p>\n