Hip-Hop Artist OGEE1523: Proving You Are Never2Old to Appreciate All Life Has To Offer
Hip-hop pioneer and artist Gerard “Ogee1523” Allen is no stranger to the streets and no stranger to what can happen on the streets. Though born in Harlem, New York, he was raised in the Morrisania projects in the Bronx, one of the city’s most notorious neighborhoods. Everyone needs an outlet, and Ogee1523 chose music and work — his first job as a youngster was helping the mailman deliver newspapers. The mailman used to come around on Sundays with a bunch of newspapers, and he and a couple of the young boys from the block used to sell them.
Though the Morrisania projects were rough, he met a group of friends who later became the legendary Talented Rascals(also called the T.R. Nation). While a part of the group, Ogee honed his skills in rapping and creating music with lyrics about the very things happening around him to help others understand what it’s like living in these situations every day.
When he was not rapping, he was doing graffiti, break dancing, beatboxing, and DJing. This fueled his passion even more, but his passion did not come without interruption. At the age of 16, Ogee became the father. Being a “child” himself and growing up in the projects made him want to ensure he could provide for his son. As luck would have it, one opportunity opened the door to another…working for the New York Housing Authority.
While working downtown at the age of 17, his job sent him on a delivery to J&R Music World. After arriving, he was told the item he was picking up wasn’t ready for another hour to an hour and a half. Having idle time (and instead of leaving), he decided to wait. When he walked back outside, he noticed the New York Housing Authority across the street and went in to complete a job application. Though it took about a year and a half for them to offer a position, he did get one and remained at the New York Housing Authority for 27 years, retiring on January 1, 2021.
So, what does one do when they retire? Well, if your name is Ogee1523, you go hard on what you were most passionate about…making music. Ogee has not only collaborated on a project with his two oldest sons, Ty-Trackz and Oun-P, called “A Father & 2 Sons;” he recently released an E.P. titled “Never 2 Old” and the chart-climbing single and video for “More Weed.”
When asked what one of the things he was most proud of was, Ogee1523 stated, “I’m still here. I’m still living. I made it to retirement. And that was a big accomplishment for me.”
For more information on Ogee1523, visit www.therealogee1523.com.
