Hip-hop was never meant to be polite. It was born as a mirror, a megaphone, and at times, a weapon. One Who May Ascend (OMA) has taken that ethos and sharpened it into a blade with his track How You Really Feel, a raw and relentless anthem that cuts straight through the smoke and mirrors of fake love and quiet betrayal.
Released back on June 16, 2020, the song didn’t come into the world with the push of a major label machine, but with the force of an artist who refuses to water down his truth. Four years later, the track is still making waves—reminding listeners that honesty in rap doesn’t expire, it echoes.
Raw Energy with Purpose
From the opening bars, How You Really Feel is unapologetic. It’s laced with grit and built for listeners who crave sharp lyricism over microwaved clichés. The flow recalls the high-voltage delivery of artists like Hopsin—unafraid to stare you dead in the eye while speaking truths most avoid. But unlike tracks that lean only on shock value, OMA’s pen goes deeper, pressing the listener to confront their own masks.
The beat itself has a groovy, gangster-party vibe, the kind of instrumental that pulls you into a head nod while the bars challenge you to pause mid-turn-up and self-reflect. It’s that duality—club-ready but conscious—that makes this record special.
A Critic’s Lens
As I noted in my official review for This Is Hip Hop HQ, this isn’t just another underground drop. The execution is clean, the charisma is undeniable, and the replay value is heavy. DJs can spin this in rotation, and lyric heads can sit down and dissect it bar-for-bar. For that reason, I stamped How You Really Feel with a solid 10/10—rare company in an era where even mainstream projects sound disposable.
OMA doesn’t just rap. He confronts. He asks the questions that expose the fakes smiling in your face while plotting behind screens. He drags betrayal out into the light. That’s not just hip-hop—that’s therapy with a snarl.
The Man Behind the Mic
One Who May Ascend isn’t some random SoundCloud upload lost in the shuffle. His résumé runs deep:
- Performances at Texas A&M’s “APOLLO,” the Corpus Christi Art Walk, Dallas Music Conference, and even showcases tied to SXSW.
- Opened for acts like Kevin Abstract/BROCKHAMPTON, Travis Porter, Gorilla Zoe, and EST 19XX’s Dub-O.
- Won national recognition with the Scholastic Silver Key Award for poetry.
He’s a warrior-poet by design, blending lived struggle with cosmic ambition. His music is equal parts personal therapy and cultural commentary, bound together with the hope of pushing the human community toward a better tomorrow.
In his own words, OMA’s mission is a campaign against ignorance in all forms—a battle to ascend not only for himself, but to lift others with him.
Why This Track Still Matters
In 2025, How You Really Feel resonates more than ever. Social media facades are louder, betrayal wears filters, and “support” often comes with an asterisk. OMA saw this years ago and put it into rhyme. Now, the track serves as a reminder: energy doesn’t lie, and masks eventually crack.
For hip-hop purists and fans of fearless lyricism, this record belongs in your rotation. For DJs curating playlists that balance vibes with substance, it’s a must-add. And for anyone who’s ever felt the sting of fake support, this track is the soundtrack to your unfiltered thoughts.
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