MC Opi

{{Infobox musical artist | name = MC Opi | image = Opi_Nelson_aka_MC_Opi.png | image_size = | landscape =  | alt = | caption = MC Opi | birth_name = Janette Oparebea Nelson | native_name = | native_name_lang = | alias =  | birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=yes|1971|04|10}} | birth_place = Chelsea, London, United Kingdom | origin = | death_date =  | death_place = | genre = dancehall, industrial, dub, trip hop, deep house, progressive house, electronica, electroacoustic, experimental, dark ambient, circuit bending | occupation = | instrument = Bass guitar, drums, piano, celtic harp | years_active = 1987–present | label = Mushroom Australia, EMI, PolyGram, Warner Bros. Records, Phonogram, [http://www.wintrup.de/ Wintrup Musikverlage] | associated_acts = Massive Attack, Christine Anu, Paul Kelly, Lucky Dube. | website = [http://dotswaves.com/bhl/ Opi Nelson] }} '''Janette Oparebea Nelson''' (born 10 April 1971), known by her stage names '''MC Opi'''<ref>{{cite book |last1=Goldsmith |first1=Melissa Ursula Dawn |last2=Fonseca |first2=Anthony J. |title=Hip Hop around the World: An Encyclopedia [2 volumes] |date=2018 |publisher=ABC-CLIO |isbn=978-0-313-35759-6 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=LRnOEAAAQBAJ&dq=Hip+Hop+around+the+World:+An+Encyclopedia+%5B2+volumes%5D+MC+OPI&pg=PA2009-IA31 |language=en}}</ref><ref name="blazed a trail">{{cite web|url=https://www.themonthly.com.au/issue/2013/august/1375315200/marieke-hardy/iggy-azalea-bikini-wasteland |title= 'Iggy Azelea in Bikini Wasteland' The Monthly Magazine|accessdate=18 August 2014}}</ref><ref name=":0">{{Cite book|title=Ambient Screens and Transnational Public Spaces|last=Nikos|first=Papastergiadis|publisher=Hong Kong University Press|date=1 July 2016|isbn=9789888208920|location=Hong Kong|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=cZfADQAAQBAJ&q=opi+nelson&pg=PA186}}</ref> and '''Opi Nelson'''<ref>{{cite book |last1=Papastergiadis |first1=Nikos |title=Ambient Screens and Transnational Public Spaces |date=July 2016 |publisher=Hong Kong University Press |isbn=9789888208920 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=cZfADQAAQBAJ&q=opi+nelson&pg=PA186}}</ref><ref name= "Opi Nelson">{{cite web|url=http://www.opinelson.com|title=Opi Nelson Official Website|accessdate=19 August 2014}}</ref> is a multi-instrumentalist, spoken word artist, music and documentary producer.

''The Monthly'', Australia's popular magazine of politics, society and culture, wrote Nelson "blazed a trail as a producer and guest artist...".<ref name="blazed a trail"/><ref name="The Monthly">{{cite web |url=https://www.themonthly.com.au/about |title= 'About' The Monthly Magazine|date= 5 January 2007|accessdate=4 May 2015}}</ref>

She is most known for being the first female music artist to receive national recognition in Australia for a Dancehall performance as a guest artist on the Christine Anu<ref name="Christine Anu ABC">{{cite web |url=http://www.abc.net.au/gnt/history/Transcripts/s1041041.htm|title= Christine Anu Australian Broadcasting Corporation |website= Australian Broadcasting Corporation |accessdate=19 August 2014}}</ref> (ARIA award-winning Australian indigenous singer and songwriter) and Paul Kelly<ref name="ABC Radio Paul Kelly">{{cite web |url=http://www.abc.net.au/7.30/content/2010/s3018174.htm|title= ABC Radio Paul Kelly|website= Australian Broadcasting Corporation|date= 21 September 2010|accessdate=8 September 2014}}</ref><ref name="Penguin Books Paul Kelly">{{cite web|url=http://www.penguin.com.au/contributors/6259/paul-kelly|title= Penguin Books Paul Kelly|accessdate=8 September 2014}}</ref><ref name="Guardian Newspaper Paul Kelly">{{cite web |url=https://www.theguardian.com/culture/australia-culture-blog/2013/sep/06/poetry-classicalmusicandopera|title= Guardian Newspaper Paul Kelly|website= TheGuardian.com|date= 6 September 2013|accessdate=8 September 2014}}</ref><ref name="Paul Kelly The Movie">{{cite web |url=http://www.paulkellythemovie.com.au/about-film/|title= Paul Kelly The Movie|accessdate=8 September 2014}}</ref><ref name="Paul Kelly AllMusic">{{cite web |url=http://www.allmusic.com/artist/paul-kelly-mn0000749132|title= Paul Kelly Allmusic|website= AllMusic|accessdate=19 August 2014}}</ref><ref name="Paul Kelly BBC News Entertainment">{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/entertainment-arts-22141229|title= Paul Kelly BBC News Entertainment|work= BBC News|access-date=19 August 2014}}</ref> (a prolific ARIA Award-winning Australian folk singer and songwriter), 1994 ARIA nominated, single, "Last Train".<ref name="ARIA 1994">{{cite web|url=http://www.ariaawards.com.au/history/year/1994 |title=ARIA Awards 1994|publisher=Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA) |accessdate=4 December 2013}}</ref><ref name="The Last Train">{{cite web|url=http://www.amws.com.au/pk/discography/pk-d-III.html |title=Paul Kelly Discography, Single 1993 Last Train Toasting by Oparabea Janet Obiri-Nelson |accessdate=18 August 2014 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110706101246/http://www.amws.com.au/pk/discography/pk-d-III.html |archivedate=6 July 2011 }}</ref> Later she was both a writer and guest performer on Anu's award-winning 1995 ARIA Best Indigenous Release, ARIA Platinum Album and voted one of the 50 Best Debut Albums by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation's Double J Radio Station in September 2020 ''Stylin Up''.<ref name="Stylin Up">{{cite web|url=http://www.ariaawards.com.au/history/year/1995 |title=Stylin UP ARIA |accessdate=19 August 2014 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20070926235646/http://www.ariaawards.com.au/history-by-year.php?year=1995 |archivedate=26 September 2007 }}</ref><ref name="Stylin Up' Writers">{{cite web |url=http://www.akuma.de/christine-anu/stylin-up/album,r527883,index.html|title='Stylin Up' Writers|accessdate=19 August 2014}}</ref><ref name="ARIA Chart Accreditations 2000 Platinum 'Stylin Up">{{cite web |url=http://www.aria.com.au/pages/aria-charts-accreditations-albums-2000.htm|title= ARIA Chart Accreditations 2000 Platinum 'Stylin Up|accessdate=10 September 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Opi |first1=Nelson |title=ABC Double J Radio |url=https://www.abc.net.au/doublej/music-reads/features/https://www.abc.net.au/doublej/music-reads/features/50-best-australian-debut-albums/12637982 |access-date=2 January 2021 |publisher=Australian Broadcasting Corporation}}</ref>

Nelson was a well known local Sydney live independent spoken word artist and producer<ref name="blazed a trail"/> before she met Christine Anu, whilst acting in a cast of eight, alongside Christine Anu and Barry Otto<ref name="Barry Otto">{{cite web|url=https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0653222/ |title= Barry Otto imdb|website= IMDb|accessdate=19 August 2014}}</ref> (AFI Awarded Australian actor), in the 1993 musical theatrical production ''The Trials of Brother Jero''<ref name="The Trails of Brother Jero">{{cite web|url=http://www.ausstage.edu.au/pages/event/17241 |title=The Trials of Brother Jero 1993: Australian & New Zealand Theatre Record January 1993 |accessdate=18 August 2014}}</ref> written by Nigerian Nobel Prize playwright Wole Soyinka.<ref name="Wole Soyinka Biography">{{cite web |url=http://www.biography.com/people/wole-soyinka-9489566|title=Wole Soyinka Biography|accessdate=19 August 2014}}</ref>

Before "Last Train's" success in 1994, she was known for her work in Australian dance music TV and radio. She was one of the first music artists to be a reporter and assistant producer on the first Australian dance music show SBS TV's 'MC Tee Vee'<ref name="SBS TV MC TEE VEE">{{cite web |url=http://televisionau.com/feature-articles/sbs|title=SBS TV MC TEE VEE|date=30 June 2012|accessdate=19 August 2014}}</ref> and Alternative Arts Show 'The Noise'<ref name="'SBS TV 'The Noise">{{cite web |url=http://www.anddum.com/ozmusic/tvshows.htm|title=SBS TV 'The Noise'|accessdate=19 August 2014}}</ref> (produced by one of Australia's prolific TV producers, Annette Shun Wah<ref name="Annette Shun Wah ABC">{{cite web |url=http://www.abc.net.au/profiles/content/s2130594.htm|title=Annette Shun Wah ABC'|website=Australian Broadcasting Corporation|date=2 January 2008|accessdate=19 August 2014}}</ref>). Her MC Tee Vee interviews included The Beastie Boys,<ref name="Beastie Boys Allmusic">{{cite web |url=http://www.allmusic.com/artist/beastie-boys-mn0000038469|title=Beastie Boys Allmusic|website=AllMusic|accessdate=19 August 2014}}</ref> Lucky Dube<ref name="Lucky Dube Allmusic">{{cite web |url=http://www.allmusic.com/artist/lucky-dube-mn0000255268|title=Lucky Dube Allmusic|website=AllMusic|accessdate=19 August 2014}}</ref> and others.

At the age of 19 years, she co-produced, with [https://www.abc.net.au/listen/doublej/music-reads/features/when-jaslyn-hall-took-me-out-of-my-world/10271418 Jaslyn Hall] Australian Broadcasting Corporation Triple J and Womadelaide Producer, the 1991 Australian Broadcasting Corporation radio documentary 'Women on the Rhyme' the first ABC radio documentary about Australian and International female dancehall and hip hop artists. [https://soundcloud.com/rap-attack/women-on-rhyme-abc-radio 'Women on the Rhyme'] featured interviews with Charlene (Def Wish Cast), No.1 Jamaican & US female Dancehall artist Shelly Thunder, New Zealand Hip Hop Group Moana and the Moahunters and Sydney Hip Hop Artist [https://www.abc.net.au/triplejunearthed/artist/rap-attack/ Rap Attack] and others.

== Early life and family ==

Nelson was born in Chelsea, London, United Kingdom and her heritage is Irish, Australian Indigenous and Ghanaian.<ref name=":0" />

Nelson's niece is Ghanaian British 'MZ Porsche',<ref>{{cite book |last1=Clark |first1=Msia Kibona |title=Hip-Hop in Africa: Prophets of the City and Dustyfoot Philosophers |date=2018 |publisher=Ohio University Press |isbn=978-0-89680-502-6 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=GbtTDwAAQBAJ&q=mz+porsche+ghana&pg=PT199 |language=en}}</ref><ref name="Mz Porsche">{{cite web |url=http://gometro.iroking.com/artist/627/mz-porsche?bio=more|title=Mz Porsche Go Metro Music|accessdate=30 August 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Loud Sound Ghana Blog Feed Page: UPCLOSE WITH MZ PORSCHE (@MzPorscheGH) |url=http://realloudsound.blogspot.com/2013/02/upclose-with-mz-porsche-mzporschegh.html |website=Loud Sound Ghana Blog Feed Page}}</ref> a female Hip Hop artist who has achieved national recognition and like Nelson, she is a multi-instrumentalist.

== Collaborations == Late 1993 Nelson was spotted by internationally acclaimed Australian indigenous artist, filmmaker and photographer Tracey Moffatt.<ref name= "wwm.com Tracey Moffat">{{cite web|url=http://www.wmm.com/filmcatalog/pages/c477.shtml|title=wwm.com Tracey Moffat|accessdate=7 September 2014}}</ref><ref name= "tate.org Tate Museum Tracey Moffat">{{cite web|url=http://www.tate.org.uk/art/artists/tracey-moffatt-2669|title=tate.org Tate Museum Tracey Moffat|accessdate=7 September 2014}}</ref><ref name= "pica.org Tracey Moffat">{{cite web|url=http://www.pica.org.au/view/Tracey+Moffatt/1370/|title=pica.org Tracey Moffat|accessdate=7 September 2014}}</ref><ref name= "Guggenheim Museum Tracey Moffat">{{cite web|url=http://www.guggenheim.org/new-york/collections/collection-online/artists/bios/5094|title=GuggenheimMuseum Tracey Moffat|accessdate=7 September 2014}}</ref> Moffatt invited her to be an assistant director and have a cameo role alongside the late INXS lead singer Michael Hutchence in the notorious parody INXS "The Messenger" video, a song on INXS's ''Full Moon, Dirty Hearts'' album.

In the same year, Nelson also collaborated with David Thrussell (SNOG, and Black Lung) an Australian musician and a prolific composer, Russell Kilbey (The Crystal Set) and Dare Mason<ref name= "allmusic.com Dare Mason">{{cite web|url=http://www.allmusic.com/artist/dare-mason-mn0000575234/credits|title=allmusic.com Dare Mason|website=AllMusic|accessdate=7 September 2014}}</ref>(a producer and composer who has worked with internationally notable bands The Church, Placebo and Kraftwerk) on the progressive house and industrial dance mini EP 'Get Lost' Sex Industrie,<ref name= "Discogs.com Sex Industrie 'Get Lost'">{{cite web|url=http://www.discogs.com/Sex-Industrie-Get-Lost/release/3637934|title=Discogs.com Sex Industrie 'Get Lost'|website=Discogs|accessdate=7 September 2014}}</ref> Polygram Australia.

In 1994 following her guest performance on Christine Anu's debut single "Last Train" the previous year, Nelson collaborated further on Anu's debut Album ''Stylin Up''.

== 2000 to Present ==

''2000'' produced her solo industrial dark wave project ''Jezebel Complex''<ref name= "Archive.org Jezebel Complex">{{cite web|url=https://archive.org/details/iuma-jezebel_complex|title=Archive.org Jezebel Complex|accessdate=8 September 2014}}</ref><ref name= "Sound Quality Jezebel Complex">{{cite web|url=http://www.abc.net.au/radionational/programs/soundquality/38-21-09/3493168|title=Sound Quality Jezebel Complex|website=Australian Broadcasting Corporation|date=4 December 1998|accessdate=8 September 2014}}</ref> which Australian Broadcasting Corporation Producer Tim Ritchie played on the ABC National Radio show 'Sound Quality'.<br /> ''2008'' produced her solo project 'The Black Hole Lovers'<ref>{{Cite book|last1=Goldsmith|first1=Melissa Ursula Dawn|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=6mR2DwAAQBAJ&dq=the+blackhole+lovers+opi&pg=PA468|title=Hip Hop around the World: An Encyclopedia [2 volumes]|last2=Fonseca|first2=Anthony J.|date=2018-12-01|publisher=ABC-CLIO|isbn=978-0-313-35759-6|language=en}}</ref>.<br /> ''2009'' she studied the Masters of Digital Media at The College of Fine Arts, The University of New South Wales in Australia obtaining distinctions in the subject 'Sound Construction and Design.'<br /> ''2012 to 2013'' returned to London and continued to work on her independent solo music project 'The Black Hole Lovers' whilst working at The University of Cambridge and Oxford University.<br /> ''2014'' returned to one of her former occupations TV production, with her side project DotsWaves TV<ref name= "DotsWaves TV'">{{cite web|url=http://dotswaves.com|title= DotsWaves TV|accessdate=16 May 2015}}</ref> a web TV show which showcases Noise, Industrial Music and Digital Hybrid artists around the globe.

== References== {{reflist}}

== External links == * {{official website|http://www.opinelson.com}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Opi, MC}} Category:1971 births Category:Living people Category:Musicians from the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea Category:People from Chelsea, London

MC Opi

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