PackFM sounds like the smartest guy in a New York basement cipher who is simultaneously having the most fun and the least patience for mediocrity. His music is built on a foundation of classic East Coast boom-bap, but it is elevated by a restless, modern energy that refuses to stay in the 90s. You will hear dusty soul samples and crisp, snapping snares, but they are often punctuated by aggressive synth stabs or unexpected structural shifts that keep the listener on edge.
What truly sets him apart is his vocal delivery, which carries the undeniable weight of a battle rap champion. He doesn't just rhyme; he attacks the beat with a density of internal metaphors and punchlines that require multiple listens to fully unpack. There is a persistent thread of satire running through his work, particularly regarding the state of the music industry, which gives his tracks a biting, intellectual edge without sacrificing the raw 'head-nod' factor.
Start with 'I Fucking Hate Rappers' if you want to hear him at his most conceptually focused and sonically aggressive. It is a masterclass in underground technicality that manages to be both a critique of the genre and a celebration of its highest forms. For a broader look at his versatility, his 'Featured Material' series showcases his ability to dominate any production style he touches.
Omar Rogelio Tull (born June 11, 1977), better known by his stage name PackFM, is an American Underground hip hop artist and producer from Brooklyn, New York City. As a teenager in the mid-1990s, PackFM began his battle career, winning numerous prestigious freestyle titles. These wins include the 88HipHop MC Battle Champion, where he was inducted into their Hall of Fame after four undefeated months, Braggin Rites tournament in 1999, Everlast Harlem Lyricist Championship in 2003, and three undefeated months in the 24 Hour MC Battle sponsored by TDK. PackFM's recording career began in 1998, with his single "Hit List" getting frequent airplay on Hot 97 New York. Around 2000, PackFM joined and began to collaborate with QN5 label founder Tonedeff. After releasing the Extended F@mm EP Happy F*ck You Songs with Tonedeff, Substantial, and Session in 2002, PackFM has released two studio albums, 2006's whutduzFMstand4, which won UndergroundHipHop.com's People's Choice Album of the Year, and 2010's I F*cking Hate Rappers, which was featured on multiple "Best Of 2010" lists from sources such as 2DopeBoyz and HipHop DX. He has also worked on countless collaborations that have spawned a series of Featured Material releases. Since joining the QN5 label, PackFM has headlined and supported tours along with fellow labelmates Tonedeff and Cunninlynguists both nationally and internationally through Canada, Europe, and Australia. He's also performed with Hip Hop superstars like Ghostface Killah, Common, Slick Rick, among others. Throughout his career, PackFM and his music have been featured in many different mediums. PackFM's film credits include an award-winning Dutch documentary titled "Kika NY", and, alongside Questlove, Mos Def, and other prominent emcees, "Freestyle: The Art of Rhyme", which won multiple awards at film festivals around the United States. PackFM has had two television spots, one for MTV Hip Hop Week in 2003, and another for the Ford Edge in 2007. In print, he's had features in XXL, The Source Magazine, "URB" and Rolling Stone Magazine. PackFM contributed a remixed version of "Click, Clack, Spray" for the soundtrack to Marc Ecko's Getting Up. The soundtrack went on to win two awards, one for Best Licensed Music from GameSpot and the MTV VMA for Best Video Game Soundtrack. In 2008, PackFM starred in a G4 Freestyle 101 episode. PackFM was working on his third and final solo album, The Human Highlight Reel and a new Extended F@mm record, along with co-hosting a weekly podcast, Tacos and Chocolate Milk, with long-time collaborator and friend Tonedeff before going on hiatus from performing in 2013. His last official feature was on the track "Lucky" off of Tonedeff's EP Hunter.
Shares boom bap, conscious hip-hop, abstract hip-hop (subgenres); sample based, lo fi, studio polished (production style)
Shares abstract hip-hop, boom bap, conscious hip-hop (subgenres); defiant, playful, confident (moods)
Shares boom bap, abstract hip-hop, conscious hip-hop (subgenres); defiant, playful, confident (moods)
Shares abstract hip-hop, boom bap, conscious hip-hop (subgenres); defiant, playful, confident (moods)
Shares boom bap, conscious hip-hop, abstract hip-hop (subgenres); urban night, basement show, dive bar (atmosphere)
Shares abstract hip-hop, boom bap, conscious hip-hop (subgenres); sample based, lo fi, studio polished (production style)
Shares boom bap, conscious hip-hop, abstract hip-hop (subgenres); rap, intense, deadpan (vocal style)
Shares abstract hip-hop, boom bap, conscious hip-hop (subgenres); sampler, drum machine, electric guitar (instrumentation)
Shares abstract hip-hop, boom bap, conscious hip-hop (subgenres); rap, intense, deadpan (vocal style)
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