Oblé Reed and TeZATalks Get Original With 'Hard Copies'

Oblé Reed is a talent on the rise and continues to be one to watch. With a distinct visual style, conscious lyrics, and a fervent passion for his city, Reed's ascent in the local music scene and beyond is no surprise. This week, Reed dropped his latest song, "Hard Copies," in collaboration with friend and fellow trailblazing artist TeZATalks (who released the critically acclaimed Black Girl American Horror Story). Produced by fantompower, the release includes a music video directed by Ezra Bantum.

It's "Hard Copies," but Reed is a bonafide original who is cementing himself as part of Seattle's often understated, but rich hip-hop legacy. Following his EP Retrovision, Reed has kickstarted 2025 with a new pair of songs and visuals. Just earlier this month, Reed released the visuals for his song "EN ROUTE," featuring Sol ChYld, and in January, "More Anniversaries." "Hard Copies" looks to be the beginning of a new project set to release soon. Reed has built a reputation for his high-concept, high production values, as his Retrovision and debut album Lindenave! include "full project experiences," which are collections of visual accompaniments to his sound.

As a nod of what's to come, Reed has been building anticipation and hinting that his latest song is only the second in a series. He teased on Instagram, "TRACK 2 of ??🖨️HARD COPIES w/ @tezatalks 3/26."

According to WASH Magazine, TeZATalks and Reed have been friends for some time, but this is the duo's first recorded collaboration. Two of the most exciting acts in Seattle, this was a fateful event. Not unexpectedly, "Hard Copies" is catchy and fun. The song goes hard, and so does its music video.

Ezra Bantum's creative work only elevates the music. Continuing his flair for mixing the retro and the now, the "Hard Copies" video includes Xerox flashes, and corded phones over a plain back background as Reed and TeZATalks rap. Reed continues to showcase his lyrical prowess while TeZATalks becomes a vocal chameleon. Talk about "WHOA."

We know it was a hit from the ringtone flip phones (or smartphones), but we hope "Hard Copies" propels Reed into viral success once again.

"Hard Copies" is now available to stream on all major platforms as of March 25th.