80purppp ushers us into the deepest, darkest corridors of his mind in ‘Suite 96 (Side A),’ a cinematic and soul-baring concept album that peels back the layers of self in a seductive, surreal search for truth.
Stream: “VALENTINE” – 80purppp
I feel like everyone can relate to the inward not reflecting the outward.
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You pull up to the hotel just past midnight. The engine hums a little too loud in the quiet, your mind racing even faster. A valet approaches. You hand over the keys, grab your bag, and take one last look at the world outside before stepping in. “Welcome, sir,” he says with a nod – and just like that, you’re no longer in your reality. You’ve entered something stranger, softer, darker. The air inside hums with possibility and tension. Somewhere in the distance, a piano plays. “Welcome, we’ve been expecting you,” a female voice – robotic, yet friendly – says. “Enjoy your stay.” The doors close behind you. The journey begins.
There’s a storm beneath the surface of 80purppp’s music – a raw, unfiltered truth that simmers under lush beats and melodic flows. With Suite 96, the rising hip-hop artist cracks open the door to his innermost self, inviting listeners into a deeply introspective journey framed as a conceptual hotel. Each track represents a different room, hallway, or floor, revealing fragments of his soul through visceral lyrics set to a spellbinding, seductive soundtrack: A smoldering sonic diary of emotional reckoning, personal growth, and the cost of self-discovery.
“This record is my own personal telling of a trouble in paradise narrative,” 80purppp tells Atwood Magazine. “I feel like everyone can relate to the inward not reflecting the outward. There’s so much humanity there, so this project is my ode to where I’m at in the human experience.”
Released February 28th via Violet High / Amuseio AB, Suite 96 (Side A) is the first half of 80purppp’s boldest, most unfiltered project to date: A labyrinthine concept album that fuses vivid worldbuilding with deeply personal storytelling. From the opening scene of “HOTEL LOBBY” to the sensual melancholy of “BALCONY,” the English-born, Edmonton, Canada-based artist (born Nathan Oddoye) chronicles an inner world where comfort is elusive, identity is fluid, and truth lives in the tension between isolation and connection.
“I believe this album to be the most accurate representation of myself that I’ve been able to create up to this point in my career. I wasn’t aware of what I was signing up for when I was making this album. I sought out to create my best work, but what came about was something with even more layers than I could’ve imagined,” he admits.
“I’m quite literally discovering myself throughout this album. I’m walking the halls of the Neverland Hotel in real time, finding myself reflecting in Suite 96. To be able to share what I found on this journey is one of the craziest privileges I’ve ever had as a musician. This album cost me my comfort, as well as many of my relationships, which were coincidentally some of the themes most under the magnifying glass throughout the production process. It was all very worth it in order to bring the 96th suite and the Neverland Hotel out of my spirit, and into this world.”
What emerges is not just a concept album, but a living, breathing self-portrait: One that refuses to cater to anyone’s expectations but his own. As 80purppp explains, Suite 96 marks a turning point – not only in sound, but also in self-definition.
“I think this album is more unapologetic,” he says, comparing his new music to past records like If Anything, (2022) and Violet High (2019). “I’m not trying to fit in anymore or make myself more appealing for the masses. I really feel like if you like it, you like it. The same way if you like me, you like me. If not, that’s okay.”
That ethos of self-assurance bleeds into every corner of the album – but it didn’t come without evolution. The more 80purppp explored his internal world, the more it shifted under his feet.
“The act of creating requires change, so the brainchild in my mind initially definitely varies from the final product,” he reflects. “However, I’m proud to say I stayed true and only expanded on what I initially set out to convey.”
He candidly describes that final product as raw, real, and satirical – an album that doesn’t just tell a story, but becomes the story.
Suite 96 is both mirror and metaphor: A surreal, deeply personal attempt to translate his inner world into something tactile, cinematic, and lived-in. The album’s title reflects an active attempt to thoughtfully convey his innermost self out into the world.
“I wanted to expand my inward into the outward,” he explains. “I wanted to materialize what was inside into something tangible. The halls and corridors of a hotel started to appear in my mind when attempting to personify my reality. I asked myself, ‘where’s my room,’ and ‘what floor am I on?’ The numbers 96 appeared to me. I’m not sure where they came from. Nicola Tesla said the numbers 3, 6, and 9 were important. I think that must’ve stuck with me.”
Highlights abound on Side A as 80purppp sets the scene for Suite 96’s immersive first half. “HOTEL LOBBY” opens the doors with a bold, introspective declaration of presence and purpose – a statement piece that establishes the emotional tone of what’s to come. Meanwhile, standout tracks like “VALENTINE” and “ROOM SERVICE” showcase 80purppp’s ability to weave provocative lyrics into soul-stirring production and catchy, cathartic melodies. Whether he’s leaning into moments of escapism or confronting uncomfortable truths, 80purppp builds a world that feels simultaneously surreal and strikingly real.
The first half’s finale, “BALCONY,” is a personal favorite that sees the artist slowing it down and going onto the balcony for some fresh air and a smoke. “I know we’re on a journey, but this place is still a vibe,” he smiles.
As the smoke rises and the beat fades, Suite 96 (Side A) leaves listeners not just with a collection of songs, but with a sense of shared experience – a reminder that vulnerability is powerful, and self-worth doesn’t require external validation.
“I hope listeners find comfort in knowing I feel the way they do,” 80purppp shares. “I want them to be okay with not being liked and embraced by everyone. I want people to find themselves dope.”
Experience the full record via our stream below, and peek inside Suite 96 (Side A) with Atwood Magazine as 80purppp guides us through the Neverland Hotel suite by suite, unpacking the inspirations, ideas, and emotional landscapes behind his latest release.
Suite 96 (Side B) is set to release later this year, but already, 80purppp’s third full-length album promises to be a defining step – a bold, self-assured statement from an artist unafraid to explore the darkest corners of his mind and invite us in for the ride.
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:: stream/purchase Suite 96 (Side A) here ::
:: connect with 80purppp here ::
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Stream: ‘Suite 96 (Side A)’ – 80purppp
:: Inside Suite 96 (Side A) ::
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INTRO
This track is one of the most important in the sense that the first act of a film is crucial is setting up the rest of the story. Here we’re painting the soundscape of the hotel, as well as the SUITE 96.
HOTEL LOBBY
Here we have a bold declaration of the state of mind that sparks this whole journey through SUITE 96. This was the big opportunity for me to say “here I am” and unapologetically tell the world the state of my spirit.
ELEVATOR FREESTYLE
Now we have some fun within this world. I mean it’s never ALL bad is it? Lmao!
BALLROOM
This track talks more about my experiences meeting women where I’m at. Even though I know this place isn’t perfect, not many people get here and everybody that’s here is here for a reason. There’s no shortage of external beauty.
VALENTINE
This was me combining the initial state of mind declared in “HOTEL LOBBY” with the fun sound of the club. It was also an opportunity for me to come out of body and create a new character personified by my feelings. We’ve all been at a party and lowkey felt like we shouldn’t be here.
ROOM SERVICE
Leaning back again more towards fun, but staying true to the mantra of the project, this track paints the picture of nothing being enough. Here I am in this suite and no matter how much room service I order, or how many drinks I have, I still don’t feel fulfilled.
BALCONY
Slow it down here. I know we’re on a journey, but this place is still a vibe. Just go on the balcony and have a cigarette, lol.
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:: stream/purchase Suite 96 (Side A) here ::
:: connect with 80purppp here ::
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© Quinn Durand
© Quinn Durand:: Stream 80purppp ::
