None of my friends or acquaintances have ever been able to explain what oi! Is, like the closest I ever got was a dude I know who legit knows everything about punk like some kinda punk scholer and all he said was "I think it's that bastardization of punk the skin heads play out at those redneck venues" and now I come to find out that they had something to do with the national front in England? But also some bands I like are considered oi! Punk.
so basically i was wondering wtf is up with this genre, like if someone who knows alot about it or like has some good knowledge on it could help explain it thatd be great.
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Oi is a style of punk that gets its sound from the early UK skinhead punk, where Oi Oi Oi Oi was a common chant.
Early UK skins weren't racist and often had links into the Carribbean community in the UK. Punk and Reggae birthed Ska.
Yes, the racist movement in the UK did adopt skinheads in the 80s, and some racist bands adopted an Oi sound.
That doesn't mean that Oi is racist, and to say so is a gross misinterpretation.
Most punks and skins are actively anti racist, even within Oi. The UK birthed Skin Heads Against Racial Prejudice (SHARP), who chased the National Front out of quite a few towns in violent encounters.
Ska was a musical style created in jamaica in the 60’s. I think you meant Punk & Ska created Two Tone.
You're right I stand corrected.
Oi is a style of punk yes.
Most skinheads don't have anything to do with racism or the national front. And 99% of Oi bands are anti racist.
If you want an Oi band that is incredibly anti racist listen to The Oppressed.
Here's a list of other Oi bands that aren't racist:
The Last Resort
4-Skins
Lions Law
The Hardknocks
Dropkick Murphy's (early)
The Bruisers
Angelic Upstarts
Cock Sparrer
Cockney Rejects
TOY DOLLS
'the dude you know' sounds like someone who knows very little about punk. Serious 'punk scholars' don't dismiss huge parts of punk's history and even if their knowledge is focused on US hardcore, they try to at least get a grasp on the subculture. Honestly what he says sounds more of a juvenile "I know more bands than anyone" posturing. I definitely wouldn't start a band with that guy.
I'm just a guy from the internet, and what I know about punk means jack shit. What I do is all that really matters. Punk isn't dead and being part of it lets you write its history. Don't waste your best years like that guy, who claims to know the history but stands no chance of contributing to it. Start a band, write a zine, make soup and bring it to a gig. This will make you a part of the big story.
Listen to The Business. Judge for yourself
Oi is the best punk there is. You want a good sample oxymoron is a great start. Anti heros too. Your friends an idiot
Oi! music is actually a little hard to define. I always considered it working class street punk. There is often a skinhead element but having skins in the band is not a requirement. You have some in-your-face bands like The Last Resort, The 4-Skins and Condemned 84 that are clearly Oi! bands. The music tends to be a little slower, the vocals sound rougher and the song subject matter more conservative. But the bands that straddle Oi! and punk like The Business, Cockney Rejects and Cock Sparrer are harder to classify. And then you had UK82 bands like Blitz and Infa-Riot that were often classified as Oi! bands. To a certain extent, I think it depends on whether the band defined themselves as an Oi! band.
I was obsessed with Oi! in the 80's but haven't listened to any new Oi! since probably the early 90's (or been involved in the skin scene). I'm an outsider now but the current bands seem much more clearly defined to me. Now there seems to almost always be a strong skinhead element. I don't care for most of what I have sampled of the current bands. Some bands are OK like Grade2 or Noi!se but it's still not something I care to listen to.
As far as the racist element is concerned, while Oi! never officially had anything to do with racism or The National Front, it would be untrue to say it didn't exist in the original bands. I have no idea about the current bands. I compare it to gang involvement in hip hop music. The average hip hip group has no direct involvement in gang activity. However, if you get a bunch of hip hop groups together, you could put money on the fact that there will be some individuals there involved in gangs. Oi! bands are no different. For example, The 4-Skins are not considered to have any racist element and even recorded a ska song. But one of their guitarists Paul Swain left the band to join Skrewdriver.
Here's a few Oi! Bands who do it up right:
Fear City The Prowlers Bad Assets Broken Heroes Ultra Sect Hammer and The Nails The Templars Noi!se Shaved for Battle Big Dog Violent Way Impact Driver Criminal Outfit Claymore The Beltones Anti-Heros The Oisters
Don’t forget the Fatskins
💪💪 impact driver
Oi is life
If you really want to know what it is, you must first listen to it. This group I've found to be the best one on the internet... ive been turned on to so many Oi! Bands by just being in this group:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/americanoi/?ref=share
Skars or skinheads against racism is an offshoot of the old oi that wasn't a all racist. Sucks that other nations oi existed in few numbers but the same cam be said ab alot of punk, rock n roll, country, rap even. Worlds a fucked up place. Bit, you gotta dig deeper than rumors kids. Skinheads existed with anti nazi tattoos fighting against nazi skins. 🙄
Patriotic dribble some of it, music bit more basic than punk. Cockney Rejects were a good raw band that got categorised as one of the first OI bands instead of just punk later on I believe.
Oi! Is a way of life… for punx
Acab the best oi band... Their know how to make good song... The best anthem song for skinhead movement is acab song