Tag Archives: Blu

Although Exile had currently made a name for himself in the remaining coast hip-hop picture, both within the duo Emanon (with Aloe Blacc) and by producing tracks for Jurassic 5, Kardinal Offishall, and Mobb Deep, amongst others, it wasn’t before release of his 2007 album with rapper Blu, called Below …

Not really averse to ignoring hip-hop conventions, LA upstart MC Blu (Johnson Barnes) and offbeat maker/rapper Ta’Raach (Terrell McMathis), a Detroit-to-L.A. transplant, started collaborating as C.R.A.C (pronounced “crass”) in 2005. Blu and Ta’Raach had been both labelmates at L.A. indie Sound In Color and fulfilled while documenting their respective tasks. …

Born Oct 19, 1988 for an absent dad along with a drug-addicted mom, Santiago Leyva was raised quickly. At age group 12 he was surviving in a group house, but he was also composing his first rhymes, and by 15 he previously released his first mixtape. Used by his uncle …

Kevin Abstract’s dreamy, introspective tunes blur the lines between hip-hop, pop, R&B, and alternative rock and roll. His lyrics think about depression, relationships, medication make use of, and his placement as an outcast in culture, having relocated many times during his existence and emerge from the closet. Given birth to …

Along with his cool-headed SoCal demeanor and everyman charisma, Blu was championed in the onset of his documenting career when he collaborated with Emanon DJ/producer Exile for the highly acclaimed LP Below the Heavens (2007). Created Johnson Barnes in Inglewood, California, Blu, whose stepfather was a pastor, was affected by …