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music
Blu
Shades Of Blu
"The LA scene is an amazing space for creativity, and we are planning on putting LA back on the map!" Blu
Blu is one of the emcee's at the forefont of LA's resurgence as a
hotbed for creativity within the hip-hop community. Along with such
producers as Exile, Mainframe and Ta'Raach he is helping redefine the
sound of the genre and bringing intelligent lyricism and story telling
with a smattering of that good old fashioned west coast style.
For those that don't know give them the run down on who and what Blu is all about.
An MC/Artist from LA that loves God and Women. Dropped 3 albums in 1 year and working on my next album for Sire/Warner Brothers.
So where you at right now? What have you got in the pipeline?
I'm current working on my first solo album for Sire/Warner Brothers and it's coming along great. I hope to finish it by the end of the summer and get it out to the people after that. Besides that, excited to be going to Australia again, this time with Exile.
So what's with the word on Suge Knight's label, Deathrow apparently being interested in signing you?
That was a long time ago, and people like to focus on that experience of mine. I don't think about it much. It's just an interesting situation, but was a while ago and I have definitely moved on.
You recently moved on from Sound in Colour to a major label affiliate Sire Records what was the decision behind this?
Sire/Warner Brothers just allowed me to make a bigger project than any indie. Things are going good, and just excited to be making new music.
On your three Lp's it's always basically been a collaborative effort either between you and a producer or another emcee. What's the appeal for you in this collaborative process?
There is a sound to each of the producers that I was looking for. Whether it being Exile, Ta'Raach, or Mainframe, each one brought something unique to the table, and had the music that I was feeling at that certain time, therefore we created an entire project together.
Speaking of collaborations what do you make of Bone Thugs working with K-Fed?
Hahaha... I never even heard about that til now.
There seems to be a real resurgence of interest in LA rappers as of late, even though some of them don't conform to the typical West Coast sound. Why do you think this is?
I think LA has a great creative music scene. It's not just rappers. It's bending genres. Cats like J Davey, Flying Lotus, SA-RA, etc are pushing genres beyond hip-hop, so I don't think it's just rappers that are only part of the resurgence. Pac Division is doing it, and some other guys, but overall, the LA scene is an amazing space for creativity, and we are planning on putting LA back on the map!
From being a relatively unknown a couple of years back to signing with an indie putting in work and watching your profile build to the point of signing with this new label what has your experience of the industry been so far?
The industry can be tough at times, but it's part of the job. Just surround yourself with good people, and people you trust, and you should be ok.
Over the years it seems that a pretty strong relationship between artists from Detroit and LA has been fostered and continues to build to this day, in which we can cite your collaboration with Ta'Raach as a perfect example. Why do you think there is this relationship between the two cities?
I think a lot of it had to do with Dilla moving out to LA and loving it. From that point, a lot of other guys from Detroit came out to LA, including Ta'Raach. There is a mutual love between LA and Detroit, so it makes sense.
Your mix-tape Her Favorite Colo(u)r sees you focussing pretty heavily on women and relationships, and on the whole your other albums have also seen you tell us about your various encounters of a female kind, good and bad. You any closer to making some revelations as to what women are on about?
Haha... We will see. I'm trying to figure it out myself.
What piece of advice would you give to any man trying to woo a lady friend in this day and age?
See the last question.
Her Favorite Colo(u)r was produced as I understand it completely by you. How was this process can we expect to see you doing more of your own production and what was that experience like?
That was entirely produced by me, except for 1 Exile beat. I've been making beats for a little over a year now, and still make beats everyday. It's fun to me, and something I want to develop as the years pass. I do plan on producing an entire album someday so be on the look out for that.
What kind of environment do you find best to kick starting your creativity?
Wine, Weed and Women.
Do you find you are more inspired when your your going through something tough or when things are going your way?
It depends on the situation. I think we get different things out of all situations, so you just have to remain positive in all situations and keep working.
On your MySpace you have a line that goes 'painter in my past lifetime'. Have you actually looked into any possible past lives?
Not specifically, but I believe in that.
Any final words or shoutouts?
Shouts to all the beautiful people in Australia. I'm coming soon. Feel free to say hello...
While Blu waits to get his new website up you can keep connected with him via MySpace, make sure you also keep an eye on Sire Records for more info on his developments with the newly reinvigorated label.
Back
An MC/Artist from LA that loves God and Women. Dropped 3 albums in 1 year and working on my next album for Sire/Warner Brothers.
So where you at right now? What have you got in the pipeline?
I'm current working on my first solo album for Sire/Warner Brothers and it's coming along great. I hope to finish it by the end of the summer and get it out to the people after that. Besides that, excited to be going to Australia again, this time with Exile.
So what's with the word on Suge Knight's label, Deathrow apparently being interested in signing you?
That was a long time ago, and people like to focus on that experience of mine. I don't think about it much. It's just an interesting situation, but was a while ago and I have definitely moved on.
You recently moved on from Sound in Colour to a major label affiliate Sire Records what was the decision behind this?
Sire/Warner Brothers just allowed me to make a bigger project than any indie. Things are going good, and just excited to be making new music.
On your three Lp's it's always basically been a collaborative effort either between you and a producer or another emcee. What's the appeal for you in this collaborative process?
There is a sound to each of the producers that I was looking for. Whether it being Exile, Ta'Raach, or Mainframe, each one brought something unique to the table, and had the music that I was feeling at that certain time, therefore we created an entire project together.
Speaking of collaborations what do you make of Bone Thugs working with K-Fed?
Hahaha... I never even heard about that til now.
There seems to be a real resurgence of interest in LA rappers as of late, even though some of them don't conform to the typical West Coast sound. Why do you think this is?
I think LA has a great creative music scene. It's not just rappers. It's bending genres. Cats like J Davey, Flying Lotus, SA-RA, etc are pushing genres beyond hip-hop, so I don't think it's just rappers that are only part of the resurgence. Pac Division is doing it, and some other guys, but overall, the LA scene is an amazing space for creativity, and we are planning on putting LA back on the map!
From being a relatively unknown a couple of years back to signing with an indie putting in work and watching your profile build to the point of signing with this new label what has your experience of the industry been so far?
The industry can be tough at times, but it's part of the job. Just surround yourself with good people, and people you trust, and you should be ok.
Over the years it seems that a pretty strong relationship between artists from Detroit and LA has been fostered and continues to build to this day, in which we can cite your collaboration with Ta'Raach as a perfect example. Why do you think there is this relationship between the two cities?
I think a lot of it had to do with Dilla moving out to LA and loving it. From that point, a lot of other guys from Detroit came out to LA, including Ta'Raach. There is a mutual love between LA and Detroit, so it makes sense.
Your mix-tape Her Favorite Colo(u)r sees you focussing pretty heavily on women and relationships, and on the whole your other albums have also seen you tell us about your various encounters of a female kind, good and bad. You any closer to making some revelations as to what women are on about?
Haha... We will see. I'm trying to figure it out myself.
What piece of advice would you give to any man trying to woo a lady friend in this day and age?
See the last question.
Her Favorite Colo(u)r was produced as I understand it completely by you. How was this process can we expect to see you doing more of your own production and what was that experience like?
That was entirely produced by me, except for 1 Exile beat. I've been making beats for a little over a year now, and still make beats everyday. It's fun to me, and something I want to develop as the years pass. I do plan on producing an entire album someday so be on the look out for that.
What kind of environment do you find best to kick starting your creativity?
Wine, Weed and Women.
Do you find you are more inspired when your your going through something tough or when things are going your way?
It depends on the situation. I think we get different things out of all situations, so you just have to remain positive in all situations and keep working.
On your MySpace you have a line that goes 'painter in my past lifetime'. Have you actually looked into any possible past lives?
Not specifically, but I believe in that.
Any final words or shoutouts?
Shouts to all the beautiful people in Australia. I'm coming soon. Feel free to say hello...
While Blu waits to get his new website up you can keep connected with him via MySpace, make sure you also keep an eye on Sire Records for more info on his developments with the newly reinvigorated label.
Back
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