1. An American rapper and produce… Read Full Bio ↴There are 2 artists with the name Blu:
1. An American rapper and producer from Los Angeles, California.
2. An ambient drum and bass musician located in the United Kingdom.
(1) Johnson Barnes (born April 15, 1983 in Inglewood, California), better known by the stage name Blu, is an American rapper and producer. In 2007 he released his debut album, "Below the Heavens", which was produced entirely by Exile, one half of Emanon. Since then he has collaborated with Mainframe under the name Johnson&Jonson, and with Ta'Raach under the name C.R.A.C. Knuckles. He has also released several solo albums, most notably "HerFavoriteColo(u)r" (2009), "j e s u s" (2011) and "No York!" (2011). Furthermore, in 2009 he produced the Sene & Blu album "ADayLate&ADollarShort" and in 2011 he released a second album with Exile, "Give Me Flowers While I Can Smell Them".
Blu is definitely a leader in the new school of Los Angeles emcees. His presence is undeniable, while his music captivates audiences regardless of race, class, and gender. He has been credited with taking LA hip hop back to the place where Freestyle Fellowship, Jurassic 5, and The Pharcyde left off.
With his cool-headed SoCal demeanor and everyman charisma, Blu was championed at the onset of his recording career when he collaborated with Emanon DJ/producer Exile for the highly acclaimed LP Below the Heavens (2007). Born Johnson Barnes in Inglewood, California, Blu, whose stepfather was a pastor, was very influenced by gospel and Christian rap when he was developing his MC skills in middle and high school. His musical turning point came when he first heard the Common classic "I Used to Love H.E.R." (1994), as well as the Chicago MC's third album, One Day It'll All Make Sense (1997). From then onward, Blu abandoned his schoolyard freestyle frame of mind and dedicated his abilities to crafting well-written songs. As he started doing live performances, he paid his dues working as a hype man for several underground rap and soul artists, including Slum Village, Steve Spacek, Platinum Pied Pipers, and, of course, Emanon. His relationship with Exile and newfound mindset in making music pointed him toward signing with L.A. independent Sound in Color in 2004, which for the young MC meant brushing off interest from Interscope and Death Row.
Subsequently, he cut a few records for Exile's Sound in Color album, Dirty Science (2006), recorded features for other L.A. artists, and self-pressed his Lifted EP in 2006. When Below the Heavens first hit shelves in August 2007, Blu and Exile were virtual unknowns in underground hip-hop, but Blu's deft songwriting and Exile's soul-drenched, Jay Dee-influenced production quickly amassed them a national audience. Below the Heavens ended up on many critics' year-end lists and, particularly, launched Blu into the public hip-hop eye. Remaining independent, Blu later turned to Sound in Color labelmate and L.A.-via-Detroit MC/producer Ta'Raach (formerly known as Lacks) for the collaborative project C.R.A.C. Knuckles. Over the next five years, Blu released a total of seven albums and mixtapes, including 2011's Open and Blu & Exile's Give Me My Flowers While I Can Still Smell Them in 2012. The previously unreleased albums Her Favorite Colo(U)r and NoYork! also finally saw proper release in 2013. ~ Cyril Cordor, Rovi
The underground Los Angeles-based duo of MC Blu (b. Johnson Barnes) and DJ/producer Exile (b. Aleksander Manfredi) earned widespread acclaim right out of the gate with their debut album, Below the Heavens (2007), which critics crowned as the seemingly perfect marriage of Blu's everyday-struggle raps and Exile's Pete Rock- and J Dilla-inspired production. Blu, struggling to make ends meet at the time, first crossed paths with Exile in the early to mid-2000s, while the rapper earned gigs as a hype man for various soul/hip-hop outfits like Slum Village, Platinum Pied Pipers, and Exile's own duo, Emanon. In fact, Blu knew the other half of Emanon, MC/singer Aloe Blacc, who then introduced the two to each other. Deciding to sign to L.A. independent label Sound in Color, Exile's label home, in 2004, Blu began cutting a few records with the DJ/producer and assisted him with his solo LP, Dirty Science (2006). Blu was still trying to break into the industry, but Exile was enjoying production credits for the likes of Jurassic 5, Kardinal Offishall, and Mobb Deep. The release of the soul-entrenched collaborative effort, Below the Heavens in August 2007, put them both in the limelight and had fans of the alternative rap scene buzzing; however, it specifically garnered Blu many "Artist to Watch" features in various magazine and online publications throughout the year and into 2008. During subsequent years, they worked apart more than together; nevertheless, 2012 brought another co-billed LP, Give Me My Flowers While I Can Still Smell Them. ~ Cyril Cordor, Rovi
Blu Collar Worker
Blu Lyrics
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But I gotta go and work some more
And I know deep down it hurt ya soul
But I'm a blue collar worker, girl
But I'm a blue collar worker, girl
Now it's a long road ahead of me
Eyes wide open trying to rock my flow steadily
But dog it gets hard cause they sing so heavenly
Humming 'Stay With Me' trying to make my day as sweet
As some Tiombe on a Sunday, with a cup of Angel's tea
I'm trying to find the happiness that couples claim to be
But it's hard to balance loving when you busting over beats
Sounds strange but it's hard to explain it over beats
In the lab daily rocking two or three shows a week
Going mad crazy stressing over press and your release
Trying to please labels while you keep your rep up in the streets
At the same time trying to breath
And on my down time, trying to find a fine breeze
But see I'm underground so now I gotta find cheese
Just to take her out to dinner, just to eat and get a kiss up on the cheek
But for me it's even harder, cause I ain't got a car to pick them up in
So chicks already think they put enough in
Plus I'm kind of cute so it's hard for them to trust him
Asking what I'm doing every night like I be screwing every night, what?
Truth is, I'm bruising every mic that I come across
And every now and then, drop a hundred off
Just so you can fucking floss, but that's not enough for you
So I take another loss, wondering why I fucked with you
Knowing I got stuff to do
And I won't take it personal
But deep down it hurt my soul
But I'll just go and work some more
Cause I'm a blue collar worker, girl
Cause I'm a blue collar worker, girl
They say misery loves company word?
But I don't need shit, so don't come to me
And I don't eat dick, so don't cum to me
When you see me in a fucking beamer leaning tuff as fiends with winter fever
Ya nose itching, hoes wishing he was a keeper
Fucked up girl, he was a keeper
Fuck the papers, shit, he was the reefer
Now he's meaner than meaner
Was sweet now he keeps his heart next to his nina
And you used to see him, saving up his money from shows
To get her a rose, turning down ridiculous hoes
All he wanted was a chick with his back, but his chippers was wack
Now he adding on the Royce when he rolls
Sounds smoother with his voice when he flows, missed out
Keep woofing all you want girl, I'm in a brick house
With a thick spouse, pimped out, blue diamond dripped out
In my helicopter luv, fuck ya little benz, bounce
Fuck you think I work for huh?
Please don't take it personal
But I gotta go and work some more
And I know deep down it hurt ya soul
But I'm a blue collar worker, girl
Cause I'm a blue collar worker, girl
The song "Blu Colla Workers" by Blu & Exile is a reflection on the struggles of being a blue-collar worker in the music industry. The song is divided into two verses, with the first verse representing Blu's personal perspective and the second verse representing a more general perspective on the music industry. Blu discusses his experiences as an underground artist and his struggles with trying to balance his work as a musician with his personal life. He also touches on the strain that being a blue-collar worker puts on his relationships with women, as they often struggle to understand the demands of his job.
In the second verse, Blu takes on a more critical perspective on the music industry as a whole. He discusses the pressure that artists face to stay relevant and maintain their reputation, often at the expense of their personal lives. He also highlights the importance of earning a decent income as a musician, especially for underground artists who may not have the same support and resources as mainstream artists. The chorus, "Please don't take it personal, but I gotta go and work some more, and I know deep down it hurt your soul, but I'm a blue-collar worker, girl," is a reflection of the sacrifices that Blu and other underground artists have to make to pursue their passion for music.
Interestingly, in an interview with Okayplayer, Blu described the song as a response to Kanye West's "Gold Digger", which he felt perpetuated a negative stereotype of black men and their relationships with women. He wanted to highlight the struggles of being a blue-collar worker in the music industry and the complexity of relationships between men and women.
Line by Line Meaning
Please don't take it personal
I'm not trying to offend you
But I gotta go and work some more
I have to continue working
And I know deep down it hurt ya soul
I'm aware that it may be upsetting to you
But I'm a blue collar worker, girl
I'm a hardworking person
Now it's a long road ahead of me
There's a lot of work I still have to do
Eyes wide open trying to rock my flow steadily
I'm staying focused on my work
Trying to stay focused so these broads don't get to me
I'm trying to avoid distractions from women
But dog it gets hard cause they sing so heavenly
It's difficult to ignore them as they are very attractive
Humming 'Stay With Me' trying to make my day as sweet
They use sweet songs to try and get my attention
As some Tiombe on a Sunday, with a cup of Angel's tea
They try and create a relaxing and comfortable atmosphere
I'm trying to find the happiness that couples claim to be
I'm searching for a fulfilling happiness in my life
But it's hard to balance loving when you busting over beats
Work takes up much of my focus and leaves little room for love
Sounds strange but it's hard to explain it over beats
The struggle I face is difficult to describe through music
In the lab daily rocking two or three shows a week
I work long hours in the studio and perform frequently
Going mad crazy stressing over press and your release
It can be overwhelming to deal with media and promoting your art
Trying to please labels while you keep your rep up in the streets
I have to maintain my reputation while satisfying my record label
At the same time trying to breath
I'm constantly pushing myself, but I need to remember to take breaks
And on my down time, trying to find a fine breeze
In my free time, I try to relax and enjoy myself
But see I'm underground so now I gotta find cheese
As an independent artist, I have to find ways to make money
Just to take her out to dinner, just to eat and get a kiss up on the cheek
Sometimes I struggle to afford even simple romantic gestures
But for me it's even harder, cause I ain't got a car to pick them up in
I don't even have a car to take my date out
So chicks already think they put enough in
Women may feel like they are doing too much by dating me
Plus I'm kind of cute so it's hard for them to trust him
It can be hard to gain trust when you're an attractive person
Asking what I'm doing every night like I be screwing every night, what?
Women may have doubts about my fidelity
Truth is, I'm bruising every mic that I come across
I'm constantly working on improving my music
And every now and then, drop a hundred off
I sometimes spend money to further my career
Just so you can fucking floss, but that's not enough for you
Even when I invest money in my music, it's not always appreciated
So I take another loss, wondering why I fucked with you
Sometimes, those I trusted let me down
Knowing I got stuff to do
I have to stay focused and keep working
They say misery loves company word?
Misery loves to have others around sharing in it
But I don't need shit, so don't come to me
I don't want to be around negativity
And I don't eat dick, so don't cum to me
I won't put up with inappropriate behavior
When you see me in a fucking beamer leaning tuff as fiends with winter fever
People may wonder how I can afford luxury items
Ya nose itching, hoes wishing he was a keeper
Women may wish they could be in a relationship with me
Fucked up girl, he was a keeper
They missed their chance with me
Fuck the papers, shit, he was the reefer
My worth can't be defined by money
Now he's meaner than meaner
I'm more focused and driven than ever
Was sweet now he keeps his heart next to his nina
I used to be kind and loving, but now I've toughened up
And you used to see him, saving up his money from shows
I used to try to save as much as possible from my performances
To get her a rose, turning down ridiculous hoes
I prioritized my love life above other distractions
All he wanted was a chick with his back, but his chippers was wack
I was looking for a loyal and supportive partner, but I had little money
Now he adding on the Royce when he rolls
Now that I've become successful, I can afford a luxury car
Sounds smoother with his voice when he flows, missed out
My music has improved as I've gained experience, and those who didn't support me missed out
Keep woofing all you want girl, I'm in a brick house
You can talk all you want, but I'm successful now
With a thick spouse, pimped out, blue diamond dripped out
I have a gorgeous, wealthy partner and expensive jewelry
In my helicopter luv, fuck ya little benz, bounce
I'm so successful now that even a nice car like a Benz doesn't impress me
Fuck you think I work for huh?
I work hard for my own success
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
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