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
Doin’ Nothin
Blu Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Uh huh...
Ayo feat Planet...
(Verse 1: Blu)
Extraordinary banda individual
Standin' at the manda that's the dismissable
Peace to the nation, got patience to sing to you
In the booth with glass orange juice to the lime
Ballin' must play hoops all the time, spot it bounce put the boost
In her spine, had to give her a reason to rewind
So you ain't got to... tell her slide through
Pop bottles with models and hit the drive through
Kama sutra for kamasutras, spanish models with the sombre movements
One two like I stomped to it and uncut like without condom usage
R-A-W n what the fuck is you doin'? (Nothin)
Selling them lines to the kids
(Hook)
A nigga gotta live
A nigga gotta live
A nigga gotta live
A nigga gotta live
A nigga gotta live
(Verse 2: Blu)
Ayo hot low, asshole, on my own shit
Been back but no one smokin' on the cig
Gotti flow got little shawty blow clips
Snotty nosed kid, now the crop since kickin rowdy rhymes
Young ridin' hypha got the party loud like a twenty five to lifer
Fresh out the cypha surfin' line like slung coke
So came by the ocean on the coast or open on a dope overdose
It's over dosage, so sleep, no sweat techniques, no joke
One toke smoking on the best trees, floatin' in the sea
Back strokin', ‘till the river runs dried up, spill a loogy young blu-ey
Got the fire, he provide every came your supplier
Liars hangin' on telephone wires, the B-L-U in the...
What the fuck is you doin'? (Nothin) Sellin 'em lines to the kid
(Hook)
A nigga gotta live
A nigga gotta live
A nigga gotta live
A nigga gotta live
(The world is ours)
A nigga gotta live
(The world is ours)
A nigga gotta live
(Say it louder)
A nigga gotta live
(Fight the power)
A nigga gotta live
(The world is ours)
The song "Doin' Nothin" by Blu featuring Planet Asia is a reflection on living life without any particular direction or purpose. The first verse uses several metaphors to express a sense of aimlessness, such as "standin' at the manda that's dismissable" and "ballin' must play hoops all the time." The lyrics suggest that the singer is lacking motivation or a clear path, wasting time with trivial activities like drinking orange juice and pursuing women. The line "Sellin' them lines to the kids" implies that the singer may be involved in a negative or destructive lifestyle, and might even be contributing to the problems of others.
The second verse describes a shift from apathy to a more energetic and rebellious attitude. The singer asserts his independence with lines like "on my own shit" and "snotty nosed kid, now the crop since kickin rowdy rhymes." The imagery of "surfin' line like slung coke" suggests that the singer is riding a wave of inspiration or creativity, despite the negative associations with drug use. The repeated refrain "A nigga gotta live" can be interpreted in different ways depending on the perspective, but it seems to signify a need for self-expression and autonomy.
Overall, "Doin' Nothin" is a commentary on the complexities of life and the struggle to find meaning and purpose in a world that can be chaotic and overwhelming. It raises important questions about what it means to truly live, and whether it's possible to do so without causing harm to oneself or others.
Line by Line Meaning
Extraordinary banda individual
I am a unique person with extraordinary qualities
Standin' at the manda that's the dismissable
I am standing at a place that can easily be ignored
Peace to the nation, got patience to sing to you
I wish peace to all and I am willing to sing for anyone with patience
To the two one puttin' truth in the lines
I am speaking the truth in my songs all the time
In the booth with glass orange juice to the lime
I am in the studio with a glass of orange juice mixed with lime
Ballin' must play hoops all the time, spot it bounce put the boost
I am a great basketball player and I aim to put a bounce in your step when you listen to me
In her spine, had to give her a reason to rewind
I am so great that I had to make a girl reconsider and listen to my music again
So you ain't got to... tell her slide through
I am so confident in my music that I don't need to convince someone to listen to it
Pop bottles with models and hit the drive through
I am successful enough to afford expensive champagne and dates with models, but I'm still down-to-earth enough to go through a fast food drive-thru
Kama sutra for kamasutras, spanish models with the sombre movements
I am skilled in the Kama Sutra, and I date Spanish models who possess graceful and serious dances
One two like I stomped to it and uncut like without condom usage
I am authentic like an uninterrupted set of musical notes, and my lyrics are explicit like having sex without protection
R-A-W n what the fuck is you doin'? (Nothin)
I am real and authentic, and I think those who aren't doing anything with their lives are failing
Selling them lines to the kids
I create music and lyrics that are influential to younger generations
Ayo hot low, asshole, on my own shit
I am confident, have a low-key persona, and do what I want
Been back but no one smokin' on the cig
I have returned, but I don't smoke cigarettes anymore
Gotti flow got little shawty blow clips
My flow is similar to the rapper Gotti, and I have young women who find my music great
Snotty nosed kid, now the crop since kickin rowdy rhymes
I used to be a young and inexperienced artist, but now I am more refined and have matured through my music
Young ridin' hypha got the party loud like a twenty five to lifer
I am an enthusiastic and high-energy performer, and I bring excitement to parties
Fresh out the cypha surfin' line like slung coke
I am fresh out of a rap cipher and am surfing the Internet like someone selling cocaine
So came by the ocean on the coast or open on a dope overdose
I may have arrived by sea or overdosed on drugs, but either way, I am here and ready to perform
It's over dosage, so sleep, no sweat techniques, no joke
Drugs are so strong that they'll put you to sleep, so you need to be cautious and disciplined in your approach
One toke smoking on the best trees, floatin' in the sea
One puff and I am enjoying the best marijuana, as if I were floating in the ocean
Back strokin', ‘till the river runs dried up, spill a loogy young blu-ey
I'm relaxed and swimming with my backstroke in a river until it dries up, then I'll spit onto the ground like a young charming rapper
Got the fire, he provide every came your supplier
I am on fire and provide everything you need as a musical supplier
Liars hangin' on telephone wires, the B-L-U in the...
Those who aren't honest will dangle on electrical lines, but I am Blu and my reputation precedes me
What the fuck is you doin'? (Nothin) Sellin 'em lines to the kid
If you're not doing anything, you're failing. I create music and lyrics that can influence younger generations and you should too
The world is ours
We have the power to make our world a better place
Say it louder
Speak up and make your voice heard
Fight the power
Challenge authority and stand up for your beliefs
Contributed by Jonathan S. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@attackthewack262
I'd love to hear a Blu & FLyLo album
@melatoninlad
There's one called York
@yehor_ivanov
@@melatoninlad actually, there R lots of underground/semi-underground LA producers there as well, so..
@Vinyl6Monster
"u-god came into the studio like a baby leopard" - Blu
@M0stBlunt3d
Blu one of the illest MCs ever.
@jonathanbarnes7641
Factz!
@lukeboyea4947
Unreal. Two of my all time favorite MCs . Never thought I would see these two on a track together. Thank you for this.
Would of been great if Golden Arms had a verse though….
@Sh8peshifter934
This album was so ahead of its time , super underrated
@NoahBility
Absolutely
From the production decisions and the collaborators
Wish Warner Bros followed through on an official release for this album, but everything works out the way it's meant to
Bought a copy off the man himself at Rock The Bells, that shit was in rotation heavy
@forevershampoo
@@NoahBility what is the album