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
Glitter
Blu Lyrics
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I took your word like it was made of gold
Running breathless
After something
That I never even wanted
All because you told me so
Hmm
I got lost in the glitter
Caught up in the shimmer
One look in the mirror
And I couldn't recognize myself like that
So lost in the
Glitter
So lost in the
Glitter
You dressed me up and I played your games
Wore your makeup all over my face
You told me to fake it
Until we made it
But those were your dreams I was chasing
Watching myself waste away
Hm
I got lost in the glitter
Caught up in the shimmer
One look in the mirror
And I couldn't recognize myself like that
So lost in the
Glitter
So lost in the
Glitter
Chasing the money
Left us with nothing
Spent all my energy
You kept me running
I built a prison
Kept all my feelings
Locked up tight, no sunlight
Yeah, hindsight
I see it clearly
You never really
Cared much about me
You just wanted me to hold you up
So lost in the glitter
Caught up in the shimmer
There's no getting rid of
It now
You're stuck to me somehow
I've learned to live with that
The lyrics of BLร EYES's song "Glitter" explore the themes of losing oneself in the pursuit of someone else's dreams and the realization of being trapped in a superficial and false version of oneself. The song starts by portraying a situation where the singer is enticed and deceived by someone who promises them a golden opportunity. They are lured in, believing in their words blindly, only to find themselves chasing after something they never truly desired. It reveals the power of manipulation and how easily one can be swayed by deceptive promises.
As the song progresses, the singer realizes the extent to which they have changed themselves for this person. They describe being dressed up and playing games, wearing someone else's makeup, all in an attempt to fit into the false image that the other person envisioned. The lyrics suggest that the singer was encouraged to fake their way through life, sacrificing their true desires and dreams for the sake of the other person's ambitions. This realization leads them to question their own identity and lose touch with their authentic self.
The chorus, with its repetition of "lost in the glitter," emphasizes the state of being trapped and consumed by the superficiality and allure of this false reality. The singer becomes aware of the futility in chasing after materialistic pursuits and the consequences it brings, such as wasted time and lost energy. The lyrics also expose the manipulative nature of the other person, who only wanted the singer to provide support and validation, rather than genuinely caring for their well-being.
In the bridge, the singer acknowledges their newfound clarity and understanding. They see the truth about the other person's intentions and recognize that they were nothing but a means to an end. The realization of being stuck with this person, despite knowing their true nature, becomes a lesson to be learned and accepted. The song ultimately conveys a message of self-discovery, overcoming manipulative relationships, and finding the strength to live authentically.
Line by Line Meaning
You pulled me in with your stepping stones
You lured me closer with small, calculated actions
I took your word like it was made of gold
I believed everything you said without question
Running breathless
Moving quickly and frantically
After something
In pursuit of a goal or desire
That I never even wanted
That I didn't have any true interest in
All because you told me so
Only because you convinced me it was necessary
Hmm
Expressions of contemplation or uncertainty
And I couldn't see it for what it was
I failed to see the reality or true nature of the situation
I got lost in the glitter
I became completely engulfed in superficiality and materialism
Caught up in the shimmer
Caught up in the allure and illusion
One look in the mirror
Upon self-reflection
And I couldn't recognize myself like that
I couldn't identify with the person I had become in that state
So lost in the glitter
So deeply immersed in the superficiality
So lost in the glitter
So completely consumed by materialistic desires
You dressed me up and I played your games
You manipulated and controlled me, making me conform to your desires
Wore your makeup all over my face
I adopted your facade and allowed it to define me
You told me to fake it
You instructed me to pretend or deceive others
Until we made it
Until we achieved success or recognition
But those were your dreams I was chasing
I was pursuing aspirations that were never truly my own
Watching myself waste away
Observing my own decline and empty existence
Hm
Expressions of contemplation or uncertainty
Chasing the money
Pursuing wealth and material possessions
Left us with nothing
Resulted in having nothing of real value or substance
Spent all my energy
Exhausted and depleted all of my vitality
You kept me running
You constantly compelled me to keep striving and working
I built a prison
I constructed my own confinement, a metaphorical cell
Kept all my feelings
Suppressed and concealed all of my emotions
Locked up tight, no sunlight
Confined and secluded, devoid of emotional nourishment
Yeah, hindsight
Now, with the benefit of hindsight
I see it clearly
I now perceive the truth with clarity
You never really
You never genuinely
Cared much about me
Had great concern or regard for me
You just wanted me to hold you up
You only desired my support and validation for yourself
There's no getting rid of
It's impossible to eliminate or escape from
It now
The situation as it stands currently
You're stuck to me somehow
You remain attached or connected to me in some manner
I've learned to live with that
I have accepted and adapted to this reality
Lyrics ยฉ O/B/O DistroKid, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: David Greenbaum, Katherine Stump
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind