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
Intro
Blu Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Baby come with me, yeah we can runaway
Just have some faith, I’m here to stay
I know with me you won’t ever have any pain
I wanna hold you close
I wanna hold you close
Don’t let me go
I wanna hold you close
Don’t let me go
I love you
Do you love me?
I love you
Do you love me?
I talk a lot?
Baby I’m just nervous when I’m on the spot
Moving fast
Loving you’s a problem, I’m okay with that
I don’t mind spending every day with you
I don’t mind wasting time away with you
Don’t wanna wait another day
Baby come with me, yeah we can runaway
Just have some faith, I’m here to stay
I know with me you won’t ever have any pain
I wanna hold you close
I wanna hold you close
Don’t let me go
I wanna hold you close
I wanna hold you close
Don’t let me go
Blu's song "Intro" is a sweet, romantic track that speaks to the desires of finding someone special to hold and love. The lyrics are an expression of the artist's longing to be with someone, to escape with them from the troubles of life and to hold each other close. He suggests that he is here for the long-term and that his partner won't experience pain as he is there to protect and care for them. Through his repeated refrain of "I wanna hold you close/Don’t let me go," Blu communicates his desire for intimacy and commitment with authenticity and tenderness.
The track also showcases some of Blu's insecurities, as he admits to being nervous when he's on the spot: "I talk a lot?/ Baby I'm just nervous when I'm on the spot." However, he also reassures his partner that he's fine with the "problem" of loving them too much, suggesting that they can take their time and enjoy each other's presence fully.
Overall, "Intro" is a beautiful love song that speaks to the desire for companionship, comfort, and intimacy. It provides an insight into the mind and heart of the artist and communicates a message of hope for anyone who may be seeking love.
Line by Line Meaning
Don’t wanna wait another day
I am eager to be with you and would prefer not to wait any longer
Baby come with me, yeah we can runaway
Let's elope and run away together - start a new adventure
Just have some faith, I’m here to stay
Trust me, I plan to be a constant presence in your life
I know with me you won’t ever have any pain
I will always do my best to protect you from harm and make sure you are happy
I wanna hold you close
I want to be physically close to you and never let you go
Don’t let me go
Please don't leave me, I want to stay with you
I love you
I am deeply in love with you
Do you love me?
I am curious about whether or not you feel the same way about me
I talk a lot?
Sometimes I feel like I talk too much
Baby I’m just nervous when I’m on the spot
I may talk a lot because I get nervous around you and want to impress you
Moving fast
Our relationship is progressing quickly
Loving you’s a problem, I’m okay with that
Although loving you may cause occasional complications, I am willing to accept and face them for the sake of our relationship
I don’t mind spending every day with you
Being with you is so enjoyable that I don't mind spending all of my time with you
I don’t mind wasting time away with you
Time spent with you is never wasted, even if we aren't doing anything productive
Lyrics © DistroKid
Written by: Jesus Martinez, Justin Renteria
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind