There are 2 artists with the name Blu:
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

Melo
Blu Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Hello, mellow
I know it's hard to love an ordinary fellow
Especially if you're yellow but we gel like jello
Bass and treble, bow for a cello
Turn it up a level, come and dance with this delicate devil
Got hoes in a shovel but, yo, I'd rather settle with this
Hot kettle pothead from the heaven-
Scent, smell like an angel even when I'm hella bent off of that

Style killer, been a while since I lived with her
Sore loser for sure, it's all yours but the child wasn't mine

I bet one out of nine to a dime, six months
I tried to step but, umm.

Overall Meaning

In these lyrics, Blu is addressing someone who he refers to as "mellow". He acknowledges that it may be difficult for them to love an ordinary person like him, especially since they are of a different race ("if you're yellow"). However, despite this difference, they "gel like jello" and the bass and treble of their connection is like a musical harmony. Blu compares himself to a delicate devil who wants to dance with this person and settle down with them. He describes himself as a "hot kettle pothead from the heaven-scent" which suggests he is a bit of an enigma, complicated but intriguing. He also acknowledges that he might not always be in a clear state of mind ("even when I'm hella bent off of that") but even in a haze, he smells like an angel.

Blu also touches upon past relationships and a child that wasn't his own. He admits to being a "sore loser" in these situations and takes responsibility for his actions ("it's all yours"). However, he also feels he may have been deceived ("bet one out of nine to a dime") and that his attempts to leave the situation were unsuccessful ("six months, I tried to step but, umm"). Overall, the lyrics convey a sense of self-awareness and honesty as Blu discusses his flaws and past relationships, while also expressing the desire to be with someone who he connects with on a deeper level.

Line by Line Meaning

Hello, mellow
Greeting, I am feeling serene and laid back.

I know it's hard to love an ordinary fellow
I understand that it may be difficult to love someone who is deemed common or mundane.

Especially if you're yellow but we gel like jello
Particularly if you are of Asian descent, however, we harmonize well together like jiggly gelatin.

Bass and treble, bow for a cello
Low and high sound frequencies akin to the structure of a cello instrument.

Turn it up a level, come and dance with this delicate devil
Increase the volume, join me in dancing with my gentle, tempting side.

Got hoes in a shovel but, yo, I'd rather settle with this
I have plenty of sexual partners at my disposal, however, I prefer to be in a committed relationship.

Hot kettle pothead from the heaven- Scent, smell like an angel even when I'm hella bent off of that
A gorgeous, drug-consuming person who emanates a pleasant, celestial fragrance at all times.

Style killer, been a while since I lived with her
I have an impressive fashion sense, it has been some time since I cohabitated with a past partner.

Sore loser for sure, it's all yours but the child wasn't mine
I am definitely a poor sport, it belongs to you without a doubt, but I am not the biological father of the child.

I bet one out of nine to a dime, six months
I thought there was a low chance, merely one in nine, that something significant would happen in the next six months.

I tried to step but, umm.
I made an attempt, but it was not successful.

Contributed by Mackenzie M. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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