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
Simply Amazin'
Blu Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
(Imma put it to you like this)
Ey yo I'm tryn'a make these niggas go bonkers
From London to the youngest in Yonkers
We So-Cal residential lyrical monsters
Gettin' women's attention like I'm rippin' a concert
So put your hands high 'til your arms hurt
Your spirits is swayed
Every time my lyrics is played
So please stop givin' these lyricists praise
Cause they bluffin' while they bustin' with a serious face
And it's unbearable
These stereo-rap tracks are terrible
I'm here to take care of you wack cats
And bury you back at
Wherever you came from
I'm carryin' this game on my back 'til the pain's numb
And I be bustin' on fucks 'til I can't cum no longer
Losses, you gotta take some to grow stronger
I've conquered all you haters
Like a strong-armed dominator
Big dick tryn'a break a bit a' baby-mama maker
And ain't no time to take break
You gotta break the mold
I'm from a place where cats are born to play the gansta roles
Like hittin' switches I was gettin' hit with switches
Until I switched positions
Now I'm playin' when the game is on
Y'all think y'all bangin' but y'all ain't as strong
My pop a thug
I'm a son of a blood with blue Gators on
The record spinnin' his favorite songs
Now he's bangin' my shit on them same tables that he played 'em on nigga
(Sing along with it, if you didn't hear it, you gonna hear it right now)
Cause yo hip hop
It started out in the heart
A young nigga from the park sharp-shootin' with darts
Harpoonin' cartoonists talkin' too much talk
But walk a whole different stroll homeboy
You get sparked by the guy right here?
I make y'all niggas see the light like a bright idea
Heard you was lookin' for my weapon but my tongue's right here
So you can act like a fool
But y'all be done by noon off a' one light beer
So yeah fuck my crew
But let's get one thing clear
Y'all can't keep up with us because your lungs ain't clear
Y'all need a million-dollar budget and some punch lines here
All your boy need is one right ear
And I could probably change the world
Fuck you sold-soul rappers
After diamonds and pearls
Like you homo-rappers
Y'all some go-go girls
With your go-go gadgets
Exposin' what you holdin' like your soul don't matter
I got a 'go-go get it' mentality
So battle me please
I just throw out some cheese and y'all'll go-go at it
Got you reachin' for your 4-4 'matic
While I stagger motherfuckers with darts
I got my mojo mastered
The game is full of 'homo's backwards:
Mo' ho's than rappers
No flows but keep shows packed'er than us?
Fuck that we goin' platinum plus
And still ridin' on the back of the bus
Cause the bucks don't matter
(Turn it up, stop frontin', come on, turn it up)
And from the start of this shit
I took a vow to never part with this shit
I put my soul and all my heart in this shit
But in return I got burned like these rappers had my arteries lit
So now I'm spittin' fire darts when I'm pissed
And you don't wanna see me angry cause I can't be calmed
It's like you tryn'a take custody of my sound?
I'm the baby's mom
I been to court for this wack shit before
And had to file divorce you biters'd start payin' style-support
A child that don't smile no more
I found the short cut in life
But I'd rather take my time out the door
Fuck a knife I'm pullin' texts out for war
Cause I ain't good at cutting
Fuck y'all 's what Exile's for
See I'm the MC and he's the DJ
Manipulate the MP to translate what he say
Catch me on the freeway
1-10 south 'til it ends at Bridgetown, USA
So roll with us where the gorillas hang
Where the cold killas live
Where the gold diggas dig
Where you know niggas bang
Cause the walls show the gangs when you pass 'em
Where niggas stay blown like tires
And these haters wanna slash 'em
Platinum chains? Trained'a snatch 'em
You flashin' in the Range?
You waitin' for accident to happen on purpose
Cadillac verses
Sun-roofed diamond-back rap
That's the verdict nigga
(Always amazing)
The song Simply Amazin' by Blu & Exile, is a song that displays the duo's lyrical ability and their willingness to go above and beyond what the average rapper does. The song starts with a bang, with Blu rapping about how he wants to make people go wild, from London to Yonkers. He calls himself a So-Cal residential lyrical monster that gets women's attention, comparing himself to a concert performer. The next few lines talk about his ability to sway people with his lyrics and how he wants people to see through other lyricists who bluff while busting with a serious face. He then says he is here to take care of all the wack cats and bury them back where they came from, willing to carry the game on his back until the pain numbs.
Blu then raps about how he is a son of a blood with blue gators and how his father likes to spin his favorite songs on the same table where he now bangs his music. The second half of the song is Exile's time to shine, where he talks about his dedication to hip hop and how he will never part from it. He says he puts his soul and all his heart into the genre but, in return, gets burned by rappers and says he spits fire darts when he's angry. Exile then talks about his partnership with Blu, where he manipulates the MP to translate what Blu says. He ends the song talking about how they represent where the gorillas hang, the cold killers live, and how they make platinum chains to snatch them.
Line by Line Meaning
(To all you talkin' all that bullshit)
Addressing those who are talking nonsense.
(Imma put it to you like this)
I'll explain it in a straightforward manner.
Ey yo I'm tryn'a make these niggas go bonkers
I aim to amaze and impress everyone.
From London to the youngest in Yonkers
From UK to the youngest individuals in Yonkers.
We So-Cal residential lyrical monsters
We are skilled lyricists from Southern California.
Gettin' women's attention like I'm rippin' a concert
Attracting women's attention as if I'm performing on stage.
So put your hands high 'til your arms hurt
Raise your hands and show your excitement.
I walk the earth just like God works in mysterious ways
I move through life with a sense of mystery, just like God's actions.
Your spirits swayed
Your emotions and mindset influenced
Every time my lyrics is played
Whenever my lyrics are heard
So please stop givin' these lyricists praise
Stop praising other lyricists
Cause they bluffin' while they bustin' with a serious face
They pretend to be serious while producing mediocre work
And it's unbearable
It's intolerable
These stereo-rap tracks are terrible
These mainstream rap songs are awful
I'm here to take care of you wack cats
I'm here to deal with mediocre rappers
And bury you back at
And put you back in your place
Wherever you came from
Returning you to your origin
I'm carryin' this game on my back 'til the pain's numb
I am taking responsibility for the rap game until the struggle is forgotten
And I be bustin' on fucks 'til I can't cum no longer
I continue to rap aggressively until I can't do it anymore
Losses, you gotta take some to grow stronger
Facing defeats is necessary for personal growth
I've conquered all you haters
I have defeated all my enemies and critics
Like a strong-armed dominator
Like a powerful and dominant force
Big dick tryn'a break a bit a' baby-mama maker
Confident individual trying to seduce women and father children
And ain't no time to take break
There's no time to take a rest
You gotta break the mold
You must break free from conformity
I'm from a place where cats are born to play the gansta roles
I come from a place where people are born to act tough
Like hittin' switches I was gettin' hit with switches
Like changing gears, I was getting physically punished
Until I switched positions
Until I changed my circumstances
Now I'm playin' when the game is on
Now I'm succeeding when the competition is tough
Y'all think y'all bangin' but y'all ain't as strong
You all believe you're impressive, but you're not as powerful as you think
My pop a thug
My father is a gangster
I'm a son of a blood with blue Gators on
I am the son of a gang member, flaunting blue alligator shoes
The record spinnin' his favorite songs
My father plays my music on his turntables
Now he's bangin' my shit on them same tables that he played 'em on nigga
Now he's playing my music on the same turntables he used before.
(Sing along with it, if you didn't hear it, you gonna hear it right now)
Join in and sing if you haven't heard it yet. You're about to hear it.
Cause yo hip hop
Because hip-hop music
It started out in the heart
It originated from deep emotions and passion
A young nigga from the park sharp-shootin' with darts
A talented young person from the neighborhood, delivering powerful lyrics
Harpoonin' cartoonists talkin' too much talk
Criticizing fake rappers who speak excessively
But walk a whole different stroll homeboy
But they live a completely different lifestyle, my friend
You get sparked by the guy right here?
You get impressed by the person standing right here?
I make y'all niggas see the light like a bright idea
I make you understand the truth, just like a brilliant idea
Heard you was lookin' for my weapon but my tongue's right here
I heard you were looking for a weapon, but my powerful words are my weapon
So you can act like a fool
So you can continue behaving foolishly
But y'all be done by noon off a' one light beer
But you all will be defeated easily
So yeah fuck my crew
So yeah, disregard my team
But let's get one thing clear
But let's understand one thing
Y'all can't keep up with us because your lungs ain't clear
You can't match our pace because you lack stamina
Y'all need a million-dollar budget and some punch lines here
You need a huge budget and better lines to compete
All your boy need is one right ear
All I need is one audience member who appreciates my music
And I could probably change the world
And maybe I can make a significant impact on the world
Fuck you sold-soul rappers
Disregard all the artists who prioritize money
After diamonds and pearls
After material possessions and luxury
Like you homo-rappers
Like those fake rappers
Y'all some go-go girls
You all are like dancers in a club
With your go-go gadgets
With your unnecessary gimmicks
Exposin' what you holdin' like your soul don't matter
Showing off material wealth while disregarding your true self
I got a 'go-go get it' mentality
I have a mindset of constantly striving for success
So battle me please
So, go ahead and challenge me
I just throw out some cheese and y'all'll go-go at it
I just offer some easy bait and you'll eagerly participate
Got you reachin' for your 4-4 'matic
Got you desperately grabbing your gun
While I stagger motherfuckers with darts
While I impress and defeat others with my lyrics
I got my mojo mastered
I have perfected my craft and skills
The game is full of 'homo's backwards
The music industry is filled with individuals who are fake or dishonest
Mo' ho's than rappers
There are more promiscuous individuals than genuine rappers
No flows but keep shows packed'er than us?
They don't have good lyrics but still manage to have successful shows more than us?
Fuck that we goin' platinum plus
We are determined to achieve platinum level success
And still ridin' on the back of the bus
And still facing discrimination and marginalization
Cause the bucks don't matter
Because the money is not the most important thing
(Turn it up, stop frontin', come on, turn it up)
Increase the volume, stop pretending, come on, turn it up
And from the start of this shit
Right from the beginning of this journey
I took a vow to never part with this shit
I made a promise to never abandon my passion for this music
I put my soul and all my heart in this shit
I have invested my essence and full dedication to this music
But in return I got burned like these rappers had my arteries lit
In return, I was deeply hurt and betrayed by these rappers
So now I'm spittin' fire darts when I'm pissed
Now, I'm delivering intense and aggressive lyrics when I'm angry
And you don't wanna see me angry cause I can't be calmed
And you don't want to witness my anger because it cannot be appeased
It's like you tryn'a take custody of my sound?
It's as if you're trying to claim ownership of my unique style
I'm the baby's mom
I'm the one who gave birth to this style
I been to court for this wack shit before
I have been criticized in the past for mediocre music
And had to file divorce you biters'd start payin' style-support
And had to separate from those who copied my style and make them acknowledge my influence
A child that don't smile no more
A child who lost their joy
I found the short cut in life
I found a quicker path to success
But I'd rather take my time out the door
But I prefer to take my time and leave at my own pace
Fuck a knife I'm pullin' texts out for war
I don't need a weapon, I use my words as ammunition in this battle
Cause I ain't good at cutting
Because I'm not skilled in causing physical harm
Fuck y'all 's what Exile's for
Forget about all of you, that's why Exile is here
See I'm the MC and he's the DJ
I am the rapper and he is the DJ
Manipulate the MP to translate what he say
Using the music player to convey the messages he wants to express
Catch me on the freeway
Find me on the highway
1-10 south 'til it ends at Bridgetown, USA
Taking the 1-10 south until reaching Bridgetown, USA
So roll with us where the gorillas hang
Come with us to where the tough individuals gather
Where the cold killas live
Where the fearless people reside
Where the gold diggas dig
Where the individuals seeking personal gain are found
Where you know niggas bang
Where you know people are involved in criminal activities
Cause the walls show the gangs when you pass 'em
Because the graffiti on walls reveals the presence of gangs
Where niggas stay blown like tires
Where people are constantly intoxicated
And these haters wanna slash 'em
And these haters want to harm them
Platinum chains? Trained'a snatch 'em
Expensive chains? They are keen to steal them
You flashin' in the Range?
You showing off in your luxury car?
You waitin' for accident to happen on purpose
Are you eagerly waiting for something bad to happen to you intentionally
Cadillac verses
Exceptionally high-quality lyrics
Sun-roofed diamond-back rap
Impressive and valuable rap music
That's the verdict nigga
That's the final judgement, my friend
(Always amazing)
(Consistently impressive)
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind