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
So Amazin'
Blu Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
From the soul y'all
Yo, the soul provider
Got a lot on the skillet
Grilling it hard boiled, charcoal filling
The dark villain and the light skinned niggas disguised
My mind's sickening
To describe how my line's ending
Your fine imprint described through your mind's index
My line chin-checks and shine through your blinds, instant
The sun syndicate
Fat as Biggie with no Pun intended; no pun intended to live
I pick up where we slid and run illest 'til I buckle and become winded
And all the air from out my lungs slips into the sky like weed smoke
My peoples need hope, and I'm the one with it
The soul provider; cold as fire, hot as ice
Rock the mic 'til I retire die, the son of Christ
Becoming one with life, to live like death is uncertain
One curtain left and I'mma die with my gun burstin'
Son cursing 'til I must become one with the Earth
Heaven and hell I conquer, which ever comes first
Known to rebel, my soul a la mode
My soul a la mode
The soul provider
I'm a hit you with the words that'll make ya soul vibe
It's so amazin' and still blazin', from the soul y'all
I'm a hit you with the words that'll make ya soul vibe
Cause I know I got that soul
Sacred living
Sinning like you can't forgive him
Suspending time with my time spent rhyming about nonsense
Like saving religion
Drink sippin', letting my mind spin
Thinking about my mom and pops, how they designed this nigga
Mix of Al Green and 'Pac
Rock the soul tracks rapping about surviving on the block
Black top, asphalt talk
Walking through the fire like a soul provida'
Poppa made a dope rhymer
I'm a ghetto nigga sipping liquor in pajamas
Not old enough to rock clubs, but still do
Will soul provide
I gotta ill crew
And best believe they with me in the city like sex
Metropolitan connects, plus the steel crew still do dirt
Baggy jeans and my ill blue shirt
Feeling fresh, yes
While Ex' queue the keys
I'mma ease through your soul like you're blowing trees
Best believe the soul provider
I'm a hit you with the words that'll make ya soul vibe
It's so amazin' and still blazin', from the soul y'all
I'm a hit you with the words that'll make ya soul vibe
Cause I know I got that soul
Yo, I flow krypton
Knock your superman off his feet with his kicks on
Niggas keep my shit on repeat
And no matter which song I get on
I shit on beats, pull out my dick and take a piss on trees
I'm raw dogging it, look
My rhyme lines flow sweeter than swine
So any mic that I find, I got the right to be hogging it
Talking shit, loud mouth, wilding out starting it
Alcoholic slaughtering my vocab department
So pardon if my talking is slurred
Pants sagging, hands grabbing on my nuts
Clutch sparking my herb
Relaxed lingo, beef low, ghetto as black bingo
Redefine the the line of rap singles
The soul provida' hold the mic and open fire
Drop my nuts, I give a fuck about a pro hire
The new Pete and C.L. was Exile and B-L
We bang jeeps to break beats, blaze trees and females
You ain't me
Its the S-O, U-L pro-vide your mind
With a west coast soul vibe
Uh, its the S-O, U-L pro-vide your mind
With a west coast soul vibe
Yeah, the soul provider
The song "So Amazin'" by Blu & Exile is a soulful and powerful rap that touches on a variety of themes ranging from personal struggles to societal ills. The lyrics are dense and packed with meaning, using clever wordplay and vivid imagery to convey a range of emotions and ideas. At its core, the song is about the power of music and art to uplift and inspire, even in the face of adversity and hardship.
The song begins with the line "Yo, the soul provider / Got a lot on the skillet", which sets the tone for the rest of the track. The rapper proclaims himself a "soul provider" and goes on to describe his struggles and triumphs as an artist, using vivid metaphors like "Grilling it hard boiled, charcoal filling / The dark villain and the light skinned niggas disguised" to describe the creative process. He also touches on his own mortality, rapping about "One curtain left and I'mma die with my gun burstin' / Son cursing 'til I must become one with the Earth".
Throughout the song, Blu & Exile use a variety of literary devices to create a powerful and evocative rap. For example, they use alliteration and consonance to create a rhythmic flow, as well as metaphors and similes to create vivid imagery. They also use repetition to create a sense of urgency and intensity, as in the chorus line "I'm a hit you with the words that'll make ya soul vibe / It's so amazin' and still blazin', from the soul y'all".
Overall, "So Amazin'" is a powerful and moving rap that touches on a variety of themes, from personal struggles to the power of music and art to uplift and inspire. It is a testament to the skills and creativity of Blu & Exile, and a testament to the enduring power of hip hop as a form of artistic expression.
Line by Line Meaning
So amazing
Expressing the admiration for something that is truly great
From the soul y'all
Emphasizing that this greatness comes from the heart and is authentic
Yo, the soul provider
Introducing the singer who is providing the soulful experience
Got a lot on the skillet
The artist has a lot on their mind and is ready to share it
Grilling it hard boiled, charcoal filling
Expressing how the artist is cooking up something that is raw and impactful
The dark villain and the light skinned niggas disguised
Describing how people come in different forms and should not be judged based on their appearance
My mind's sickening
The singer's mind is very active and coming up with many ideas
Define vicious written in rhymes, times tens-it
Explaining how the artist is using their lyrics to describe how cruel the world can be
To describe how my line's ending
Continuing how the artist is describing the bitter reality of life
Your fine imprint described through your mind's index
Discussing how one's personality can be revealed through their thoughts and ideas
My line chin-checks and shine through your blinds, instant
Emphasizing that the singer's words are powerful enough to reach anyone and everyone
The sun syndicate
Referring to the artist's supporters and comrades
Fat as Biggie with no Pun intended; no pun intended to live
Acknowledging the incredible presence the singer has, while also recognizing the fragility of life
I pick up where we slid and run illest 'til I buckle and become winded
Suggesting that the singer is picking up where others left off and will never stop going hard until they physically cannot anymore
And all the air from out my lungs slips into the sky like weed smoke
Metaphorically describing the singer's last breath as something that disappears into the air like smoke
My peoples need hope, and I'm the one with it
Declaring that the artist has the ability to give hope to their community
The soul provider; cold as fire, hot as ice
Reiterating that the artist is able to provide a soulful experience that can evoke many emotions
Rock the mic 'til I retire die, the son of Christ
Expressing that the singer will continue to perform until they are physically unable to and that they have a strong sense of faith
Becoming one with life, to live like death is uncertain
Describing the singer's philosophy to live life to the fullest, as if they don't know when it will end
One curtain left and I'mma die with my gun burstin'
Acknowledging that life is fleeting and that they will make the most of it until the end
Son cursing 'til I must become one with the Earth
Referencing that the artist will continue to be a rebel until the end when they become one with the Earth
Heaven and hell I conquer, which ever comes first
Emphasizing that the artist is ready to face either fate, no matter which comes first
Known to rebel, my soul a la mode
Recognizing that the singer is a rebel at heart, and that their soul is always true
I'm a hit you with the words that'll make ya soul vibe
Announcing how the artist will affect the listener with their words
Cause I know I got that soul
Affirming that the singer has a soulful quality to their lyrics and performance
Sacred living
Describing how life is precious and should be cherished
Sinning like you can't forgive him
Acknowledging that the singer makes mistakes, and that some might deem them unforgivable
Suspending time with my time spent rhyming about nonsense
Reflecting on how the artist spends their time writing lyrics and how sometimes those words may not hold much significance
Like saving religion
Describing how the act of writing is almost like a religious experience for the artist
Drink sippin', letting my mind spin
Describing how the singer relaxes and lets their thoughts wander while sipping on a drink
Thinking about my mom and pops, how they designed this nigga
Reflecting on how the singer's parents have influenced the person they have become
Mix of Al Green and 'Pac
Describing how the artist has been inspired by both Al Green's soulful melodies and Tupac's raw lyricism
Rock the soul tracks rapping about surviving on the block
Describing the artist's music style and the topics they write about
Black top, asphalt talk
Referring to the streets and the harsh realities that are spoken about on them
Walking through the fire like a soul provida'
Metaphorically describing how the singer is able to navigate through tough situations and come out unscathed
Poppa made a dope rhymer
Acknowledging that the artist's father was also musically inclined and may have influenced the artist's talent
I'm a ghetto nigga sipping liquor in pajamas
Describing the singer's humble background and how they can still find joy in the simple things
Not old enough to rock clubs, but still do
Explaining how the singer is still relatively young and inexperienced, but is still able to perform and make an impact
Will soul provide
Emphasizing that the singer will always provide a soulful experience, no matter where they are
I gotta ill crew
Acknowledging that the artist has a talented group of people surrounding them
And best believe they with me in the city like sex
Joking that the artist's crew is always with them wherever they go, much like the act of having sex
Metropolitan connects, plus the steel crew still do dirt
Describing how the crew is well-connected in the city and is not afraid to get their hands dirty if necessary
Baggy jeans and my ill blue shirt
Describing the singer's signature outfit
Feeling fresh, yes
Acknowledging that the artist feels good and confident in what they're doing
While Ex' queue the keys
Referring to Exile as the one producing the music
I'mma ease through your soul like you're blowing trees
Describing how the artist's words will enter the listener's soul just as smoke enters someone's body when they inhale
Yo, flow krypton
Describing how the singer's flow is so strong that it could even take down Superman
Knock your superman off his feet with his kicks on
Continuing the metaphor that the artist's flow is so strong that it could defeat even the strongest superhero
Niggas keep my shit on repeat
Acknowledging that people enjoy the singer's music so much that they listen to it over and over again
And no matter which song I get on
Expressing that the singer is versatile and can perform well on any song
I shit on beats, pull out my dick and take a piss on trees
Boasting that the singer dominates every beat they perform on and does not take anyone's ego into consideration
I'm raw dogging it, look
Confirming that the artist is not holding back in their music and is performing in the rawest way possible
My rhyme lines flow sweeter than swine
Comparing the sweetness and tenderness of the artist's lyrics to the taste of pig meat
So any mic that I find, I got the right to be hogging it
Asserting that the singer deserves to dominate any microphone they come across
Talking shit, loud mouth, wilding out starting it
Acknowledging that the singer is not afraid to speak their mind and sometimes cause trouble
Alcoholic slaughtering my vocab department
Joking that the artist's alcohol consumption is affecting their ability to use complex vocabulary
So pardon if my talking is slurred
Apologizing for any potential miscommunication due to the artist's inebriation
Pants sagging, hands grabbing on my nuts
Describing the artist's appearance in a humorous way
Clutch sparking my herb
Implying that the singer is smoking marijuana while performing
Relaxed lingo, beef low, ghetto as black bingo
Describing the artist's laid-back style and incorporating a reference to a common game played in many black communities
Redefine the the line of rap singles
Claiming that the singer's music is revolutionary and changing how rap music is defined
The soul provida' hold the mic and open fire
Reiterating that the singer is the one in control and able to make an impact with their lyrics
Drop my nuts, I give a fuck about a pro hire
Boasting that the singer does not need a professional hire to be successful
The new Pete and C.L. was Exile and B-L
Comparing the artist and production duo to an iconic rap duo from the 1990s
We bang jeeps to break beats, blaze trees and females
Describing the artist's lifestyle and how they enjoy experiencing life to the fullest
You ain't me
Asserting that the listener is not the same as the singer and cannot compare to them
Its the S-O, U-L pro-vide your mind
Reminding the listener of the singer's name and their ability to provide a soulful experience
With a west coast soul vibe
Describing the type of soulful experience the artist can provide based on their west coast roots
Yeah, the soul provider
Confirming once again that the artist is the one who can provide a soulful experience
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
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