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
The American Dream
Blu Lyrics
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I don’t go out much but i party next-door on the weekend.
Haven’t seen me in a while been fighting my demons.
Bad vibes made it hard to write something decent.
Praying to God so hard I felt like a deacon.
I’m a fighter.
Bob and weave thru the ring of life.
Reality uppercutting me.
The penitentiary ain’t for me.
Had to slow it down.
For a king heavy is the head that wear the crown.
I’m tryna make the means justify the ends.
I’m tryna hold on to surviving friends.
First you buy the house then you get the Benz.
First stack ya chips then invest the rest.
For the cream gotta protect ya neck.
Or enter 36 chambers of death.
Bro moves 36 on the steps.
That 36 o’s if I’m correct.
No one ever cross me who I ain’t double cross.
An eye for an eye is how we settle scores.
Either the Pearly gates or them metal bars.
Nggaz knocking on heavens doors.
My ngga fire cudnt run at all.
Now he gone. RIP
Vengeance is mine said the lord.
You know the motto is fuck em all.
You know them models gone suck me off.
I know my problem TF is yours.
Thou shalt not fuck wit raw me.
Or he feel a thousand deaths from mr HB
The opening lines of the song suggest that the singer is living a solitary life, as the references to partying next-door and fighting personal demons imply a sense of isolation. The singer has been dealing with bad vibes which have made it difficult to write anything meaningful, turning to prayer for guidance and help. The next few lines portray the singer as a fighter, weaving through the punches life has thrown at them, and dodging the trap of ending up in prison. The singer realizes that the responsibilities of being a king can weigh heavy on one's shoulders and tries to balance the means of justifying the end, making sure their surviving friends are taken care of before indulging in luxury, and investing their money for a better future.
The song also makes references to the dangers of street life, warning about the 36 chambers of death, and crossing people who may double cross the singer. The lyrics ultimately exemplify a message of vengeance, with the singer suggesting that revenge will be taken upon those who have wronged them, and their motto is to "f*ck em all." However, they also recognize the potential consequences of such behavior, either ending up in prison or reaching the pearly gates of heaven.
Line by Line Meaning
Truthfully speaking.
I am about to give an honest account.
I don’t go out much but i party next-door on the weekend.
I mostly stay home but occasionally party nearby during the weekend.
Haven’t seen me in a while been fighting my demons.
You may not have seen me lately because I've been struggling with personal issues.
Bad vibes made it hard to write something decent.
Negative energy has affected my creative output.
Praying to God so hard I felt like a deacon.
I have been praying fervently and feel like a religious leader.
I’m a fighter.
I am resilient and determined to overcome challenges.
Bob and weave thru the ring of life.
I am navigating the challenges of life like a boxer evading punches.
Reality uppercutting me.
The harsh realities of life have hit me hard like a boxing uppercut.
Had to get it right.
I had to correct my past mistakes to ensure success.
The penitentiary ain’t for me.
I do not want to end up in jail.
Had to slow it down.
I needed to take a step back and approach life more cautiously.
For a king heavy is the head that wear the crown.
Being a leader comes with a heavy burden of responsibility.
I’m tryna make the means justify the ends.
I am trying to achieve my goals through legitimate means.
I’m tryna hold on to surviving friends.
I am holding on to my true friends for support.
First you buy the house then you get the Benz.
I need to secure a stable living situation before pursuing luxury items.
First stack ya chips then invest the rest.
I need to save my money and invest wisely for financial stability.
For the cream gotta protect ya neck.
When pursuing success, one must be vigilant and protect oneself from potential threats.
Or enter 36 chambers of death.
The consequences of failure can be severe and life-threatening.
Bro moves 36 on the steps.
My friend made the right moves to avoid danger.
That 36 o’s if I’m correct.
Referring to a book by Robert Greene about strategies for success.
No one ever cross me who I ain’t double cross.
I am willing to use deceit to protect myself and my interests.
An eye for an eye is how we settle scores.
Retaliation is a common solution to perceived wrongdoing.
Either the Pearly gates or them metal bars.
Life can lead to either heaven or jail.
Nggaz knocking on heavens doors.
People are dying and going to heaven.
My ngga fire cudnt run at all.
My friend died and was unable to escape danger.
Now he gone. RIP
My friend has passed away and I mourn his loss.
Vengeance is mine said the lord.
Punishment is not my responsibility, but the Lord's.
You know the motto is fuck em all.
My attitude towards those who wrong me is to disregard them completely.
You know them models gone suck me off.
Women are attracted to me and want to engage in sexual activities.
I know my problem TF is yours.
I am aware of my issues, but it's not your concern.
Thou shalt not fuck wit raw me.
Do not betray me or there will be consequences.
Or he feel a thousand deaths from mr HB
I will exact severe punishment on anyone who crosses me.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
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