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
Wake Up Show
Blu Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
feeling that the world can be mine
i wake up in the morning waiting to be high
feeling that the world is carryng my soul
i ve found my way
i ve found my way
feeling that the world can be mine
i wake up in the morning singing feel all right
feeling that the world is carryng my soul
i ve found my way
i ve found my way
The lyrics of "Wake Up Show" by Blu are all about feeling confident and empowered in life. The opening lines convey a sense of euphoria and optimism, with the singer waking up "feeling very high" and sensing that they can conquer the world. This is a classic representation of what it feels like to wake up with a positive outlook, ready to tackle whatever challenges come their way. The second stanza builds on this feeling, with the singer waiting to be "right" and feeling that the world is theirs for the taking.
The repeated refrain of "I've found my way" reinforces this idea of self-assurance, suggesting that the singer has come to a sense of peace or purpose after some form of personal struggle. Overall, the song is a celebration of the power of positivity, and an invitation to listeners to share in that same sense of optimism and motivation.
Line by Line Meaning
i wake up in the morning feeling very high
I wake up in the morning, feeling elated and joyous.
feeling that the world can be mine
I feel that I am capable of achieving anything I want in the world.
i wake up in the morning waiting to be high
I wake up in the morning, waiting for the joy and elation I feel when I am intoxicated.
feeling that the world is carryng my soul
I feel that the world is guiding and uplifting my spirit and essence.
i ve found my way
I have discovered my path, purpose, and direction in life.
i wake up in the morning waiting to be right
I wake up in the morning, waiting for the clarity and understanding that comes with being correct and just.
i wake up in the morning singing feel all right
I wake up in the morning, singing and expressing my satisfaction and contentment with life.
feeling that the world is carryng my soul
I feel that the world is guiding and uplifting my spirit and essence.
i ve found my way
I have discovered my path, purpose, and direction in life.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: Felipe Augusto Vieira Silva
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@thehungrysage
this was actually back in 2005. It says it on his bandcamp, which makes sense because his delivery was similar to the type of stuff on below the heavens. By 2010 he switch his delivery to something calmer and poised just look at her fav colour or give me my flowers.
@MatheDeath
Never seen blu so agressive like this before
@riseagainst5050
whats the instrumental?