Blu

I'd like to introduce you to Blu, stage name of Johnson Barnes.  He's a rapper out of L.A. who has been rising in the underground hip-hop world since he started putting out music several years ago.  There are many shades of Blu; he has collaborated with a variety of producers and has recently begun producing himself.  The beats he rhymes over offer a wide variety of styles and genres ranging from gospel to soul to television and movie samples.  He also often incorporates vocal samples that use the word 'blue'.

Whenever I've got to get down to business on something, or if someone even says these words this song starts playing in my head:

Blu & Exile - First Things First (ft. Miguel Jontel)

This joint is off of Blu's collabo with Exile, Below The Heavens.  It was his debut studio album and helped him to earn HipHopDX's honor for Rookie of the Year in 2007.

Notice his rapping style.  His delivery is more similar to talking, but he still maintains the aesthetics of skillful end and internal rhyming.  A big reason for the critical acclaim he has garnered is his lyrical content.  Unlike many rappers, he tones down the braggadocio in preference of more grounded, everyman raps.  He's a young guy, but he's seen a lot of the world; he had NBA aspirations and helped raise his eleven siblings so he's got plenty of experiences to keep his music honest and real.

Blu - Jazz (Tribute Remix)

Here's his version of A Tribe Called Quest's classic track Jazz (We've Got).  It's hard to touch a gem like the original, but Blu manages to add his own shine to it.  He even has a Nas sample in there to say "True in the game as long as blood is BLU in my veins".