Blu

It's been a hell of a year for hip-hop, with the big dogs all dropping albums, the underground bubbling like never before and a crop of up-and-comers putting out some of the best music in years. But with so much great music floating around, hip-hop fans were bound to miss some things...

We’ve posted numerous leaks leading up to the release of Blu and Nottz’s God In Spirit EP. Now, with the project officially available, the duo has provided fans with a full stream. Featuring the likes of Nitty Scott, MC, ScienZe, ANTHM, Homeboy Sandman, Rashad and more, their joint project should get plenty of spins. Press play...

West Coast rapper Blu has teamed up with producer Nottz for a collaborative EP, Gods In The Spirit, that's set to drop on October 22. Yesterday the pair revealed the god-like artwork for the record along with the tracklist, but now the pair is back with the first track off the collection, a triumphant bit of boom-bap featuring Nitty Scott, MC called "Boyz II Men...

Blu and Nottz are keeping busy. On October 22, the former XXL Freshman and the Norfolk, VA producer (sometimes rapper) is teaming up for Gods In The Spirit. The six-track EP gathers hip-hop’s lyrical heavy-hitters who help keep storytelling alive. Rapp...

Former XXL Freshman Blu is featured on Michigan producer 14KT’s new album, Nickel & Dimed. One of the standout tracks is “Paid,” which features the California MC spitting some razor sharp rhymes over some choice sample flips. Listen below...

2013 XXL Freshman Class is in full effect and time will tell if this will be the best class ever. In the meantime, we're taking a look back at each XXL Freshman from past classes to see what they've been up through their music since being a Freshman...

We get an iconic cartoon character made into a dope song today. ScienZe and Blu work wonderfully together. Add in the Charlie Brown samples that play on the song, and you find yourself nostalgic of remembering childhood memories that you hold dear...

Directed by Chimp, Blu’s video for “Vanity” isn’t for the swallow-hearted listener. In the clip, the former XXL Freshman takes a step back and allows a group of teenagers convey his song for him. Many featured here are self-conscious about their looks, but “Vanity” allows them to be themselves. Its reveals a lot of truth under a...

Photographs by Sean Ryon Spring showers weren't enough to discourage the crowd this past Wednesday April 10 at Public Assembly. Fans came out to the quaint venue in one of Brooklyn’s trendiest neighborhoods, wet sneakers and all, to enjoy a full line-up of hip-hop purity with California MC Blu. Open...

The 2013 XXL Freshmen Class freestyles kick off on Monday, April 8 with ScHoolboy Q. Everyday, we'll be dropping a new freestyle from a 2013 Freshman which will be followed by the freestyles. In the meantime, here are some freestyles from past classes including Wale, B...

Three West Coast staples join forces to bring out a highly melodic, and soul-drenched record that's "Burgundy Whip," with support from Jimetta Rose. Off their collaborative EP Burgundy, the video feels like everything the song captures: sunshine, cruising, blunt, and zoning...