Divine Intervention: Blu & Exile Are Back Together, Recording In The Studio
This July marks 10 years since Blu & Exile released Below The Heavens. The Sound In Color album did not make the charts, but in a year remembered by Kanye West and 50 Cent’s famous battle for commercial supremacy, it may be one of the last and most celebrated entries of the 2000s Underground Hip-Hop boom.
Both MC and producer from that effort have been busy since. Blu would garner a major label deal with Sire/Warner Bros. Records shortly after, before bootlegging his own anticipated No York by giving advances to fans at concerts (later self-released as York in 2013). Working with 9th Wonder, Madlib, Nottz, and a host of others, Blu has released handfuls of projects since. Last year, he and Nottz dropped Titans In The Flesh, a Coalmine Records EP (available for free stream).
Exile would introduce another celebrate independent voice in Fashawn, following B.T.H. After that, the Los Angeles, California native formed Dag Savage with San Diego’s Johaz, and reunited Emanon with Aloe Blacc.
On Instagram, Exile revealed that he and Blu are likely following up 2012’s sophomore effort, Give Me My Flowers While I Can Still Smell Them. Back in Exile’s studio, the DJ shared a pic of Blu recording.
Like J Dilla, Blu & Miguel Proved To Be Diamonds In The Rough (Audio)
In late 2015, Blu raised some eyebrows when he engaged in a Twitter tirade, making racist and homophobic remarks, including targeting former collaborators Alchemist and Evidence. Ev, who featured Blu on his 2008 LP The Layover, responded publicly by stating his love for Blu, but adding, “Blu is not well mentally. We all wish the best for him. Very talented human who is having a hard time with life. Get better!”
In the time since that incident, the member of Johnson & Jonson and C.R.A.C. has worked with Kool Keith, Planet Asia, and Red Pill.
#BonusBeat: 2007’s “So(ul)Amazing” music video by Blu & Exile:
This appeared on Below The Heavens.