Blu

Bio

Initially influenced by gospel, Christian rap, and later gangster rap, Barnes’ break into the industry came as the hype man for rap and soul artists including Slum Village, Steve Spacek and Platinum Pied Pipers. Leaving his free-styling ambitions behind and developing a bond with producer Exile, Blu signed with the L.A.-based independent label Sound in Color in 2004, over major-label equivalents Interscope and Death Row. Blu’s debut album “Below the Heavens” arrived in August 2007 and catapulted Blu’s laid-back and well-crafted songwriting style and Exile’s soul-inspired production a national audience.