After finishing up my top 20 albums of the decade list their were quite a few albums I felt should have made it on the list or ones on the list that are for others. This new undiscovered series is going to be me going more in depth about some of my favorite albums. This weeks pick is from the West Coast MC Blu.
Gaining popularity in the underground for his classic “Below The Heavens” with Exile, Blu would drop a few lo-fi projects in the underground, but it was not until 2011 when his self produced and personality my favorite album of his was official released.
To me “Her Favorite Colo(u)r” is what a 2000’s Indie Film would sound like if it was made by a rapper. Using samples from scenes in films like “Closer”, “Punch Drunk Love”, and “The Life Aquatic With Steve Zissou”. This technique is used masterfully on the track “Morning” which even though it’s just a clip from a film over a beat it’s still super dope to me. Like who would think to sample that on a Hip-Hop album.
Some of my favorite parts of a Blu album is when he samples the word Blue into a beat, like on “Amnesia”. For me I feel the album is about Blu and his girl, making Blu her favorite color.
The more jazzy tracks like “Amnesia” and “Vanity” have a riding your bike on a cool night watching the sunset with your girl type of vibe. On the track “Pardon” Blu shows his Madlib influence with a more soul sampled based track. “Beggars/BlackGold” has a J Dilla’s “Doughnuts” feel.
Sometimes I need a break from NY street rap and Trap music, Blu is my escape from that. I wish Blu would produce more of his own work but at least he still drops projects on an independent level. Even though he’s never been able to capture the magic on this project I will always continue to follow and support Blu because he gave this project to the world.