Blu & Exile - Below the Heavens [2007]

[j3rk]

It's been a good year for hip-hop, and even better for underground hip-hop. I've been keeping close tabs on all the hip-hop that has dropped thus far in 2007, and I can assure you that Blu & Exile "Below the Heavens" will be in my interchangeable top 3 for the year; sitting comfortably beside Blue Scholars and Polyrhythm Addicts.

Blu & Exile are an underground duo from Los Angeles. These two share a bond on par with Pete Rock & C.L. Smooth. And although I shouldn't pump the album this hard, I truly feel this is a classic in the making.

MC Blu represents what an emcee in 2007 should be - introspective, intelligent, hungry, and soulful. Not only does he have a powerful flow, but his lyrics are on point like no other, touching on nearly every topic at hand. The alluring thing about him is his modesty. The 22-year old emcee writes lyrics in a self-deprecating and humble fashion, and truly sounds like an old soul who's messages teach life lessons. However, he never tries to "teach" them. Instead he's just sharing his thoughts and making clear observations for solutions, or lack thereof. Tracks like "So(ul) Amazin'", "Blu Colla Workers", & "No Greater Love" are prime examples of his highly conscious style.

The mastermind behind these beautiful soundscapes is the remarkable talent of Exile. I will definitely be watching for this guy in the upcoming years, as I think rappers will be knocking down doors in search of his beats. The jazzy and soulful backdrop compliments Blu perfectly. And although it's nothing groundbreaking, his style is so varied and consistent, that you won't find a stinker in the bunch. My favorite joints here would have to be "In Remembrance of Me" & "Show Me the Good Life" featuring Aloe Blacc, Joseph. The former boasts breath-taking production that has me reaching for the rewind button constantly.

zSHARE - blu and exile - below the heavens.rar

it's older, but new to me...so enjoy.

[stabmyhead]

I reviewed it in my hip hop review thread. One of the my top 5 hip hop albums for 2007. Check out Shad K or Foreign Exchange if you liked Blu & Exile.

[RochesterSS]

You need a late pass for this one

[Jack Mehoff]

Well Mr. RochesterSS obviously you don't have any late passes to hand out since you don't possess any. Cause we all know you've heard every album known to man months before it even comes out.

Better give him one of your fag passes because you have plenty of those.

[Jack Mehoff]

fag .

[RochesterSS]

Originally Posted by Jack Mehoff

Well Mr. RochesterSS obviously you don't have any late passes to hand out since you don't possess any. Cause we all know you've heard every album known to man months before it even comes out.

Better give him one of your fag passes because you have plenty of those.

The album came out last june you filthy faggot. Thats considered late. You better shut your ass up before I roll you down a flight of stairs

[NinjaBoy]

Originally Posted by RochesterSS

The album came out last june you filthy faggot. Thats considered late. You better shut your ass up before I roll you down a flight of stairs

I'm not to sure, but I didn't realize anytime someone mentions music on this board it has to be releases that came out in the last three months.

I personally don't listen to hip hop all too often (despite my job), but it's great to see threads like this that might turn people on to artists they might not normally be exposed to. I'm into indie rock, if someone recommends me an album that I've already heard, or is a little old I normally talk about the album, rather then call them a fag. You'll probably come to terms with this once you get older.

And as a side note, calling someone you've never met in real life or will for that matter a fag and threatening to "roll you down a flight of stairs" over message board seems rather stupid. You might as well be yelling threats at people on your TV.

[Jack Mehoff]

Originally Posted by RochesterSS

The album came out last june you filthy faggot. Thats considered late. You better shut your ass up before I roll you down a flight of stairs

You're a loser.

1) That person in the avatar is not me
2) You think making fun of someone in a wheelchair is funny
3) You're making fun of someone who is now dead.
4) You tried to "shit" on someone who is one of the most influential people in the world of Hiphop. Well it backfired, cause you're officially a fag.



If you haven't guessed by now that pic is of J. Dilla going on tour in a wheelchair even while his health was deteriorating rapidly. That's called dedication, something a poseur like you wouldn't understand. Keep on trend hopping you follower.


Trying to make fun of Dilla 4x - Real classy faggot.

[RochesterSS]

I always thought Dilla was overrated. One of the main reasons I stopped listening to A Tribe

[Jack Mehoff]

^ Well that's great you think that cause no one gives a fuck about your shitty follower opinion.


Practically every good Hiphop producer will disagree with you. Get a room full of Hiphop producers, RZA, premo, neptunes, ?uestlove, 9th, nicolay, kanye, Hi-Tek, Dre, Timbo, Jazzy Jeff, Q-Tip, Pete Rock, Madlib, No I.D. , Havok etc.. etc.. and ask them what they think of Dilla.

[RochesterSS]

Originally Posted by Jack Mehoff

Get a room full of Hiphop producers, RZA, premo, neptunes, ?uestlove, 9th, nicolay, kanye, Hi-Tek, Dre, Timbo etc.. etc.. and ask them what they think of Dilla.

lol @ you thinking I give a fukk about any of these dudes opinions

[Jack Mehoff]

^ I'd be willing to bet my life that RZA is your favourite producer.

[RochesterSS]

Originally Posted by Jack Mehoff

^ I'd be willing to bet my life that RZA is your favourite producer.

All time yeah

Right now no

[NinjaBoy]

Originally Posted by RochesterSS

lol @ you thinking I give a fukk about any of these dudes opinions

Yeah, these guys, who have been doing hip hop for years and performing for thousands, opinions on producers have nothing compare to a high school kid from Richmond.

[miss.myra]

Originally Posted by RochesterSS

I always thought Dilla was overrated. One of the main reasons I stopped listening to A Tribe

gooooo away. a lot of the most classic tribe was produced by dilla.

someone who has influenced this much towards good, classic hip hop should be respected

J Dilla - Complete Discography

[RochesterSS]

Originally Posted by NinjaBoy

I personally don't listen to hip hop all too often

Lets just keep it at that

[Jack Mehoff]

Originally Posted by miss.myra

gooooo away. a lot of the most classic tribe was produced by dilla.

someone who has influenced this much towards good, classic hip hop should be respected

J Dilla - Complete Discography

Not only respected, but you don't make fun of someone who was restricted to a wheelchair because he was dying.

I think there is stuff missing but it's a pretty good list.

[RochesterSS]

Dilla was the downfall of tribe

I know you just started listening to his shit after he died but cmon, stop embarrassing yourself.

Originally Posted by miss.myra

a lot of the most classic tribe

= Low End Theory and Midnight Marauders

[Jack Mehoff]

Originally Posted by RochesterSS

Lets just keep it at that

You're so stupid. Ghostface doesn't listen to Hiphop either, he hates it. Does that mean his opinion doesn't count?

[RochesterSS]

Originally Posted by Jack Mehoff

You're so stupid. Ghostface doesn't listen to Hiphop either, he hates it. Does that mean his opinion doesn't count?

Stupidest question I've heard in a while

BTW post your pixel :embarrest:

[Jack Mehoff]

Originally Posted by RochesterSS

Stupidest question I've heard in a while

BTW post your pixel :embarrest:

Your reading comprehension can't identify a rhetorical question?

Why are you asking for my pictures? I would never post my pictures for someone who cares "who the sexiest wu tang member" is, or gets geeked because ladies think Nas is hotter than Jay-Z.

Shut your mouth when you're talking to me.

[NinjaBoy]

Originally Posted by RochesterSS

Lets just keep it at that

So you couldn't think of anything to say in regards to the points I brought up, eh?

I don't go out of my way to know all the latest hip hop releases. But I didn't realize that the enjoyment of a genre is tied to being able to rattle off the latest releases and insult people who lack this knowledge.

I had always been under the impression that the key to enjoying hip hop (or any genre for that matter) was the ability to sit down, shut up and listen to the fucking song without caring who produced the beat.

Although I may be incorrect, I recommend that you try it sometime.

[RochesterSS]

Originally Posted by Jack Mehoff

Shut your mouth when you're talking to me.

Yeah I saw your sig. That's a cute catch phrase ya got there. It's like so original.

Post a pic :embarrest:

[NinjaBoy]

Originally Posted by RochesterSS

Yeah I saw your sig. That's a cute catch phrase ya got there. It's like so original.

Post a pic :embarrest:

Yeah! Post a pic, that way he'll be able to take out the family van and cruise around looking for you. You better hope he doesn't find you, 'cause you'll get wrecked!

[Jack Mehoff]

Originally Posted by RochesterSS

Yeah I saw your sig. That's a cute catch phrase ya got there. It's like so original.

Post a pic :embarrest:

Sure i'll post a pic. When I logged in and saw your face the first thing I thought was: