In hip-hop right now, experts busy themselves with anointing the next big thing—Drake, J. Cole, Big K.R.I.T, your next-door neighbour. But what’s defined this generation of rappers so far is an absence of artistic integrity, from a hit-hungry B.O.B. to a characterless Wale. But Los Angeles’s Blu, whose 2007 Below the Heavens caused hype to shine his way, vanished instead. So it’s unsurprising that his solo debut NoYork! is challenging, thoughtful—and clearly his. Blu’s lyrics are thick and complicated, complementing electronic production capturing a miles-ahead LA scene. Jazz, emerging from fearless experimenting, gave birth to hip-hop. Blu, steeped in jazz history, has released a fine reminder of that tradition.
This article appears in Oct 20-26, 2011.