Sy ShacklefordThe Los Angelino rapper self-dubbed Blu is a busy man. Just last month, he dropped an all Evidence-produced album that showed the good, the bad, and the ugly of his city in ways that’d make Clint Eastwood blush. His latest release is something of a return-to-form. With “Love (the) Ominous World”, Blu teams up with longtime collaborator Exile for their fourth album. There certainly is a chemistry for both artists as it’s been nearly 20 years since their first album. With the title, it’s a different take on fearing the unknown and venturing into new territory: Staying inward while venturing outward.
Los Angeles is embedded in Blu’s soul, that’s been clear since the onset of his career. So, on that note, the album starts off with “Intro – Hello L.A.” featuring Georgia Anne Muldrow on the hook. Over a very soulful beat, Blu drops some autobiographical lyrics. Next up is “Undisputed”, a traditional hip-hop production complete with bass, DJ scratching, and fierce snares. Lyrically, Blu makes use of boxing-related metaphors, imagery, and wordplay to describe his ability to perform as an emcee. Fellow Cali emcee Fashawn has a guest appearance on “Smack” where Blu makes clear that “it’s time to boast”. Exile also shifts the production to a more laid-back beat once Fashawn is on the mic. “Homies” features Pistol McFly & Cashus King and Exile laces the beat from a vintage soul sample as the three give their own takes on their respective day-ones. The lead single “Love Is Blu” has Aloe Blacc on the hook and has something of a “Hey Young World” vibe, but that goes hand-in-hand with the jubilation of Exile’s beat:
The production of “Suga & Buttaz” is quite jazzy and very reminiscent of the Soulquarians circa Common’s “Like Water For Chocolate” period. Rae Khalil & Ahmad Anwar add to the track with their soulful crooning. “Gold” has a head-nodding beat from the onset, containing boom-bap snares and a crackling sample. Lyrically, Blu enlists Nana & Ahmad Anwar and uses gold to give a tongue-in-cheek take on the metal’s in-demand status and connotations, especially considering just how much hip-hop tends to value it. “Chucks” features west coast luminaries KXNG Crooked & Kurupt and has the hardest beat on the album, clearly inspired by the G-Funk era. Lyrically, all three emcees big-up Chuck Taylor’s shoes and their importance as a staple in west coast culture.
“Suge” is a storytelling track with an ominous beat, which is appropriate considering it’s Blu’s recount of the first time he met Suge Knight. He muses about how his life would be had he signed to Death Row as teen. “Ominous World” takes a similar dark turn in terms of production and features RBX & Tamara Blue while “A Song Called Precipitation” is poetic reflection. The penultimate track is “Valley of Kings” and features Ahmad Anwar. Musically and lyrically, it’s a pensive drumless track as Blu tells his own story of struggle and accomplishment. Some might say that Blu needs to break out of the microcosm of Los Angeles and expand his writing, but this listener respectfully disagrees. With “Love (the) Ominous World”, Blu x Exile show that part of them IS Los Angeles and vice-versa.