So(ul) Amazing: Blu's Back

Two new mix tapes from the one word wonder, Blu. If you have no idea who this man is, you’ll feel bad about it after coping these two discs. There’s really no explanation as to how Blu’s been so prolific as of late. He seemingly came outta nowhere in 2007 and has at least three proper full lengths in the can. C.R.A.C Knuckles might be the slightest of his work to date, but even with that in mind, there are too many good tracks on there to dismiss it as a less than raptastic effort.

Making up his persona from his relatively religious upbringing to the place that he calls home probably isn’t too drastically different than a great deal of other emcees in the game right now. But there is some bizarre, inherent wisdom that listeners can hear concurrent to the beginning of whatever rap Blu’s about to spit out.

Out of the two So(ul) Amazing tapes, the production on the second volume seems to be less soul/RnB influenced – at least in regards to back up vocalists. There just aren’t as many vocal hooks there. So dependent upon you preference, snag one.

The most remarkable element of the second recording is the fact that on “For Whom the Bells Toll,” Blu delves into what an Obama presidency actually means. Amidst endless couplets, he figures that the president elect hasn’t as of yet revealed how he plans on solving all of our problems. And of course, one man, no matter who it is, can’t be charged with solving all of the world’s ills, but what surrounds Obama is some pretty dense and lofty rhetoric. Blu realizes that we have to wait a minute to see if we actually get change, or if Obama just gets changed.

It’s not all politics and intellectual posturing though. There’re the requisite love songs as well, but with at least a glimmer of individuality. “The Classy Man,” explains why Blu finds himself attracted to a particular lady. The answer, which is probably confusing to some listeners, is that she’s not into hip hop. But regardless of what his answer was, it’s related to listeners over some nice production from DJ Heat.

These discs both almost seem like full length efforts as opposed to just a series of tracks slapped together. But this combination of producer and emcee seems to work out – and maybe we’re just waiting for a proper collaboration from this duo.

So(ul) Amazing – Part One

So(ul) Amazing – Part Two