BlueFace has been steadily gaining interest from both industry types and the masses-at-large. Tête-à-Têtes with Drake, Young Thug, Chief Keef, and more have already solidified his networking game, while several mixtapes and various loosies have done work in building his buzz on the streets. You might find yourself hearing his name on an increasing basis, yet still know next to nothing about him. If you count yourselves among the uninformed, consider this a crash course on all things BlueFace; after all, his rise to prominence (though longevity is a different beast altogether) seems inevitable.
FAMOUS CRYP
While gangland association has occasionally proven troublesome for emerging rappers (see: Tekashi 6ix9ine), BlueFace has worn his School Yard Crip affiliation on his sleeve. Apparently, the rapper was originally put on by his older brother, who kept a watchful eye on the young BlueFace The Los Angeles rapper has made no secret of his Crip loyalty, repping the set proudly in various videos, including the aptly titled “Respect My Cryp’n.” He has also been known to Crip Walk on occasion, which admittedly feels like a lost art in mainstream hip-hop. While the Blue in his moniker does speak to his chosen set, the origin truly derives from his unyielding quest for Benjamin Franklins.
ATHLETIC BACKGROUND
As a teenager, BlueFace found himself frequently moving around, attending a variety of different high schools across Burbank, Golden Valley, and Oakland. While the young man actively bumped artists like The Game, G-Unit, and Snoop Dogg, he never pursued a rap career until much later. Instead, he opted for athletics, and emerged as a standout quarterback for the Arleta Mustangs; footage has recently surfaced of BlueFace in action, and an LA Times article reports on him passing for 330 yards, securing three touchdowns. The rapper would go on to land a college football scholarship in North Carolina, though he ultimately moved back to California after dealing with depression.
THE COME UP
After working a few nine-to-five gigs, including a brief stint at Office Depot and an office complex maintenance job, BlueFace decided to set his sights on the rap game. The ever-thorough Before They Were Famous indicates that BlueFace would attend shows with his homie TC-4800, who went on to leave his aux cord in BlueFace’s whip. After the rapper went to the studio to drop it off, he found himself joining a writing session, and laying down his verse first. “I think it was destiny,” reflects BlueFace. “He invited me to the studio just to get the piece, he would have never invited me on a regular day.” He proceeded to drop loosies on SoundCloud, and eventually, his “Dead Locs” single hit viral status; for some context, the video currently sits at around 4 million views on YouTube alone.
Upon receiving a slew of requests to perform at Tahouitz High School, the rapper blessed them with his first ever live performance. A clip from the show can be seen on his IG, whereupon he stands atop a car, shirtless, and spits bars for hundreds of screaming teenagers. His fanbase couldn’t get enough, and BlueFace found himself staging meet and greets for a growing legion of young followers. Even after accidentally Instagraming himself in the nude, BlueFace remained unfazed, turning the inadvertent exposure into an extremely NSFW single cover.
“OFF BEAT” FLOW
Now that BlueFace’s music is more or less established, many have taken to criticizing his fascinating vocal presence. One YouTube commenter described it as “200 seagulls fighting over a piece of bread.” Others have drawn comparisons between the free-flowing delivery of Suga Free, praising its originality. In fact, it has become the dominant point of BlueFace related discourse, to the point where the rapper himself has come to own the “off beat” descriptor. “The beat go on my accord,” laughs BlueFace, speaking with Refuse Media. “I don’t go on the beat accord.”
FREE BLUEFACE
BlueFace recently found himself arrested on November 19th, after allegedly retaliating after being robbed. According to a report from The Signal, BlueFace was at a Chevron gas station in Sierra Highway when he was robbed by a “Hispanic Male,” who proceeded to flee the scene in a pickup truck. BlueFace proceeded to give chase, opening fire on the robber, which led to a collision between the two vehicles. Eventually, a collision occurred on Highway 14, though no life-threatening injuries were reported.
Unfortunately for BlueFace, he was arrested for his involvement in the shooting slash chase, over suspicion of assault with a deadly weapon. The rapper actually spent a weekend in jail, and was eventually released on a $50,000 bail. “They done fucked up and freed the famous Cryp,” warns BlueFace, shortly after his brief stint in the clink. “I’m back on my bullshit.”
FAMOUS CO-SIGNS
On November 21st, a representative from Cash Money West confirmed that BlueFace had joined Birdman and Wack 100’s roster. From that point, it seems as if a new A-lister has emerged to hit BlueFace with the co-sign. We’ve already received confirmation that Drake and BlueFace will be joining forces over a Boi-1da instrumental; “Next Big Thing and Dead Locs been my anthems,” writes Drake, in BlueFace’s DMs. “You know I’m always ready to cook.” Look for that track to drop in the near future.
Not only has the 6ix God bestowed his coveted co-sign upon the young rapper, but so too has Lil Uzi Vert, Young Thug, Chief Keef, and Lil Pump. Upon posing with Lil Uzi, BlueFace confirms that the pair has one on the way. We can only imagine that his official debut album will feature a cavalcade of established artists looking to hop on the wave. What do ya’ll think: Is BlueFace here to stay?