BLXST: Bloomed From LA’s Soil

Kendrick Lamar recently released his critically acclaimed and long-awaited album following a 5-year-hiatus, “Mr. Morale & The Big Steppers.” The time in between 2017’s mainstream undertaking “DAMN,” and this project, the last album under TDE, has allowed the opportunity for unsung talent to hastily claim their spot at Hip-Hop’s table given his withdrawal from his seat.

One of these talents includes fellow LA native and recently emerging talent, Blxst. He took hold of LA’s rap scene back in 2014 and, coincidentally during this time, was thrown an assist from Hub-City’s novelist on a track he produced, “Do Yo Gudda,” remix alongside YG & Problem. This look would over time yield good rap karma. 8-years-later life came full circle and he was able to return the favor to Kendrick on likely the most anticipated album of his career.

​Blxst’s music carries an atmospheric aura along with his melodic intonations that radiate with his west-coast roots. Having been featured on projects with some of the more established mainstream figures like Rick Ross and Mozzy, who signed to Yo Gotti’s label back in February, CMG, his latest showing on Kendrick’s album contributed to his resume as well as further planted his feet within both LA’s and Hip-Hop’s soil.

“Die Hard,” also featuring Bajan soul-singer Amanda Reifer, was sonically consistent with Blxst’s current style and his voice floated rhythmically over unhurried drums and ambient bells. All in synchrony with Amanda’s canorous crooning. Blxst has consistently shown up in features as well as established his unique style through EPs, notably the first installment of he and Bino Rideaux's 2019 collaborative series, “Sixtape.”

​More recently, the follow-up to his debut mixtape, “No Love Lost,” “Before you go” was yet another successful effort to validate himself as one of LA’s premier artists, whether you consider him R&B or Hip-Hop. Other than a well-deserved, returning of a favor to the homie after almost 10 years, Kendrick likely invited him onto the album to show himself as an earmark for a radio hit, and a shot at mainstream commendation.

Blxst has reached a comfortable stride and this showing on an album that the entire world had eyes on only made his presence more vivid and radiant under Hip-Hop’s luminescence. Nothing but good has grown from the soil of the West, and he has effortlessly been one of the most vibrant to bloom from its greenery.