Blu has tiptoed around the Hip Hop scene throughout his career. Living in the margins of the mainstream on one hand and unfairly beholden to the underground on the other, he hasn’t had the right mix of material and label backing for an appropriate splash. Still, not tracking his process would be standoffish or out-of-touch. Alongside his finer work he’s left behind loose projects that sound both like unpolished gems and unfinished drafts. For fans, flocking to a Blu release has become a familiar process of tire-kicking and trying to figure out if he’s shown up or not. Whether he’s been intentional about it, his fluttering quality control has also helped temper expectations. At points he’s even seemed self-destructive, taking aim at his career so he might regain some of the freedom he lost in it.
Good To Be Home is the better, more streamlined version of Blu’s nonchalance. At worst, he’s been known to mumble through noisy tracks, but here he sounds more carefree than careless. While he isn’t as inwardly poetic as he’s been elsewhere, he’s focused his gaze nonetheless. The whole album is a dedication to his hometown, and he traces his footsteps around the city throughout. While it may not be forwardly gangster in content, he’s obviously suited up for a leaned back breeziness in the mode of West Coast classics.
“Good to Be Home is a Cadillac album,” he says in a recent LA Weekly feature, “the most G album I’ve made so far.”
Most of Bombay’s production on the album has a pleasant looseness to it. Rough-chop Soul loops and female vocal samples leave it feeling relaxed and nostalgic. On one of the pre-release leaks, Blu is sentimental about banging even if he’s upfront about avoiding it: “Dang, my cousin used to tell me, Boy watch for them colors. / Other than that you be the illest motherfucka / So I pushed to the streets / I pushed to the beach / End up pushin’ more raps than I ever pushed trees.” It’s an ode to a lifestyle that dominates West Coast Hip Hop’s footprint and the rapper seems like he’s trying to bring pieces of it forward. Songs like “The West” are tough-sounding on the surface without trying too hard to be. It’s a vibe more than a story; the menace in the guitar riff alone is enough to conjure up Blu’s most aggressive L.A. pride.
Given the longer tracklist, he does bounce around familiar mannerisms: crushingly pensive here, fly shit-talk there. Of the more introspective material, “He Man” is the type of song that flies under the radar with its letter-to-an-ex like familiarity: “You was a wife to me / You said you’d die for me / Then you turned me right around when I got my crown / ‘Cause you know I been around / And this is your town / Makes you really miss a smile when you get a frown / You fell in love with my potential, I get it now.” That last line might apply as much to his relationship with fans as it does to a former love interest (presumably the same one that’s kept him limping along).
With as many features as Good To Be Home has, they’re mostly gratifying as a nod to Blu’s regionalism. When Fashawn opens up “Boyz N The Hood” over funky strings and faraway horns or Thurz and Evidence appear separately elsewhere, it’s immediately satisfying and justified. Still, with more than a dozen featured rappers on the first disc alone the effect might be a bit overdone, especially with some less-than-memorable tag-alongs. There’s an odd and immediate satisfaction attached to Prodigy’s cameo, and the veteran New Yorker makes an easy transition over the relatively grungy bass of “Red & Gold.” He sounds at home too.
“Rap Dope” changes the pace to start the second disc and leans away from the smooth Soul that characterizes much of the release. Even with the shimmering sounds in the background, the distorted drums clutter the track with noise. “Dre Day” hones in like an up-to-date Cali anthem and ode to its greatest innovator rolled into one. “World class since Wreckin’ Cru / Cause my resume say ‘wreckin’ crews,’” he raps.
Particularly for it to endure as a whole down the line, the double album format along with a handful of its songs might have been scrapped to good effect. But Blu’s managed to pull off a long-tracklist without bogging himself down. Even with too many features, it’s a surprisingly easy listen for a 20-track album. The result is a smattering of Blu’s better sides with some easy skips. All the while, he’s never waved his state flag so high with either his lyrics or production. A nagging audience be damned, Good To Be Home is a reminder that Blu is more than one thing at once. Even if he suggests it’s more suited for the car than a pair of headphones, it’s good to see him sit still for a moment. If he’s remembered for one project that would already be several too few; Good To Be Home is worthy of the list.
RELATED: Blu “Good To Be Home” Release Date, Cover Art, Tracklist & Album Stream [News]
Production is awful, he needs to come back with Exile.
This album goes hard as hell both lyrics and beats… Exile is cool but this CD is harder and more street……. I like the change for Blu as he gets buys over any production. One of the best CD’s of the year with Blueprint….
Yogi is cool
LMAO at the random gayness of that shit good troll
I only heard Below The Heavens but I see his name a lot, any essential LPs to check?
Jesus. No York. Her Favorite Colour.
to add to NC’s list, give me my flowers while i can smell them
I agree with first dude, without exile his beats been kind of run of the mill
this album is brilliant! raw hip hop!
Far superior than the rest
This album goes hard. Blu did it again. Standout tracks Boyz N the Hood, The LA, Dre Day
This album and Pinata is by far the best so far this year. Blu straight up killed each track, This has to be his most grittiest project to date. Each song is sequenced flawlessly and even though it might be long it never gets old. I would personally give this album a 4.5. Blu released a awesome project and Bombay did great with the production.
Go out and buy this album, or get it from amazon. Support BLU!
Whew
to put out a double album with a real theme and no filler is no easy feat but somehow blu pulled it off. straight dope.
crack!
fire
dope shit
Who are these people?
Dope album Blu is lyrical killah! but a few to many ft needs more Blu!
Blu and if you see the e drop em
its like they sellin e from all the beats e’s droppin got your peeps eavesdroppin while the world keeps watchin!
Am i the only person annoyed by the fact that blu almost never seems to believe in mixing or mastering? this album would prob sound great on vinyl but the itunes version sounds like an extra ruff demo most of the time, songs are dope tho
I thought I was the only one who is somewhat annoyed by that. I can understand trying to create a ‘sound’ (e.g., Wu-Tang), but the mix actually interferes with the enjoyment of the album.
maybe your just a faggot
i think you need to get your ears checked.. the vocals are clean.. the beats are dusty.
Blu will forever be cursed with this “illmatic syndrome” after releasing a classic like below the heavens as his debut. Regardless of all that, good to be home is a dope album, it really is an ode to California and if you’re not from here I wouldn’t expect you to understand. Still the only problem with the album is the sound quality, but it does give the album a sort of more rawer, grittier sound. All in all, blu has released several dope projects after below the heavens like her favorite colour, Jesus, give me my flowers, and now good to be home can be added to that list.
I agree with the sound quality… i understand the gritty samples, and i like vinyl crackling on songs, it doesnt bother me. But the constant panning (or what sounds like panning) is too much…
“The Return” track has it the worst i think. i cant even listen with headphones on, it drives me nuts. A little easier to listen to on open speakers… everything else tho, the beats the rhymes the whole vibe, fuckin love it…. just WISH the sound was cleaned up.
I like Blu, because the strange sound quality of his albums (I know he do it that way on purpose) I can’t listen to any of his last albums…. I don’t know how it would sound on 500 speakers but on my 120 speakers it sounds like crap….
straight fire
Better than bth imo
Still don’t get why people can’t get over the introspective, emotional, “soulful” debut. BTH was great but can we just drop it, each blu album is different and this is some shit that has soul and energy and aggression on it. Something you can bang out. I do agree that there are too many features on this though, was skeptic but pleasantly surprised for the most part for sure.
dope
Blu stepped up and delivered big.
dope
I want to know the sample used on “The 50z”. Banging
Blu is one of the most honest and introspective artists currently active, and is also a profound poet with a knack for vivid imagery and poetic lyricism. This album is a dependable example of that. This is only second to Below The Heavens as the best project Blu has released in my opinion. Well worth a listen, but I recommend playing it from start to finish a few times. Each listen reveals more meaning than the last, the mark of not only a great lyricist, but of any remarkable poet.
Well said, this album is totally amazing. More people need to hear this!
album definitely underrrated by xxl, pitchfork and other sites
pitchfork is the most hipster site online… they gave keefs album a 9
This album is the the ONE for this summer, hands down.
Great album I like all his work
Dope album. Found out about him years ago on mistake but even The Roots acknowledged the kid and Blackthought is just sick. Support the kid. You wont be disappointed.
some old school west shit
That nicca Blu kilt it
’90 ‘s inspired dope album, only problem is it never really climaxes, still dope Lp regardless.
Soul Amazing !
Great Project My Brother ^_^
Blu is AWAYS changing the way he do his albums and when he hits, which is the case of this album, is amazing! Maybe the best album of the year for me.
I love country music. This guy is a Country Rock Star!
Did he make this in the 90’s? Shit sound dated as fuck. Its still dope tho.
This is how hip hop should sound and make you feel
Nuff said!
So tangible!!
Pretty negative review for the rating you gave.