This weekend it was announced that 2007 and 2008 HipHopDX Award-winner [click to read] Blu [click to read] has signed with Sire Records, a division of Warner Brothers.

In a blog piece featured in the Los Angeles Times online section, the local rapper said of his rise to national acclaim, "I’m not going to save Hip Hop. Hip Hop is safe. There’s a lot of [factors] trying to bring Hip Hop down. Hip Hop is a reflection of the world now. It’s not just Harlem. I’ll continue to live my life and make music and continue to be an inspiration."

Blu's manager and publicist, Jonathan Kim, added, "This is one step further to where we would like to see Blu’s career end up."

In 2007, Blu released Below The Heavens [click to read] with producer Exile on Sound In Color Records. Last year, two joint efforts, The Piece Talks [click to read] as C.R.A.C. with Ta'raach as well as the self-titled Mainframe collaboration as Johnson & Jonson [click to read] were released on Tres.

Late last year, it was rumored that the 25 year-old emcee and producer, once approached by Suge Knight to sign with Death Row, was being courted by labels ranging from Warner to Duck Down.

Blu's major label debut is said to be arriving this fall.