Project Blowed

Project Blowed is an open-mic workshop, its affiliated underground hip hop crew and record label based in Los Angeles, California at 3333 Leimert.[2] This hip hop function started in 1994 and features many music groups, emcees, dancers, music producers, and graffiti artists local to the Southern California area.[3]

Project Blowed
Founded1994 (1994)[1]
Founder
GenreUnderground hip hop
Country of originUnited States
LocationLos Angeles, California
Official websiteProject Blowed on Twitter

History

The roots of Project Blowed can be traced back to the former Good Life Cafe, a health food center in then called South Central Los Angeles, California.[4] It was described by UGSMAG as "a platform for rappers to perform their material" and "a testing ground for Los Angeles' independent rap scene".[5] Lenny Kravitz, Snoop Dogg, Ice Cube, and cast members of the show "Beverly Hills 90210" reportedly attended the open-mic.[4]

In 1994, Aceyalone and Abstract Rude produced the original Project Blowed compilation album.[6] It was released in 1995.[7] In 2005, Project Blowed released a follow-up album, Project Blowed: 10th Anniversary, on Decon.[8]

Social impact

Project Blowed is the essential outlet for much of the LA underground hip hop culture. It is a place that many people of all genders can go to freestyle, rhyme, or just speak what is on their mind.[9] Project Blowed was a turning point for the underground culture; it "did not fan the flames of urban decay and societal attacks. Project Blowed was putting out the fire." Rappers were required to pay a small fee to enter a battle and formally introduce themselves, and "MCs generally did not resort to homophobic slurs or excessive name calling during rap battles, as such behavior denoted lack of skill." This group discouraged violent activity among the youth and encouraged strict norms and respect.[3]

Blowed events provided a "creative outlet and alternative career outside of gang life" for young black men. One of these men, Trenseta, after time in jail, spent time mentoring young rappers at Project Blowed. They successfully built a community and a network for these young, aspiring rappers.[10]

Women

While male MCs were more prominent at Project Blowed, five female members consistently appeared in the beginning of Project Blowed. Medusa, a female MC, MCed Project Blowed for over twenty years. She was the first MC at Thursday Night and won many battles with men and women.[11]

Expansion

With the expansion of the Blowdian roster to include newer groups such as Customer Service and Swim Team, Project Blowed has since opened new additional workshops in California's Inland Empire to accompany its former primary location in Leimert Park, Los Angeles.[12][13]

  • Original location: Los Angeles, California (hosted by NGA FSH, Rhymin' Riddlore?, Chu Chu and J-Smoov)
  • Expansion location: Inland Empire, California (hosted by Ganjah K)
  • Additional locations: Las Vegas, Nevada (hosted by Phoenix Orion) and Austin, Texas (hosted by Tray Loc)

Notable artists

Compilation albums

Project Blowed (1995)
No.TitleLyricsMusicLength
1."Jurassick"Aceyalone, Spoon Iodine, C.V.E.Home Grown Beatz3:44
2."Who's There?"Self Jupiter 0:06
3."Strength of A.T.U."Abstract RudeDigiak3:43
4."What a Pity"C.V.E.DJ Wolf1:05
5."Don't Get It Twisted"Figures of SpeechDigiak3:14
6."Hot"Freestyle FellowshipJMD, The Underground Railroad4:39
7."Once Upon a Freak"Tray LocCV Shack Productionz3:55
8."Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood"Dolla HollaJ-Sumbi3:08
9."Solo Is So Low"DK Toon, B CartoonFat Jack3:44
10."This Evening"  0:42
11."Heavyweights Round 2"P.E.A.C.E., T Love, Aceyalone, Nefertiti, Self Jupiter, BJ, Ganjah K, Medusa, Ko Ko, Myka 9, Volume 10Mathmattiks7:00
12."Funky Commercial Break"Funky TrendDigiak1:33
13."Second Chance"  0:09
14."I Don't Know"Abstract Rude, Aceyalone, Rhymin RiddloreFat Jack7:59
15."Yeh Man"Abstract RudeDigiak0:27
16."Narcolepsy"C.V.E., Rifleman Ellay KhuleCee Vee Beat Down, Hip Hop Kclan4:04
17."I Think?"AceyaloneAceyalone1:20
18."Maskaraid Part 1 & 2"Abstract Rude, AceyaloneFat Jack8:49
19."Treble and Bass"Abstract Rude, AceyaloneVic Hop4:25
Total length:63:46
Project Blowed: 10th Anniversary (2005)
No.TitleLyricsMusicLength
1."4343 Leimert Blvd. L.A., CA 90008"  2:11
2."Enter the Kaos"Aceyalone, Busdriver, Longevity, NgaFshRiddlore1:52
3."Who the F*ck Is You?"Aceyalone, Riddlore, Abstract Rude, Busdriver, RiflemanPMG4:31
4."Live @ the Blowed"Customer ServiceLongevity4:00
5."Villains"C.V.E.C.V.E.3:56
6."The People"Sach, Pigeon John, RiflemanOmid3:19
7."Sound Boy Murderers"Abstract Tribe UniqueFat Jack4:11
8."Too Underground"BusdriverKenny Segal4:40
9."Sounds Like"Hip Hop ClanNobody2:53
10."What's Your Aim?"Acid ReignRe.4m3:44
11."Cray Crazy"Aceyalone, Busdriver, Nocando, SubtitleThavius Beck4:45
12."Jazzy Girl"Myka 9, Busdriver, Xololanxinxo, TocaToca1:50
13."Astro Pimp"Cypher 7JB3:36
14."How You Been? (Homegirl)"OtherwizeJizzm High Definition2:52
15."What It Do?"Medusa, Mr. Perkins, Black Silver, Volume 10PMG2:29
16."Do Unto Others"AceyaloneBeat Science4:21
17."13th Month"Abstract Rude, Busdriver, Phoenix OrionKenny Segal4:25
18."Mama & Pappa Raised Right"Pterradacto, Aceyalone, Jah Orah, NonstopDJ Drez2:52
19."Battle Prone"Myka 9, Power Tung, Wreek OneMyka 93:27
20."Ruff Rhymes"Aceyalone, LongevityLongevity2:42
21."Doing What We Love"Jah OrahBeat Science5:54
Total length:74:40

See also

References

  1. Weiss, Jeff (December 15, 2011). "It's Your Anniversary: Underground hip-hop Project Blowed is 17". Los Angeles Times.
  2. Thill, Scott (October 19, 2011). "Freestyle Fellowship's Brain-Hop Delivers on Promise". Wired.
  3. Morgan, Marcyliena (March 23, 2009). The Real Hiphop: Battling for Knowledge, Power, and Respect in the LA Underground.
  4. Mullen, Brendan (June 21, 2000). "Down for the Good Life". LA Weekly. Archived from the original on January 3, 2013.
  5. B, Jon (May 13, 2008). "Ava DuVernay: This is the Life". UGSMAG.
  6. Ziegler, Chris (March 22, 2009). "Abstract Rude: It's Only at the Precipice That We Change". L.A. Record.
  7. Rabin, Nathan. "Project Blowed - Various Artists". AllMusic. Retrieved August 8, 2014.
  8. Herman, Max (September 27, 2005). "Project Blowed: 10th Anniversary". XLR8R.
  9. Tewksbury, Drew (June 22. 2012). “MURS, Dumbfoundead, & Medusa Discuss Freestyling Mecca Project Blowed and Why Hip Hop Lacks Female MC’s”. KCETLink.
  10. Hunt, Darnell and Ramon, Ana-Christina (December 9, 2015). “Black Los Angeles: American Dreams and Racial Realities”. 4, 117-139.
  11. Lee, Jooyoung (2009). “Open Mic”. Ethnography, 10(4), 475-495.
  12. Feuer, Daiana (July 31, 2009). "Busdriver: Worse Things than the World Blowing Up". L.A. Record.
  13. Bell, Max (August 6, 2019). "Spacebase Was The Place: The Life Of Ras G, Blunted Saint Of The L.A. Beat Scene". NPR. Retrieved August 5, 2020.
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