Written by Noah Goodbaum | Photography by Philip Litevsky

When Below The Heavens saw release late last year, it caused a storm. Tastemakers fell all over themselves to rep for a theretofore unknown talent out of L.A.– a fella named Blu who combined sterling party-rocking bravado with some of the most thoughtful and introspective ruminations we’ve heard on a rap record since Resurrection.

And as it turned out, the songs translate live really well, with Blu’s everyday-man reflections not losing a bit of their potency when he’s spitting them onstage or turning them over to rabid fans to recite from memory to an awestruck crowd.

Blu spares no effort to delve into complex emotions, but he always talks about ‘em in a way any of us could relate to, without sacrificing the fire that makes him one of the hungriest new jacks on the mic in a minute. Producer Exile couldn’t make it out, but the latest true-school golden boy didn’t disappoint– “No Greater Love”, “Soul Amazin’”, and “My World Is…” were some of the highlights, but the whole show was rock-solid. Don’t be surprised if this cat’s fanbase increases on the daily– he’s got a lot of the stuff a rapper needs to be great already, and it was on display that night.