We have all heard the classic line, “Introductions are everything.” It is a staple statement our parents tell us before sending us on our way to our very first job interview and becomes something we think about when meeting any person for the first time. I can’t think of any medium where this statement rings more true than music. Musical artists often create hundreds of songs before even considering showing the fruits of their labor to the public. I can’t help but associate this principle to one of the most respected MC’s in the game, Nas. His introduction was the now infamous, ‘Live at the BBQ’. A teenager who came into the game straight swinging; laying everything he had out on the crowded table. Nas went on to become one of the most prolific game changers in hip-hop. He spoke about his life and the state of society and notably the state of music. In 2006, he even released an album titled, Hip-hop is Dead. So where am I going with this? Well, not too long after making that critical but heartfelt assertion, another artist decided it was time to make his presence known. His introduction came in the form of a supremely overlooked album, Below the Heavens in 2007. If you don’t know who I am referring to by now, you’re definitely not alone. This album was the product of West-coast rapper Blu and producer Exile. Continue reading Throwback Thursday Review: Below The Heavens | Blu and Exile →