Blu had something special on his hands in 2009. His debut solo studio album, theGODleeBarnes(lp), was three years in the making. Blu had been rising in prominence during that same time period ever since he had released the heralded Below the Heavens with producer Exile in 2007. The following year saw him release two albums but both as part of a duo: The Piece Talks with rapper/producer Ta’Raach as C.R.A.C. and Johnson&Jonson with producer Mainframe.

Blu had grown his reputation as a result of his introspective and widely relatable lyrics that were stunningly honest in their confessions. theGODleeBarnes(lp) was to be no different. This was slated to be the awakening for the general public that this rapper from California was to be a next forbearer of the genre. Blu believed wholeheartedly in what this album was to represent.

“Til We Die” is the epitome of this. Blu affirms his dedication to his nonconventional style, laments his children growing up in commercialisation of society, explores the overcoming of his general hopelessness, advocates for non-conformability and ultimately finds confidence in his own individuality. It is a poetic exercise laid out over an almost haunting vocal sample that is uplifted by its guitar stabs.

We almost never heard it. Blu’s hard drive containing the project of his life crashed and he lost the master files of his album. How heartbreaking it must have been to be on the cusp of immortality for it to be derailed by such an ordinary happening.

Blu shared the rough recordings of his album in the form of a continuous file on Twitter in 2010. There was no grandiose premiere that was to match the potential of what this album meant. Blu simply wrote with its release: “Since’07,3YearYearsInTheMaking…”

“Til We Die” is an urging of what could have been and ultimately what would be. Fortunately, the what would be at least resulted in its existence.