BluRum13

James Sobers (born May 13, 1974), a.k.a. BluRum13 (alternate spellings include Blu Rum 13, BluRum 13, and Blurum 13) is an American rapper (MC/emcee) and producer under the pseudonym Killa Platypus.^[1] Originally from New York City, he spent most of his formative years in Washington D.C.

Career

From 1998 to 2006, BluRum13 was closely associated with London-based DJ Vadim and the Ninja Tune record label when he toured as emcee for Vadim’s live group The Russian Percussion^[2] (also featuring beatboxer Killa Kela and DJ Mr Thing). The group was created to promote the album Life From the Other Side^[3] (Ninja Tune, 1999), for which BluRum contributed the track “It’s Obvious.” Vadim and BluRum went on to form the hip hop group One Self in 2005 with MC Yarah Bravo, releasing the album Children of Possibility, also released on Ninja Tune.^[4]

Bands & Projects

BluRum13 has been a member of several bands, including Montreal-based Bullfrog (featuring Kid Koala, released on Ropeadope/Atlantic Records^[5]), and is a member of the London-based collective the True Ingredients. BluRum has also been a featured emcee and live front-man for several other groups, including US3, Fat Freddy’s Drop,^[6] Reverse Engineering,^[7] Resin Dogs,^[8] Aquasky,^[9] and many more.

In 2012, BluRum13 released a joint project with Manchester artist Matt Brewer, a.k.a. Frameworks, entitled "The Brickbuilders EP." That same year, BluRum13 began a live show collaboration with acclaimed Spanish jazz drummer Mark Ayza,^[10] and also founded the dub-hop/electro step group Indigenous Invaders^[11] with DJ Toner^[12] (Granada). Indigenous Invaders appeared live at the world’s first YouTube music festival “YouFest” in Madrid on September 28, 2012.^[13]

Discography

BluRum13 Releases

• Inverted (LP) Online release 2013
• Sleep Speechless / On Course (12") Jazz Fudge 2000
• Figure It Out / It Is (12") Jazz Fudge 2001
• Vaguely Familiar (3 versions) Jazz Fudge 2001
• "Did You?" Jazz Fudge 2003
• Do It (4 What?) / Be 1 Too / Odds Even (12") Analogic Recordings 2005
• Earthbound / Futuristic B-Boys (12") The Elephant 2005
• Tell Me You Love It (EP) (2 versions) 777 Records 2008
• The Hip Hop EP (12") 777 Records 2008
• Choose To Care (12") The Elephant
• The Brickbuilders EP with Frameworks (EP) My First Moth 2012

Bullfrog

• Bullfrog - s/t (Ropeadope Records) 2001
• Bullfrog / Robertson - Deeper Shade of Green (Independent) 2004

One Self

• "Be Your Own" w/Amp Fiddler remix 12” and Ltd Edition (Ninja Tune, April 2005)
• "The Blue Bird"/Fear The Labour" 12” (Ninja Tune, May 2005)
• Children Of Possibility LP (Ninja Tune, June 2005) with Yarah Bravo and BluRum13.
• "Paranoid/Over Expose/Come Along" 12” (Ninja Tune, September 2005)
• "Organically Grown" EP (November 2006)

True Ingredients

• All Out single (2005)
• Prepare & Assemble album (2008)
• Who's Next single (2010)

Featured On

• "It's Obvious" (Single) (2 versions) Ninja Tune 1999
• U.S.S.R. Life From The Other Side (Album) (5 versions) 2002
• Bullfrog EP 2 (CD, Mini) Rope-a-Dope/Atlantic Records 2000
• U.S.S.R. The Art Of Listening (Album) (2 versions) "Till Suns In Your Eyes"

Ninja Tune 2002

• Mash Up (2 versions) "Choose To Care" (Main) Discograph 2005
• Reverse Engineering Feat. BluRum13 (LP) Jarring Effects 2005
• Między Nami Cafe 4 (CD, Comp, Mixed, Dig) "Be Your Own" (Amp Fiddler)

Audiopharm 2005

• Nutrition Facts (CD, Album) Dramenbejsky Gig Ant 2005
• "A Hundred Days In One" (2 versions) Rest Assured Catskills Records 2006
• "Cay's Crays" (Single) (3 versions)
• "Cay's Crays" (One Self) Kartel Creative 2006
• Duck And Cover (CD, Album) Tug O War, Soundsystem, Jarring Effects 2006
• Ghost Forest (CD, Album) No Fridge 2006
• "Temptation" Jstar UK Dubs Remixes Vol. 1 (12") Jstar 2006
• "Liquid Surfaces" Re-Processed #1 (2 versions) Jarring Effects 2006
• "There Are Things..." Closed (2xCD, Album) All Soundz 2007
• "Choose To Care" DJ Netik - Champion Sounds (CD, Mixed) DMC 2007
• "DTTR" (12") (Total Terror mix) Jarring Effects 2007
• "End Game" More (CD, Album, Dig) Hydrofunk Records 2007
• The Soundcatcher Extras (Album) (2 versions) Quand Vient La Nuit BBE 2007
• "Invisible Soldiers" Миледи (CD, Album) True-Melody 2007
• "Alignment" Battlefield (2xLP, Album) Jarring Effects 2008
• "Alignment" French Dub System 2008 (CD, Comp) Wagram 2008
• "Choose To Care" Targets (Album) (2 versions) Discograph 2008
• Under The Influence (CD, Enh) Channels Etage Noir Recordings 2008
• "Lost In A Vortex" Berlin Eggsile (CD, Album, Jak) Jarring Effects 2010
• "Stormy Minds" Figure One (A JFX Studio Session) (12", White Album) Jarring Effects 2010
• "Defiance" "Future Shock" Highly Complex Machinery (CD, Album, Dig) Jarring Effects 2010

Tracks Appear On

• "It's Obvious" #20 (Cass, Comp, Mixed) Not On Label (DJ Kojak Self-released) 2000
• "Letter Twenty Five" Juice CD Volume 21 (CD, Comp) Juice Magazine 2002
• "It Is" MPM (Mikirov Per Minute) (Cass) 2002
• "It Is" Spotlight Records (3) 2002
• "We Might Be You" Up North Trip, (CD, Comp, Promo) Under Pressure Magazine 2002
• "Did You" DJ Vadim - Stereo Pictures Vol. 03 (CD, Mixed, Promo, Album) MK2 Music 2003
• "Talking Green" Dope Beats Vol. 1 - Jusqu'Ici Tout Va Bien (CD, Comp, Dig) Supadope Records 2005
• "Soundsystem" Various - Métissages Vol. 1 (CD, Comp) V2 Music France 2006
• "Choose to Care" Various - Scopitone Nantes/Rezé (CD, Comp, Dig) Olympic (3) 2006
• "Tell Me You Love It" Break Beat Bass Vol 4 (CD, Mixed by Aquasky) Passenger 2008
• "Love to Hate War" (Dusty Remix) Various - Electro Swing Fever (4xCD, Comp + Box) Wagram 2010
• "Stormy Minds" Various - Audioactivism #2 (CD, Comp) Jarring Effects 2010

Unofficial Releases

• Def Beat Remixes Vol. 3 (2xLP, Comp, Unofficial) 2005

External links

• BluRum13 official website
• Indigenous Invaders official website
• BluRum13 Discogs

References