Project Blowed

Project Blowed
Founded 1994 (1994)[1]
Founder Aceyalone, Abstract Rude
Genre Underground hip hop
Country of origin  USA
Location Los Angeles, California
Official website Project Blowed on Twitter

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

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, and Ice Cube 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 a 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] The participation in Project Blowed positively shaped the lives of the local community.

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] For many the collective nature of Blowed is a lot of its appeal; from MC’s and DJ’s to break and funk dancers for many, “The Blowed is like a family.”

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]

Roster (partial)

Compilation albums

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. 1 2 Morgan, Marcyliena (March 23, 2009). The Real Hiphop: Battling for Knowledge, Power, and Respect in the LA Underground.
  4. 1 2 Mullen, Brendan (June 21, 2000). "Down for the Good Life". LA Weekly.
  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.
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