West Coast emblem and Grammy-nominated hip-hop artist Blxst releases his highly-anticipated debut album, ‘I’ll Always Come Find You’ on Red Bull Records/EVGLE. Executive produced by Grammy-winning producer Sounwave (previously produced for Kendrick Lamar, Taylor Swift, Beyoncé), the project spans 20 tracks at nearly an hour in length, weaving a cohesive story across four chapters.
Reviving the art of the concept album, Blxst builds a cinematic world around a character named Birdie, a young man who inherits his father’s chauffeur car service upon his sudden passing. While Birdie’s focus is on the destination ahead, he’s confronted with a constant reminder of the life lessons his father instilled in him as experiences unfold in the backseat. ‘I’ll Always Come Find You’ is the soundtrack to Blxst and Birdie’s introspective journeys, analysing the twists and turns of love and relationships, personal identity, and self-reflection on their drive through life.
Showcasing his multi-dimensionality, Blxst balances his signature LA-rooted R&B sound with a diverse array of genres, styles, and instrumentation, ranging from rhythmic reggaeton to house beats. Determined to make the album he’d always dreamt of, he pulled inspiration from a melting pot of his greatest influences. The featured artists seamlessly guide moments in the storyline, with Offset appealing to Birdie’s young sense of adventure in “Risk Taker”, while Anderson .Paak warns him of falling too fast on the groove-laden, “Dance With The Devil”. Nights turn into mornings with Feid & Becky G on the cross-cultural number, “Rewind”, and just as Birdie’s ready to head home, Ty Dolla $ign steps in with another Platinum-worthy joint, “I Need Your Love”.
On the official music video, Blxst adds, “I look at Ty Dolla $ign like my sensei in music. Being from LA, he was one of the few that took sonic risks and it always inspired me to do the same. Full circle, to have a record like “I Need Your Love” that pushes taste palates and isn’t confined to one region, that was one off my checklist”.
Blxst debuted songs from ‘I’ll Always Come Find You’ live for fans in New York earlier this week, at the inaugural Red Bull On The Record. Blxst shares on his debut full-length that “Growing up, I was always a fan of concept albums – ‘Get Rich or Die Trying’, ‘The Carter’, ‘Graduation’ – and particularly, the “hero’s journey” storyline. On ‘I’ll Always Come Find You’, the character Birdie and I have gone through similar experiences but in alternate universes. It’s my way of telling a relatable story while protecting my privacy. This album can be anyone’s story, just hop in the backseat and come along for the ride.”
The car and driver motif is omnipresent throughout the project, whether in the detailed artwork and visuals by Creative Director, Amber Park (previously worked with Gunna, Sabrina Carpenter, Kehlani), or in the sound bites of car doors slamming, engines revving, and faux radio DJs. The narrative elements bring the story to life, with real actors like LaRoyce Hawkins of Chicago P.D. reading the part of Birdie’s father, Big E, and rap pioneer, E-40 playing the role of 95.5 40-Hour Radio host. Hip-hop’s favourite hype man Fatman Scoop also lends his iconic voice to “Too Many Friday Nights,” while the legendary Snoop Dogg’s unmistakable chops introduce “dedication hour” on “To The Moon”.
While Birdie might, Blxst never veers off course on ‘I’ll Always Come Find You’. Every sound bite is charged with intention and listeners get a front-row seat to his multi-dimensional artistry. As the journey nears its finale, it’s clear that Birdie has found a version of himself he never knew existed. On “Ten Summers or Better,” the warmth of Kamasi Washington’s grand arrangements in the 21-piece live orchestra signal brighter days ahead, on this note, Blxst says that “sometimes we’re so focused on the destination that we get distracted by everything that’s happening in the present,” he says. “There’s so much beauty around us in real time and if you don’t appreciate it, you’ll never grasp that moment.”
The attention to conceptual details allows the listener to feel like they’re riding in Birdie’s car for the duration of the album, and for West Coast fans, they get to experience just that as Blxst leads a convoy of chauffeured cars across the city of Los Angeles tomorrow. The fleet of vehicles will make their way to Supervsn Studios on Slauson Ave for a celebratory album release party.
