Cashus King’s new collaborative effort with his partner in rhyme Blu adds to the pair’s storied career.
True friendships still exist, it’s just rare that we see ones as longstanding, genuine, and mutually beneficial as the one that exists between LA wordsmiths Blu and Cashus King. Spanning over a decade and a half, both men stood alongside as the other raised California’s banner higher with their seminal works Before I Awoke and Below the Heavens.
Although Blu’s star landed further, it didn’t diminish the pair’s friendship and artistic connection which is evidenced in the frequency of their collaborations.
“We have that earned energy. They say as an artist you have to put in your 10,000 hours, but we’ve put that 10,000 in as friends and collaborative partners. We share a similar worldview and we care about the same things. But most of all we only come together when it feels right so that’s why it works.”
Over the course of the years, Cashus has become Blu’s most frequent collaborator, even going as far as saying that his best verses tend to come when the pair work together. Out of that organic love comes the duo’s project, The Blu(e) Tape, another tongue-in-cheek nod to the emcee’s moniker.
The album’s art pays homage to the classic collaboration between Raekwon and Ghostface Killah, Only Built for Cuban Linx, which was affectionately referenced as the Purple Tape.
“The Blu(e) Tape is a mega blend. It’s a concept of mega songs that has a cohesive plot and a bunch of chapters. Each section has its own subsections that have its own productions.”
When asked what fans should expect to get from the project, Cashus said,
“Look out for the song Circa 2009. Blu gives insights into his life that he hasn’t revealed, but the whole blend is a deep dive into the psyche of us both. Blu focuses on the past while I explore the frustrations of dreams unfulfilled.”
13 minutes in total, the EP’s standout songs include cuts such as “Tru(e) Blu(e)”, “Measurements of Rain”, “Circa 2009”, and “He is Blu(e)”, but you’d be hardpressed to find a favorite song.
Cohesive and competitive, the EP allows both men to showcase their skills and provide their fans with enough bars and beats to beat the blues. For Cashus, who’s coming off a stellar year with his critically acclaimed album, The Weight of Wind, the Blu(e) Tape is his chance to elevate his name and reintroduce him to others.
“The goal for the Blue Tape is to legitimize Cashus King. It’s about the concept, but we are pushing it through Blu to raise my visibility. I’m hoping that this raises my notoriety and opens some doors.”
Wright World 