Before we get into day three of the Blu & Exile “Blu Coller Worker” video shoot, let me post up a couple of late additions from day two. The pic above is Blu waking up at his house and I’m guessing it’ll be the opening shot of the video. Below is another pic from Chikara’s studio, this time of Blu at the mic stand.
So anyways, day three started off at a cool ass record store called Record Surplus (how great is their vintage art on the wall in the pic below), where Blu digs for breaks (dude is on his production grind, I’m telling you).
Next we headed over to the Santa Monica Promenade to meet up with our first female lead (big up J.C.) for a shot of Blu in date mode.
After the first date, date mode Blu rushed around the corner for a second date with a different PYT at the pier.
The hustle never stops though, so Blu was off to Exile’s house to drop off the CD with vocals from Chikara’s studio.
Over at Exile’s house, me, Ex, Blu’s cousin Sean & Mainframe (from Johnson & Jonson) were just hangin’ out (c) Main Source, talking records and playing Ms. Pac Man (the classic) when Blu burst in the door to drop off the CD.
Above:Me and Exile chillin
Below:From the director’s POV
Check out this video clip of one take of Blu’s grand entrance to Exile’s house.
Once Blu hands him the vocal track, it’s over to Exile’s MPC to find the right beat (imagine the heat on the beat tapes on Exile’s table).
After Exile’s house, Blu hopped back on his bike to go rock a loft party. Below, Blu’s manager J Kim, Blu And DP Jean get things setup for the performance shot at the loft.
The LA homey Free Speech came through for a cameo and a few quick pics like this one with my fellow executive producer Eric Maitrepierre aka France. By the way, Free Speech & Ro Blvd’s “Everything Is Different Now” video was director Aaron Rosenbloom’s last rap shoot, make sure to check it out.
The performance started early with Exile & Ta’Raach on the tables and hosting plus cameos from some of LA’s most beautiful women and up & coming artists.
Ta’Raach (aka Lacks aka part of C.R.A.C. Knuckles with Blu) held us down as host/opening DJ/MC/hype man/etc throughout the night.
By the time the lights were seup enough people had got their to get party started and Blu started the first take, crushing “Blu Collar Worker” for the enthused crowd.
Early into the performance shots a fuse blew , blacking out the whole spot (the crowd broke into a “the roof, the roof, the roof is on fire” (c) Rock Master Scott chant, how cool is that?). After getting the fuses turned back on and fliming a little more, the lights suspiciously went out again, this time for good.
The crowd emptied out into the adjacent parkin lot waiting to see if the lights would come back on…they didn’t (and we tried EVERYTHING to get power, even hittin the liquor store next door with cash to try to run power from them). The pic below was taken like half the party had waited about 45 minutes and left. Ta’Raach is explaining the situation and thanking everyone who stuck around for coming out .
The crew, Blu, Exile, Ta’Raach and the homies wrapped things up at the loft, then we headed back to Exile’s house to celebrate. Even with the power going out we got three takes of Blu performing for a hyped crowd in the packed loft. And while we didn’t get all the extra luxury crowd shots, we have more than enough footage to make the video work and look great. Below Blu and director Aaron Rosenbloom shake on a finishing up the shoot. Stay tuned for more info on the video, it’s premier and the other project I’m workin on with Blu.
Props go out to Blu & Exile, the director Aaron Rosenbloom, producer Exile Ramirez, co-executive producer Eric Maitrepiere, J Kim, Free Speech, J.C., Dom from LMM, A Step Ahead Productions, Pharmacy Films, Record Surplus, Akomplice, 10 Deep, Estate LA, Strictly Fitteds and everyone else who helped make the video happen.
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