Hip Hop isn't dead, it just needs to be woken up and the best way to wake it up is by playing banging beats as loud as possible. That's when Portugal's own Blastah Beatz comes in. To be born in Europe during the 80's means growing up listening to the golden era of Hip Hop. So to Blastah Beatz, this is the only kind of Hip Hop that should exist. That's why ever since he's been layering sounds to create that perfect track that will make your head nod for days, Blastah has only been about that boom-bap sh*t.
This young producer has been on a mission. From digging up that sample that no one ever dared to flip to mixing it with the heaviest bass and the hardest drums, Blastah has been looking to hook up the best artists with the beats they deserved. So far, it's been paying off as he's building a strong reputation as one of the best foreign up-and-coming producers. Busta Rhymes, Joe Budden, Papoose, Del the Funky Homosapien, Cappadonna, Murs, Tragedy Khadafi, J-Hood, Supastition, Pumpkinhead and Aloe Blacc are just some of the renown emcees who were blessed by Blastah's production.
"I'm not the producer that will give you the big beats with synths and all; I'm just that dude you need to have on your album to keep the balance with real Hip Hop beats," he says. That's the main reason why most of his work has been released on an independent level; a situation the Portuguese producer feels comfortable in.
In March 2008 Blastah was handpicked amongst hundreds to be part of a select group of 10 producers that took part in Money Management's One Stop Shop Beat Battle in Phoenix, AZ. "I flew 5500 miles for that and met some of the industry's best professionals. I learned that I like the mainstream scene, but the underground likes me better, and that's where my heart's at".
G-Unit production mastermind Sha Money XL and Chamillionaire were part of the panel of judges at the beat battle and they were all very impressed by Blastah's skills. "I'm feeling the samples, how he chops them up and does his thing with them. Plus, coming from where he coming from man, that long-a** flight, his hunger, I feel it all," said Sha Money. DJ Kay Slay also co-signed Blastah on a Streetsweepers mixtape.
Blastah's most recent accomplishment was having four of his beats making the cut on Joe Budden highly-anticipated sophomore album "Padded Room". "I met Blastah, (.) and it turns out that Blastah was an incredible musician. He just continued to give me beat, after beat, after beat, and they were all pretty crazy so he ended up on my album", said Joe Budden.
But perhaps the greatest praise Blastah received came from Jay Williams of BeatDynasty.com. "This dude's internet grind is SERIOUS!!! He might make you feel bad for living in the United States and not having as many credits. Blastah Beatz is on his way to the moon. (.) With firm roots in Hip Hop purity and a sound reminiscent of classic producers of the Golden Era, the Portugal resident is garnering a ton of attention".
Yeah, that pretty much sums it all.
-by Pascal LeBlanc aka P. The Rebel
