Project Blowed

The Good Life

The roots of Project Blowed can be traced back to the Good Life Cafe, a Health Food Center in South Central Los Angeles, California.[1] In December 1989 Promoted by owner B. Hall and her son R. Kain Blaze, the Good Life offered a workshop-like atmosphere for aspiring MCs, poets and musicians to hone their craft. On Thursday nights from 8-10pm, artists were allowed to perform one song in an attempt to entertain the cafe audience. Artist had the option of performing written songs, or freestyling. When a performance was not up to par, the audience would begin a chant of "Please pass the mic!" and the performer was forced to end the performance by passing the microphone to the next artist scheduled to perform.

One of the many defining characteristics of the Goodlife was the strict No Profanity Policy.

"Young people needed a place to go to develop their own art. The no-cussing policy wasn’t about us being uptight church people, it was about wanting the atmosphere of a serious arts workshop. Most of the crowd respected the rule, some said it made rapping more challenging, that it created more respect and brotherhood." -B. Hall, Interview

Ice Cube, Snoop Dogg, and Lenny Kravitz all reportedly attended the open-mic[2], and artists such as The Pharcyde, Biz Markie, Fat Joe (whose mic was unplugged because he broke the no-cursing rule), Skee-Lo, and Kurupt occasionally performed there as well. Good Life Regulars Rebels of Rhythm and Unity Committee would come together to form the better known group Jurassic 5. Will.I.Am and Digital Underground have both visited the Good Life and Project Blowed as well. By 1992, the weekly open-mic literally had crowds spilling out into the street. From Good Life regulars Freestyle Fellowship, Abstract Rude, Chillin Villain Empire, Rifleman Ellay Khule, Volume 10, Medusa, Figures of Speech, Spoon Iodine, Ganjah K, and Fat Jack, to the weekly spectators- the Good Life Era is regarded by most fans as the Golden Age of Project Blowed.

"The Good Life was a renaissance period in hip hop." -Cut Chemist, Jurassic 5 Interview

[edit] Project Blowed Workshop

In 1994, hip hop artists Aceyalone and Abstract Rude brought an open-mic aspect to the pre-existing string of workshops known as KAOS Network. Founded in 1984 by Cal-Arts Film Professor Ben Caldwell, KAOS Network offered weekly classes and workshops in video production, animation, digital arts, and artist development in South Central's Leimert Park District. This newly established weekly open-mic workshop would operate Thursday Nights and later become known as Project Blowed, the West Coast equivalent of the hip hop landmark the Lyricist Lounge. Unlike the Good Life, Project Blowed does not have a rule against cursing. This combined with the nighttime atmosphere provided a much darker setting than Goodlife Era Blowdians were accustomed to.

"The Blowed was darker than a motherf*cker inside. The moods changed to a darker feeling. You could say whatever you wanted [to say]." -Ellay Khule, Interview

[edit] Aspects of the Project Blowed

Chanting:
A common aspect of the Project Blowed is the "Strength in Numbers" theory. Although no individual audience member is louder than the performing artist, the crowd in unison can completely drown out even the amplification of the microphone through the speakers. This results in one or more audience member(s) starting chants when they are not content with the given performance.

Common chants include:

"Please, Pass the Mic!"

Used to get the performer offstage. Also used in lieu of booing.

"What you gonna do with that beat?!"

A challenge chant issued when the instrumental chosen is popular or generally considered to have been used well already by another artist.

Other aspects include ciphering, battling, styling, chopping, and a cappella rap.

Each year the Project Blowed holds an Anniversary Show which showcases the Blowdian artists that were in in demand throughout the year with many special guests and other Project Blowed affiliated artists in attendance.

[edit] Project Blowed Collective

The Project Blowed collective consists of MCs, DJs, producers, artists, dancers, musicians, poets, and various support staff such as agents, managers, and label CEOs- all of which are "Project Blowdians". It should be noted, however, that fans of this collective are also commonly referred to as Blowdians and that many of the initial membership still refer to themselves and one-another as "Goodlifers" or "Goodbrothers".

Some early Blowed Regulars include:

Freestyle Fellowship, Rifleman Ellay Khule, Chillin Villain Empire, Abstract Rude, Tribe Unique, 2mex & Xololanxinxo, AWOL One, Volume 10, Otherwize, Pterradacto, Busdriver, Pigeon John, Subtitle, Fat Jack, Omid, Figures of Speech, Chu Chu, J Smoov, Badru Umi, Medusa, Jah Orah, Funky Trend, The L.A. Breakers, and the RTN Crew. [3]

An overwhelming number of groups are the direct product of Project Blowed with the individual members meeting at the Blowed Workshop, Goodlife Cafe, or under some similar circumstance. Including:

* Jurassic 5

Formerly Rebels of Rhythm & Unity Committee

* The A-Team

Solo members Aceyalone & Abstract Rude

* Haiku D'Etat

Solo member Abstract Rude & Freestyle Fellowship's Aceyalone & Myka 9

* Customer Service

Solo members Kail, Psychosiz, SP83, Choice, JoeSue & The Weird People

* Thirsty Fish

Solo members Open Mike Eagle, Psychosiz, & Dumbfoundead

* The (SIS)Tem

Female MC, DJ, Graffiti Artist & Breaker union founded by Project Blowed.

Although Project Blowed releases albums as a Label, many Blowedians release albums independently or under other record labels as well.

The following albums are generally regarded as Blowedian Compilations:

Project Blowed (1994) (Various)
Beneath the Surface (1999) (Omid)
Cater to the DJ (1999) (Fat Jack)
The Good Brothers (2003) (Various)
Cater to the DJ Vol. 2 (2004) (Fat Jack)
Project Blowed 10th Anniversary (2005) (Various)
Project Blowed for Dummies (2006) (DJ Handprints)

Blowedians place a heavy emphasis on the ability to freestyle.[4] NoCanDo of Customer Service was the 2007 Scribble Jam freestyle battle champion[5]. In 1999 P.E.A.C.E. of Freestyle Fellowship finished 2nd place at Scribble Jam. That same year Otherwize defeated Eminem to win the 1999 Rap Olympics. More recently, Blowedians such as Busdriver and Thirsty Fish have appeared on G4TV's Freestyle 101 with NoCanDo and Dumbfoundead competting in the World Rap Championships.[6]

Many groups have joined the Project Blowed collective since its initial inception in the 1980s. Of Mexican Decent, Acid Reign, Dark Leaf, Missing Page, Customer Service, The Swim Team. With each revitilization the collective increases in its ranks. However, because leaving the collective is not as common an occurrence- the senior membership has gone largely unchanged.

[edit] Project Blowed Compilation Album

In 1994 Aceyalone and Abstract Rude executive produced the original Project Blowed compilation album.

The landmark recording showcased wildly diverse local legends[7] whose common bond was a desire to expand the musical, thematic, and lyrical horizons of hip-hop. Originally circulated independently, the limited run CD was subsequently purchased and traded by fans internationally- becoming something of a cult classic. The album would later achieve an even greater status amongst fans and collectors alike as many of the artists featured (Aceyalone, Volume 10, Freestyle Fellowship, Abstract Rude, etc.) would go on to have varying levels of mainstream success.

[edit] Project Blowed CD

1. Jurassick - Aceyalone, Spoon Iodine, C.V.E.
produced by Home Grown Beatz

2. Who's There? - Self-Jupiter (of Freestyle Fellowship)

3. Strength Of A.T.U. - Abstract Rude of ATU
produced by Digiak

4. What A Pity - Riddlore & Ngafsh (C.V.E.)
produced by DJ Wolf

5. Don't Get It Twisted - Jyant & Eve (of Figures Of Speech)
produced by Digiak

6. Hot - Freestyle Fellowship, Horace Tapscott, Underground Railroad
produced by JMD.

7. Once Upon A Freak - Tray Loc (of C.V.E.)
produced by CV Shack Productionz

8. Beautiful Day In The Neighborhood - Dolla Holla
produced by J-Sumbi

9. Solo Is So Low - DK Toon & B Cartoon
produced by Fat Jack

10. This Evening - (interlude)

11. Heavyweights Round 2 - Peace, T-Love, A.C., Nefertiti, Self-Jupiter, BJ, Ganjah K, Medusa,
Ko Ko, Myka Nyne, Volume 10 produced by Mathmattics

12. Funky Commercial Break - Funky Trend
produced by Digiak

13. Second Chance - (interlude)

14. I Don't Know - Abstract Rude of ATU , Aceyalone, Riddlore of CVE
produced by Fat Jack

15. Yeh Man - Abstract Rude of ATU
produced by Digiak

16. Narcolepsy - C.V.E., Rifleman Ellay Khule of Hip Hop Klan
produced by Cee Vee Beat Down & Hip Hop Kclan

17. I Think? - Aceyalone
produced by Aceyalone

18. Maskaraid Part 1 & 2 - Abstract Rude & Aceyalone
produced by Fat Jack

19. Treble And Bass - Aceyalone & Abstract Rude
produced by Vic Hop

[edit] Project Blowed 10th Anniversary Compilation Album

In 2005, to commemorate the 10 Year Anniversary of the first Project Blowed Compilation Album- Project Blowed/Decon Records released a follow up album packaged with a DVD. The Project Blowed 10th Anniversary CD and DVD was Executive Produced by Aceyalone & Peter Bittenbender, with Badru Umi also Executive Producing the DVD.

[edit] Project Blowed 10th Anniversary CD

1. "4343 Leimert Blvd. L.A., CA 90008"

2. "Enter the Kaos" - Aceyalone, Busdriver, Longevity, NgaFsh
produced by Riddlore

3. "Who the F*ck Is You?" - Aceyalone, Riddlore, Abstract Rude, Busdriver, Rifleman Ellay Khule
produced by PMG

4. "Live @ the Blowed" - Customer Service
produced by Longevity

5. "Villains" - C.V.E
produced by CVE

6. "The People" - Sach, Pigeon John, Rifleman Ellay Khule
produced by Omid

7. "Sound Boy Murderers" - Abstract Tribe Unique
produced by Fat Jack

8. "Too Underground" - Busdriver
produced by Kenny Segal

9. "Sounds Like" (Hip Hop Clan) - Rifleman Ellay Khule and Pterradacto
produced by Nobody

10. "What's Your Aim?" - Acid Reign
produced by Re.4m

11. "Cray Crazy" - Aceyalone, Busdriver, NoCanDo, Subtitle
produced by Thavius Beck

12. "Jazzy Girl" (Freestyle) - Myka 9, Busdriver, Xololanxinxo, and Toca
produced by Toca

13. "Astro Pimp" - Cypher 7
produced by JB

14. "How You Been?" (Homegirl) - Otherwize
produced by R. Leon (Jizzm High Definition)

15. "What It Do?" - Medusa, Mr. Perkins, Black Silver, Volume 10
produced by PMG

16. "Do Unto Others" - Aceyalone
produced by Beat Science

17. "13th Month" - Abstract Rude, Busdriver, Phoenix Orion
produced by Kenny Segal

18. "Mama & Pappa Raised Right" - Pterradacto, Aceyalone, Jah Orah, NoNsToP
produced by DJ Drez

19. "Battle Prone" - Myka 9, Power Tung, Wreek One
produced by Myka 9

20. "Ruff Rhymes" - Aceyalone, Longevity
produced by Longevity

21. "Doing What We Love" - Jah Orah
produced by Beat Science

[edit] Project Blowed 10th Anniversary DVD

The packaged DVD that accompanied the 10th Anniversary CD included footage from the 10th Anniversary concert itself, with performances by Freestyle Fellowship, Hip Hop Clan (Rifleman Ellay Khule and Pterradacto), Busdriver, Phoenix Orion & Sunfire, Medusa, Haiku D'Etat, 2Mex, and a collective posse cut featuring freestyles and flows by Aceyalone, Abstract Rude, Chu, Myka 9, P.E.A.C.E., and Rifleman Ellay Khule.

Also included on the DVD was a 15-minute documentary about the Project Blowed open mic, consisting of interviews with veteran Blowdians such as Aceyalone, newer Blowdians such as Kail of Customer Service, and influential figures such as Ben Caldwell, founder of "KAOZ Network" where the Project Blowed Workshop is held every Thursday.

The DVD also featured the following music videos:

* "Mic Check" by Aceyalone
* "Calistylics" by C.V.E
* "Knownots" by Haiku D'Etat
* "I Think," by Aceyalone
* "Moonlit Skies" by Aceyalone
* "Give it Here" by Aceyalone, Ahmad, and Pep Love
* "All Day" by Abstract Rude
* "My Mamma Raised a G" by Medusa.

[edit] Project Blowed Expansion

With the expansion of the Blowdian roster to include newer groups such as Customer Service, Thirsty Fish, and the (SIS)tem, Project Blowed has since opened an additional workshop in California's Inland Empire to accompany its primary location in South Central Los Angeles' Lemert Park District.

[edit] Original Location

* Los Angeles, California

Hosted by J-Smoov

[edit] Expansion Location

* Inland Empire, California

Hosted by Ganjah K

[edit] Additional Locations

* Las Vegas, Nevada

Hosted by Phoenix Orion

* Austin, Texas

Hosted by Tray Loc (C.V.E)

[edit] Legacy & Influence

* Rock & Roll Band Rage Against the Machine has a cover version of Volume 10's "Pistol Grip Pump" on their 2000 cover album Renegades.
* Project Blowdians are prominently featured in numerous video games including Tony Hawk's Underground, The ESPN NBA 2K Series and All Pro Football 2K8.
* Aceyalone appears as a playable character in ESPN NBA 2K6.
* Project Blowed was used as a recurring filming location in the 90's sitcom Moesha starring Los Angeles singer & entertainer Brandy.
* Project Blowed & Project Blowedians have been featured in numerous documentaries and reality television shows including MTV's True Life (starring Chris "CP" Phillips), and Paris Hilton's The Simple Life (featuring Carmella).
* The 2006 movie "Camjackers" stars Phoenix Orion and several Blowdians make cameos throughout the film.
* Ava DuVernay's 2007 film "This is the Life" documents the Goodlife Era of Project Blowed.[8]