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Blueprint

 
Artist: Blueprint

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  • Active: '90s, 2000s
  • Genres: Rap
  • Instrument: Producer
  • Representative Albums: "1988

Biography

Largely responsible for making Columbus, OH, a viable medium for hip-hop, Blueprint may have a cartoonish-sounding voice, but his lyrics are definitely not one-dimensional, varying from complex narratives to rhyme-battling punch lines to office humor. His productions are equally as dense and versatile, which makes sense given that his career as an MC developed side by side with his ambitions as a producer. Blueprint (born Albert Shepard) first discovered hip-hop in elementary school through his cousin who was an aspiring DJ. In high school, he used to freestyle only for fun, but his interest took on a new form when he went off to college at Wittenberg University. From participating in many open mics, MC battles, and talent shows, he met lyricists Inkwel and Manifest, who would all later form the Greenhouse Effect. The turning point for him occurred when he attended the Columbus Hip-Hop Expo in 1996. The contact he made with Columbus hip-hop crews, like MHz and Brothers Grimm, yielded a stronger determination to become a real hip-hop artist and a newfound commitment to learn how to produce. Within a year, he had saved up his money from DJing at local clubs and parties to buy his first sampler and musical workstation. After obtaining his degree in computer science, he and his Greenhouse cohorts founded Weightless Recordings around 1999 to release their first record, the Up to Speed EP. Through Greenhouse Effect and producing for Weightless MC Illogic, Blueprint considerably raised his profile among independent rap circles, constructing beats for strong underground contenders like Vast Aire, Murs, and Aesop Rock. His own turn in the spotlight shuffle came with his first two full-lengths, The Weightroom and Chamber Music, released in 2003 and 2004, respectively. The former featured several collaborators throughout the album while the latter entered into DJ Shadow territory with its left-field hip-hop instrumentals. Thus, both LPs served more as showcases for his highly original production -- a liking to murky textures and minor keys with frequent use of dark piano and string chords. He did not have a proper solo record until 2005's 1988, an ode to the classic year in hip-hop and that year's influential artists. Despite Blueprint's relative success on his own, the press and music critics gave him the most exposure from his collaborative group with MHz alum Rjd2 called Soul Position, which they formed back in 2001. Under the Minneapolis-based label Rhymesayers, the two have released the albums 8 Million Stories (2003) and Things Go Better with RJ and Al (2006). ~ Cyril Cordor, All Music Guide
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Wikipedia: Blueprint (rapper)
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Blueprint
Birth name Albert Shepard
Origin Columbus, Ohio, United States
Genre(s) Hip hop
Occupation(s) Producer, Rapper
Years active 1999 – Present
Label(s) Rhymesayers Entertainment
Weightless Recordings
Associated acts Soul Position
Greenhouse Effect
Website Weightless Recordings
Rhymesayers

Blueprint (born Albert Shepard) is an American rapper and hip hop producer from Columbus, Ohio. He is the founder and owner of Weightless Recordings and is also signed to Rhymesayers Entertainment. He is also one half of the group Soul Position with producer RJD2, and a member of the rap group Greenhouse Effect.

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Biography

Over the span of several years, Blueprint has risen greatly in popularity. He first gained minor underground attention as a member of the crew Greenhouse Effect. He achieved somewhat more widespread notice with his appearance on the track "Final Frontier" on RJD2's album Deadringer. Since then, he has released one EP and two albums with RJD2 as Soul Position, as well as a solo release on Rhymesayers, titled 1988 (2005). Blueprint is known for his distinctive teeth and story-telling ability. His albums usually focus upon a range of subjects and include many different styles of music, rather than focusing on one level throughout. He is also a skilled freestyler and came in second place in the Scribble Jam 2000 freestyle competition.

Discography

With Soul Position

Albums

Singles

  • "The Jerry Springer Episode" b/w "Share This" (Rhymesayers Entertainment, 2003)
  • "Inhale" b/w "Inhale Remix" & "Right Place, Wrong Time" (Rhymesayers Entertainment, 2004)
  • "Hand-Me-Downs" b/w "Blame It On The Jager" (Rhymesayers Entertainment, 2006)

Mixtapes

  • Mixtapes Go Better With RJ and AL (Rhymesayers Entertainment, 2006)

With Greenhouse Effect

  • Up To Speed (Weightless Recordings, 1999)
  • Life Sentences (Weightless Recordings, 2003)
  • Columbus or Bust (Weightless Recordings, 2005)
  • Greenhouse Effect Vs. Radiohead (Weightless Recordings, 2006)

Solo artist

  • The Weightroom (Weightless Recordings, 2003)
  • Chamber Music (Weightless Recordings, 2004)
  • Printmatic: The Vitamins & Minerals EP (Weightless Recordings, 2004)
  • 1988 (Rhymesayers Entertainment, 2005)
  • Iron & Niacin (Weightless Recordings, 2006)
  • Blueprint vs. Funkadelic (Weightless Recordings, 2008)
  • Sign Language (Weightless Recordings, 2009)

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Artist. Copyright © 2009 All Media Guide, LLC. Content provided by All Music Guide ®, a trademark of All Media Guide, LLC. All rights reserved.  Read more
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