Blaqstarr

Last updated

Blaqstarr
Birth nameCharles Jamal Smith
Also known asDJ Blaqstarr, Jamal Loving
Born (1985-09-30) September 30, 1985 (age 39)
Origin Baltimore, Maryland, U.S.
Genres Hip hop, Baltimore club, dance
Occupation(s) Rapper, producer, singer, DJ
Years active2000s to present
Labels N.E.E.T. Recordings, Manta Ray Records, GASS Records
Website Official website

Charles Smith (born September 30, 1985), better known as Blaqstarr or DJ Blaqstarr, is an American rapper, singer, producer and DJ. He is best known for his work with M.I.A.

Contents

Biography

Blaqstarr had local success in the early 2000s with the songs "Get My Gun", "Ryda Girl", "Jiggle It", "Hands Up Thumbs Down" and "Feel It In the Air", released via Starr Productions. [1] [2] [3] In 2005, he contributed songs such as "Tote It" to the album Operation Playtime and the songs "Supastarr" and "So Horney" to the album Baltimore Club 9. [4] [5]

In December 2005, M.I.A. travelled to America to work with Blaqstarr on her second album, telling The Observer , "I arrived at 9 am and he'd been arrested at seven; he was still up from the night before. That's his studio, and it's got a washer-dryer in the back and a sofa bed, that's his whole set-up; that's why he doesn't make it out of Baltimore." [6] "Shake It to The Ground" featured Rye Rye, an affiliate of Blaqstarr's in Baltimore, became a club hit in 2006. Blaqstarr introduced Rye Rye to M.I.A. after the singer asked for a meeting, leading to both touring with the artist and collaborations on her album Kala which led to wide recognition. [1] [7] His EP, Supastarr, was released, its first single being the rereleased "Shake It To the Ground" for which a music video was made, [8] and another EP, titled Shake It To the Ground was also released in 2007. [9]

In January 2008, Blaqstarr released the album King of Roq. [10] He toured with Diplo, M.I.A. and Rye Rye, and participated in the Rock the Bells tour. He also produced and recorded tracks with M.I.A., Mos Def, Switch and Rye Rye. In June 2008, he contributed a track to the album Hollertronix 8, along with DJ Sega.[ citation needed ]

In early 2009, Blaqstarr released a single in collaboration with the DJ Diplo titled "Get Off". [11] M.I.A. and Blaqstarr released a song and video "Way Down in the Hole" following him signing to the N.E.E.T. Recordings record label. He also produced some of the tracks for the 2009 K-Swift album Greatest Hits. [12]

In 2009, Blaqstarr was chosen to perform at the People's Inaugural Ball in Washington D.C., one of the unofficial pre-inaugural events which took place in the days leading up to the inauguration of Barack Obama.[ citation needed ]

Blaqstarr was on the lineup for the SXSW Festival, which took place in Austin, Texas, from March 13 to 22, 2009. [13] He released an EP entitled "The Divine" on January 25, 2011. It includes six songs: "All The World", "Rider Girl", "Oh My Darlin'", "Divine", "Wonder Women" and "Turning Out".[ citation needed ]

Critical reception

Music critic Chris Richards of The Washington Post , in reviewing the 2008 recording I'm Bangin' 2, wrote, "If Blaqstarr's hallucinogenic odes to sex, drugs and Baltimore don't make him a legend in his day, they should certainly cement his cult status in some dystopian future." [14] Billboard wrote, regarding King of Roq, "Much of the music sounds like standard hip-hop fare but sped up to Alvin & the Chipmunks speed; it's fast, furious and dirty." [15]

Discography

EPs

Mixtapes

Videography

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Diplo</span> American DJ and music producer (born 1978)

Thomas Wesley Pentz, known professionally as Diplo, is an American DJ and music producer. He is a co-creator and lead member of the electronic dancehall music project Major Lazer; a member of the supergroup LSD, with Labrinth and Sia; a member of electronic duo Jack Ü, with producer and DJ Skrillex; and a member of Silk City, with Mark Ronson. He founded the record company Mad Decent in 2006, as well as the non-profit organization Heaps Decent the following year. His 2013 extended play (EP), Revolution, debuted at number 68 on the US Billboard 200. The EP's title track was later featured in a commercial for Hyundai and is featured on the WWE 2K16 soundtrack.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Spank Rock</span> American rapper

Naeem Juwan Hanks, better known by his stage name Spank Rock, is an American rapper and songwriter from Baltimore. He rose to fame with his 2006 album YoYoYoYoYo, which was produced by former group member Alex Epton (XXXChange). A harbinger of post-millennial alternative rap, the duo became known for its mixing of disparate hip hop and club genres, including Baltimore club, Miami bass, electro music and rock.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Blaq Poet</span> American rapper

Wilbur Bass, better known as Blaq Poet, is an American rapper from Queensbridge, New York City.

<i>Kala</i> (album) 2007 studio album by M.I.A.

Kala is the second studio album by British recording artist M.I.A. It was released on 8 August 2007 through XL Recordings. M.I.A. named the album after her mother and has stated that her mother's struggles in life are a major theme of the album. It was mainly written and produced by M.I.A. and Switch, and features contributions from Timbaland, Diplo, Afrikan Boy and The Wilcannia Mob.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Switch (music producer)</span> English producer, songwriter and DJ

David James Andrew Taylor, better known by his stage name Switch, is an English record producer, songwriter, DJ, and sound engineer. He is best known for his work with Beyoncé, M.I.A. and Major Lazer, of which he was a founding member. He was nominated at the 51st Annual Grammy Awards in the Record of the Year category for "Paper Planes" by M.I.A., which he co-produced with Diplo. Other artists he has produced include Christina Aguilera, Chaka Khan, Santigold, and Brandy among many others. He has released various singles under his own name, and is also well known for remixing and producing for many major artists.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rye Rye</span> American rapper

Ryeisha Berrain, known by her stage name Rye Rye, is an American rapper, singer, dancer and actress. Signed to N.E.E.T. Recordings, she released her first mixtape RYEot PowRR in 2011 and her anticipated debut album Go! Pop! Bang! on May 15, 2012. In early 2009, MSNBC listed Rye Rye as one of the "5Top: Top of the pops! Up-and coming young singers." In 2011, Rye Rye was named one of Billboard's "21 Under 21". Rye Rye made her acting debut in the 2012 film 21 Jump Street.

<i>FabricLive.38</i> 2008 compilation album by DJ Craze

FabricLive.38 is a DJ mix compilation album by DJ Craze, as part of the FabricLive Mix Series.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">N.E.E.T. Recordings</span> Record label

N.E.E.T. Recordings was a vanity record label of Sri Lankan English hip hop recording artist M.I.A. as an imprint of Interscope Records in 2008. N.E.E.T. is an acronym for "Not in Education, Employment or Training".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Major Lazer</span> American electronic music group

Major Lazer is an American electronic dance music and DJ trio, which includes record producer Diplo, and DJs Walshy Fire and Ape Drums. They were founded in 2008 by Diplo and Switch, with Switch leaving after three years in 2011. He was then replaced by both Jillionaire and Walshy Fire. In June 2019, Jillionaire left the group and was replaced by Ape Drums. Their music spans numerous genres, mixing reggae with dancehall, reggaeton, soca, house and moombahton.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">XXXO</span> 2010 single by M.I.A.

"XXXO" is a song by English recording artist M.I.A., released as the lead single from her third studio album, Maya (2010). The song was written by M.I.A., Charles "Blaqstarr" Smith and Cherry Byron-Withers, and produced by Blaqstarr and Rusko. "XXXO" was first released as a digital download following its world premiere on radio on 10 May 2010, and released in physical format in the United Kingdom on 28 June 2010. Two XXXO remix EPs were released alongside the single, featuring Jay-Z, SBTRKT, KickRaux amongst others on official remixes. The song's release followed the digital release of "Born Free", also from Maya.

System D-128 also known as Duey FM, born name Brian Torres Korlofsky is a music video and film director, editor, video artist, new media artist and producer.

<i>Bang</i> (Rye Rye song)

"Bang" is a song and single by rapper/dancer Rye Rye featuring M.I.A. It was recorded in 2008 and appears on the deluxe version of her 2012 album Go! Pop! Bang!. It was released in 2009 on N.E.E.T. Recordings and Interscope Records. The single was released first, followed by an EP of remixes, Bang – The Remixes, which includes remixes by Buraka Som Sistema and DJ Sega. The song appears in the films Fast & Furious and Step Up 3D and in the episode "The Sorkin Notes" of the TV-series Entourage.

John Dadzie, better known by his stage names 12th Planet and Infiltrata, is an American DJ and dubstep producer from Los Angeles.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Plastic Little (band)</span> American hip hop group

Plastic Little is an American rap group consisting of Jayson Musson (PackofRats), Kurt Hunte, Jon Folmar, Si Young Lee and Michael Stern (SQUID). The name "Plastic Little" comes from the Manga and OVA, Plastic Little simply as, according to Musson, "The way the 2 words go together, I like it". Based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; they've worked with other notable artists from the area, including Amanda Blank and Spank Rock.

<i>Go! Pop! Bang!</i> 2012 studio album by Rye Rye

Go! Pop! Bang! is the debut studio album by American rapper Rye Rye. It was released on N.E.E.T. Recordings, an imprint of Interscope Records. The album was originally scheduled for release in 2009, but it has since been delayed several times, due to a pregnancy and label issues. It was eventually released on May 15, 2012, with a deluxe version available through digital music retailers. The album features several artists including M.I.A., Akon, Tyga, Robyn, and Porcelain Black. Production credits are given to M.I.A., The Neptunes, Mr. Bangladesh, and RedOne. The variety of styles brought from each producer was praised by critics.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Partysquad</span> Dutch DJ production team

The Partysquad is a Dutch DJ production team. It consists of Jerry Leembruggen, Ruben Fernhout and Lorenzo Biemans. Since the early 2000s they have had 12 singles charting on the Dutch Top 40. They produced part of British rapper M.I.A.'s fourth and fifth albums, Matangi, released in 2013, and AIM, released in 2016.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lunice</span> Musical artist

Lunice Fermin Pierre II, better known by his stage name Lunice, is a Canadian record producer and DJ from Montreal. He is one half of the duo TNGHT along with Hudson Mohawke.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mad Decent</span> American record label

Mad Decent is an American record label founded by Diplo. The label has helped introduce Brazilian baile funk and Angolan kuduro to clubs around the world. In the early 2010s, it popularized moombahton, a genre of electronic dance music created by DJ Dave Nada. The genre on the label was mostly popularized by Dillon Francis after collaborating with Diplo on Francis' 2012 track "Que Que". The label is also known for its series of concerts in major cities known as the Mad Decent Block Party.

<i>AIM</i> (album) 2016 studio album by M.I.A.

AIM is the fifth studio album by British rapper and singer M.I.A. It was released on 9 September 2016 by Interscope and Polydor Records. Prior to its release, M.I.A. claimed that it would be her final album. She worked on the composition and production of the album with a range of collaborators, including Blaqstarr, Diplo, and Skrillex. The album was recorded in various countries, including Jamaica and India, and includes vocal contributions from Dexta Daps and Zayn. As with M.I.A.'s earlier releases, the album mixes Eastern and Western musical influences. Lyrically, several tracks on the album contain themes of borders and refugees.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bird Song (M.I.A. song)</span> 2016 song performed by M.I.A.

"Bird Song" is a song by British recording artist M.I.A. from her fifth studio album, AIM (2016). It served as the fourth single from the album. M.I.A. announced the release of the single on 1 August 2016, and that the producers include Diplo and Blaqstarr. The song was written by M.I.A. and Blaqstarr, and was the first collaboration between Diplo and M.I.A. since her 2010 album Maya. The Blaqstarr version was officially released on 12 August 2016 while the release of the Diplo version was delayed due to clearance problems with Interscope, and eventually premiered on 18 August.

References

  1. 1 2 DJ Blaqstarr at Allmusic
  2. ↑ Shipley, Al (December 13, 2006). "The Year In Local Music". Baltimore City Paper . Retrieved October 10, 2010.
  3. ↑ "Best Hook: Blaqstarr "Hands Up thumbs Down"". Baltimore City Paper . September 20, 2006. Retrieved October 10, 2010.
  4. ↑ "DJ Lil Jay – Operation: Playtime (CD) at Discogs". Discogs.com. Retrieved April 17, 2013.
  5. ↑ "Various – DJ Technics – Baltimore Club 9 (CD) at Discogs". Discogs.com. Retrieved April 17, 2013.
  6. ↑ Yates, Steve (September 16, 2007). "New world order". The Observer. London: Guardian Media Group . Retrieved August 13, 2010.
  7. ↑ MC (January 24, 2009). "Faces to Watch". Billboard . pp. 23–25.
  8. ↑ "The FADER – Video:DJ Blaqstarr & Rye Rye, "Shake it to the Ground"". The Fader . November 15, 2008. Retrieved September 19, 2008.
  9. ↑ "Shake it to the Ground". Allmusic.
  10. ↑ "King of Roq". Allmusic.
  11. ↑ Brandon Soderburg (January 20, 2009). "Know Your Product: Blaq Starr/Diplo, "Get Off," (Mad Decent)". Baltimore City Paper. Archived from the original on January 19, 2013.
  12. ↑ Michael Byrne (February 2, 2009). "Know Your Product: K-Swift, Greatest Hits". Baltimore City Paper. Archived from the original on January 19, 2013.
  13. ↑ "Crystal Method, Blaqstarr, others on board for SXSW". Live Daily. January 8, 2009. Archived from the original on January 22, 2009.
  14. ↑ Richards, Chris (November 4, 2008). "Quick Spins: Blaqstarr: I'm Bangin' 2", The Washington Post , p. C5.
  15. ↑ Harding, Cortney (August 9, 2008). "It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World", Billboard 120 (32): 44.
  16. ↑ "Blaqstarr (Blaqstarr) on Twitter". Blaqstarrmusic.com. Archived from the original on April 17, 2011. Retrieved April 17, 2013.
  17. ↑ "S.U.S MIA/BLAQSTARR – Elbows Music Blog Aggregator". Elbo.ws. Archived from the original on November 17, 2013. Retrieved April 17, 2013.
  18. ↑ "Video: Blaqstarr, "Oh My Darling" « The FADER". Thefader.com. April 30, 2010. Retrieved April 17, 2013.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.