BlueFace

L.A. rapper Blueface turned away from football ambitions with little warning, rising in less than twelve months from someone with almost no interest in recording to one of the most discussed names in rap. He adopted the moniker Blueface to signal ties to the Crips as well as the color of the $100 bill, and the face-tatted artist first drew widespread attention in 2018 through a series of tracks that showcased his off-kilter cadence and playfully offbeat writing. After multiple songs reached the charts, he joined Cash Money Records and delivered his long-delayed debut studio album, Find the Beat, in 2020. Over the following two years he continued releasing singles, among them 2022’s “Tik Tok.”

Born Jonathan Porter in 1997, the future rapper grew up in Los Angeles, relocating frequently within the city before enrolling at North Carolina’s Fayetteville State University on a football scholarship. Once he left school, Porter returned to L.A. and joined his friend TC4800 at a studio session, where he seized the microphone and attempted rapping for the very first time. The resulting approach proved divisive, blending verses that drifted in and out of strict rhythm with bold, slang-filled lines rich in striking imagery. His initial track to gain serious traction, “DeadLocs,” surfaced in early 2018. Weeks later he followed it with the even bigger hit “Thotiana.” Porter then began performing at high schools and greeting supporters at local malls. This direct outreach helped cultivate a loyal audience, prompting a rapid succession of further releases to maintain momentum. Before 2018 closed he had issued the Famous Cryp mixtape, the Two Coccy EP, and the joint project We Over Famous with Trendd. Late that year he entered a deal with the veteran rap powerhouse Cash Money Records.

The following year opened with the single “Bleed It.” Additional tracks arrived soon after, among them the Rich the Kid collaboration “Daddy,” which appeared on the Dirt Bag EP. An initial studio album was first revealed in October 2019 with a planned December arrival, yet repeated postponements pushed the project to March 2020, when Find the Beat finally emerged. The set included contributions from numerous prominent rappers such as Gunna, NLE Choppa, and DaBaby. It reached number 64 on the Billboard charts. After Find the Beat’s release, Blueface put out an expanded edition of Famous Cryp in 2020 that added fresh songs and guest spots from Asian Doll, Sada Baby, and others. Throughout 2021 he dropped several new solo tracks while also appearing alongside OG Bobby Billions, DDG, and Cheddarboy. In 2022 he returned with the singles “Street Signs,” “Self Made,” and “Tik Tok.”