Joining Drake, The Weeknd and J.Cole in crafting soundtracks for many a college campus comes Elijah Blake, Hip Hop’s understated new export.
Now, in celebrating what that export brings to the table, Billboard invited the 23 year old lyricist to its home last month- hosting their very own acoustic session and interview with him, which saw him announce the name of his debut album and perform two cuts that can be found on it.
More below…
Named ‘Songs of Melody’, Blake’s debut album will hit stores via Def Jam/Roc Nation later on this year, and features the rising single ‘XOX‘ and the jam you’ll meet below… ‘Drop Dead Beautiful’.
On the release, he told Billboard exclusively:
“The album is called ‘Songs of Melody’ cause all the songs are about one girl. I couldn’t use her name but melody is my strong point when I write songs so [with] the wordplay, melody can be about a girl or that feeling that you get when you hear a great melody.”
Featuring J.Cole, Common, Big Sean and an unconfirmed duet with ‘Love Without Tragedy’ beauty Rihanna, the project will follow the release of the R&B EP ‘Bijoux 22‘, released in the December of 2012.
Check out his live performance of ‘Drop Dead Beautiful’:
Purveying a cool mix of R&B, Hip Hop and Folk, Elijah’s sound is designed for an audience far more ‘musically aware’ than even we were initially aware of.
Sure, while the Urban label sees him tied with Chris Brown comparison, his material sees him join an elite group of 20 somethings catering for Adult Contemporary while holding the ear of fans their own age.
Important, as its this quality that’s seen Frank Ocean, Miguel, Lana Del Rey and dare we say Rihanna score critical brownie points over the upbeat contemporaries, for releasing material that’s rich in depth, emotion and ultimately appeals to all demographics.
Will Elijah fare just as well?
I love him.
Husband material 2bh.
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Can someone tell me what is so special about this guy?, i’m not gonna waste my time Googling him, i know he is Sam’s crush right now but i don’t know nothing about him.
Kiiii. Normally I would drag them but he’s actually really good. He’s got a little rock in him so I think you’ll dig it.
Okay so i listen to the songs poste here and he does not have even a hint of Rock., Sam is probably in love with him.
@SuicideBlonde You should give him a chance.
Maybe…………
LOLZ upon LOlz S******, I love you. I started listening to him when he started working with Brit last year.
I love you 2.
I agree with them Blondie. he’s not half bad.
I don’t know.
I like that TGJ is supporting the cat but most of the commenters on here stan for Pop trash so they don’t understand him and they hate.
He’s not that deep of an artist to where we have to “understand” him….
Do you not like him sis?
I do. I like his voice a lot…he reminds me of a male brandy. I like Talk To Me, Running Blind and XO. I just don’t think hes that deep lol
I didn’t get it at first but I saw him tweet about the Queen one time so I youtubed him and fell in love lawlz.
this guy think he’s kendrick lamar or something, basing an entire album on a single girl…
Ma n****,
I don’t wanna sit here and bash the other s*** yall post, but this is what I wanna see more of when I come here. I see you doing a lot more on Drizzy and s*** so I’m starting to f*** with it more.
That song reminds me of when I lived in LA. IDKY.
He’s so hot.
I think I’m in love.
The tea on another forum is that Rihanna’s gonna use that last song for something.
TGJ finally succeeded into selling him to me.
meh, not really feeling him….I prefer old school r&b…
but good luck to him though..because the only r&b dude they play all the time on the radio is chris brown…
as much as people hate chris, but damn, every time I turn on the radio, i hear his voice..
I see potential in him, but his previous single, whatever it was called, was too generic for me. Just my opinion.
Not feeling the song.
Just another c****!
Eeew!!