Bay Area's up and coming artist, Blanco, is ending 2010 with a bang set to echo through 2011 by releasing four projects full of heavy hitters: American Psycho features Gucci Mane, Redman, Nipsey Hussle, Freeway, Dorrough, Messy Marv and The Jacka; Blanco! Portrait of a Serial Killer will be an 8-10 track of American Psycho remixes by Cookin Soul; The Little Red Book is a collaboration with Nipsey Hussle and Gangster's Paradise (Mai Tai Muzik), produced by Tha Dogg Pound member, Daz Dillinger. Busy making it happen, Blanco took a moment to chat with LAHHE.
LAHHE: So you used to be Benny Blanco?
Blanco: Yea, from Carlito's Way but there's a lot of Benny Blanco's out there and I don't want to get confused with them so most of my stuff is just under Blanco.
LAHHE: How did you get started?
Blanco: In 2002 we started Guerilla Entertainment. Before that, I hung out with my older brother and around 10 or 11, I got turned out by gangsta rap. The whole Snoop Dogg era had a big impression on me, I was fascinated by gangsta rap and started rhyming seriously around 17.
LAHHE: Are you working on all of these projects at the same time?
Blanco: Yea. All four are almost finished. American Psycho and Blanco! Portrait of a Serial Killer will be dropped on the same day in December. Portrait will have 4 American Psycho remixes and 4 new exclusives with Cooking Soul. The Little Red Book and Gangster's Paradise will probably both drop in March of next year.
LAHHE: Where will be able to pick these up?
Blanco: You gonna be able to get them on iTunes, Amazon, all stores as well.
LAHHE: Are you working on videos?
Blanco: I just finished the video for "Smash Hard," a song with Redman. That should be on WorldStarHipHop.com and YouTube. We are waiting to get approval for the content from MTV, it's definitely MTV quality but I use "dope" a lot in the chorus.
LAHHE: How did you manage to get so many heavy hitters on your projects?
Blanco: Recognize game. I know Freeway through Jacka. I met Nipsey at the MTV Awards in L.A. Redman is a good friend of one of my good friends, a graffiti artist.
LAHHE: So you are just working your network?
Blanco: Exactly.
LAHHE: I hear that, so when can we see you in LA?
Blanco: I'll be in L.A. for mastering the next few weeks but I haven't done many shows. I really live in the studio, I've been focused on making good music, but I probably should start doing more shows.
LAHHE: Who is your go to person when you finish a new song? Who will tell you, "this sucks!"?
Blanco: My brother and Lil Hyfe, but I don't have any 'Yes' men around.
LAHHE: For someone that hasn't heard you before, what song do you suggest they listen to first?
Blanco: Any tracks off Jonestown, that's my most recently released project, but I have a dozen mixtapes.
LAHHE: I read somewhere that Jonestown was a response to something going on in the Bay?
Blanco: We just used the comparison of Jonestown [1978 mass massacre/suicide] to the codeine/cough syrup epidemic right now. Many rappers like it, it's similar to "don't drink the kool-aid," the cult following of Jonestown and people following your every word.
LAHHE: Out of the four new projects, do you have a favorite?
Blanco: The Little Red Book is the best work overall. It's going to be an album that will be remembered, a West Coast classic because Nipsey is so big, it'll touch other markets.
Listen to the new Cookin Soul single with Gucci Mane "Yeahhh (Pop Your Back)," download Jonestown and watch as Blanco makes his mark on West Coast hip hop.
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