Blxst at the 65th Grammy Awards.Photo:Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic
Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic
Like most young kids, Matthew Burdette could barely stand a chance at playing 2K at his dad’s house in South Central, Los Angeles back in the day. His stepbrothers usually had the reins of the PlayStation, which meant he had to work for some controller time.
Alongside his label Evgle, Blxst has now contributed a handful of tracks to the legendary game series, taking a note from the greats who’ve curated the game’s soundtrack before him. He even made the connection through NBA starDamian Lillard, whom he’s shared some space on wax with previously.
“It’s a big deal for me, especially seeingJAY-Z. You got J. Cole,Pharrell. So it’s like I’m following in those footsteps, and I do consider myself as a tastemaker,” he says. “To be in a position to be able to curate and people trust my vision and my taste is dope. It’s reassurance for me.”
Evgle’s partnership with NBA 2K23.Full Scope PR
Full Scope PR
The soundtrack includes some staples from Blxst’s own musical portfolio, as well as material from Evgle signees likeJay Millian. And while Blxst’s popularity has only elevated over the years with his Bino Rideaux collab EPSixtapein 2019,No Love Lostin 2020 and even further with his 2022 debutBefore You Goand recent work withKendrick Lamar, Blxst says he gets the most pride from bringing his artists to the forefront.
“For me, I’m all about legacy,” he says. “I think of artists likeDr. Dre, and you have to also think about all the artists under that tree. You gotSnoop Dogg,Eminem,50 Cent. The list goes on, and that’s what I want to create at Evgle. So it’s my No. 1 priority to keep providing opportunities like that for my producers, my artists, anybody that I’m in the circle with.”
One of the artists that Blxst was drawn to early on wasTyler, the Creator, who would frequent the skate park in L.A. that Blxst also hit. The musician says he’d even approach Tyler just to rap some early Myspace-era Tyler bars for the man himself.
“I used to see him all the time, and this was before the world really knew how much of a celebrity he was. I was early on just being a fan of him from Myspace. And I’d go up to him and rap his verses. He’ll be like, ‘You know that? Oh s—, look.’ He’d call his friends over and say like, ‘Yo, sing that again,’” Blxst reflects. “So just seeing everything come full circle, I just re-met him at DJ Drama’s listening party, and I told him about that moment. He was like, ‘Bro, that’s fire.’”
“I don’t know where I pulled that from because the child that I remember I was would never do nothing like that. I had to really be inspired.”
That inspiration has gotten Blxst far in 2023. Outside of his own material and landing on the soundtrack of a bestselling video game, Blxst notably appeared on “Die Hard” off Lamar’s latest Grammy-winning LPMr. Morale & the Big Steppersback in 2022. The experience was important not just because Blxst remains a major Top Dog Entertainment fan, but because it all managed to feel “intentional,” he says.
“Die Hard” remains Blxst’s highest-charting single, having reached the top 5 of the Billboard Hot 100, while the collab also earned a nod for best melodic rap performance at the Grammys.
“One thing I took from him is how hands-on he is with each step of the process. He was telling me to sing certain cadences in different ways, and it just opened my eyes on how I need to … or even because I do that too,” Blxst says of Lamar. “But just how I need to stay in control of everything. Everything matters. You gotta keep that artist’s integrity because it’s your vision. It’s your story, and nobody can tell it better than you.”
As for where he is right now creatively, Blxst says he’s “in the trenches” and “staying motivated,” with his own quest for new talent and sounds guiding the way.
“I got this new thing where I’m pulling up to underground artists' shows because I think those are the artists that’s more connected to the roots of everything,” he says.
“They got nothing to lose but to be creative. Once you get a little money or you travel a little bit, it’s easy to get comfortable, and I don’t want to get comfortable. I want to stay hungry. So that’s where I’m at right now. I’m staying hungry.”
Blxst performing in 2023.Scott Dudelson/Getty Images
Scott Dudelson/Getty Images
“You try to channel that out, try to not think about greatness in the crowd. But it’s motivation for me too,” Blxst says. “It is fuel, like I’m in a playoff game or something. I’m finna kill it.”
For Blxst, now a man behind the music for 2K23, staying motivated is something he says both artists and athletes have in common.
“I think about Kobe [Bryant], like that mamba mentality. Sometimes he would make up things in his head to where the opponent is his enemy. They could be best friends. They could be cool, but on that court, you got to stay fired up,” he says. “So that’s what I try to add in my music to inspire others.”
source: people.com
