Blaze

When Brooklyn produces an artist of any discipline, the proud lineage of the borough itself speaks long before the lone performer, be they painter, writer, or rapper. Great ghosts of all genres surround the city; and they permeate the growth of all who will come after. The power of rap, to a young son of Brooklyn, was instantly recognizable, and when Biggie Smalls died in 1997, Derick Bowers began to craft his technique in the shadow of the legends. Writing and battling with friends, his talent soon became obvious; an uncanny cool in his voice, his mind attuned towards analyzing and reproducing whatever trends in rap had advanced the game of late, and doing so with sharpness and clarity of flow and tone which pointed towards a maturity grown through years of practice. With years of practice under his belt since then, his cadence today is unparalleled.

Known as Blaze, his reputation grew instantly, and suddenly he was the rapper that everyone was checking for in school and on the block. When he used his stylistic study to give voice to the struggles within his own life, his work gained relevance. “It was hard, you know, trying to make choices back then – the gangs got real big and it became really a question of what direction I would point my life in. And then building with those same questions in my rhymes, that’s what makes it personal to me and relevant to you.” Choices were made, and Blaze left Brooklyn for Washington DC to attend Howard University. From Canarsie, Brooklyn to the classrooms at Howard University in Washington, D.C., Blaze is a dynamic lyricist that has established himself not only as a talented emcee, but one that draws on a continuing higher education that has given him the tools to fully understand his environment and a troubled society. Away from home, his perspective on his past allowed him to expand the breadth of his subject matter, and also grow in his approach towards the music he was making.

Blaze exudes a sound that is familiar, yet brand new. His flexibility allows him to take his unique style in any direction he chooses, however his bravado and swagger continues to express the air about him that is “Brooklyn.” Due to his focus on flow and delivery, Blaze has the supernatural ability of making any beat his willing servant, drawing listeners deep within his groove while they sing-a-long to his catchy hooks. This makes Blaze perfect for the club scene. But his forte is not just about making people move, but also spoon-feeding people his ideas, his thoughts and experiences; thus all of this makes Blaze incredibly relatable and marketable to a wide range of audiences.

“Rappers don’t realize that it’s not all about lyrics. Your voice is a musical tool and it won’t be music unless you deliver it right. If you're intelligent, words will always come and people will listen and understand what you’re saying clearly. I try to put together my words with a real sense of the sound to create more than just a song, but to create music” says Blaze.

From New York City to Washington, D.C., Blaze has been performing in front of crowds ranging from neighborhood block parties, universities, night clubs and concerts. In the past he has rocked stages performing at the infamous Howard University’s Homecoming Yardfest and more recently opening up for Fort Minor and Little Brother. He has also been creating a buzz in the streets, with features on DJ ENVY and Tapemasters Inc mixtapes. Blaze is establishing himself as a respected artist while performing with other talented and experienced Heavy Syndication artists (www.heavysyndication.com). Heavy Syndication is a newly formed media productions company based in Washington, D.C. serving as an indie label for hip hop artists and producers.

Currently, Blaze is busy in the studio working on his debut solo album, which is tentatively slated to be released in the Spring of 2007.

“The greatest artists don’t make music to cater to a consumer base, they transform the consumer base by themselves; they show the listener what they need to hear. I feel now that I’m making music that’s hot to the point where, I don’t gotta sound like anything else, when you hear me, you gonna need to hear me.” - Blaze