Blueprint (rapper)
Blueprint | |
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Birth name | Albert Andrew Shepard[1] |
Also known as |
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Born | July 11, 1974 |
Origin | Columbus, Ohio, U.S. |
Genres | Hip hop |
Occupations | |
Years active | 1997–present |
Labels |
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Website | printmatic |
Albert Andrew Shepard, (born July 11, 1974),[2] better known by his stage name Blueprint, is an American rapper and record producer from Columbus, Ohio.[3] He is a founder of Weightless Recordings.[4]
Blueprint is one half of the duo Soul Position along with producer RJD2.[5] He is also a member of the rap group Greenhouse (formerly known as Greenhouse Effect), which currently consists of himself and Illogic.[6] The duo also run a podcast "Super Duty Tough Work" which airs on YouTube, SoundCloud, and other platforms.
Life and career
[edit]Blueprint first gained underground attention as a member of the crew Greenhouse Effect.[7] He then reached a wider audience when he appeared on the track "Final Frontier" from RJD2's debut album Deadringer in 2002.[8] Since then, he has released two albums with RJD2 as Soul Position,[9] as well as several solo albums on Rhymesayers Entertainment, including 1988 (2005)[10] and Adventures in Counter-Culture (2011).[11] In 2014, he released Respect the Architect.[12]
Blueprint has written 4 books as of February 2021. Furthermore, Blueprint does a weekly podcast with fellow Greenhouse member Illogic titled "Super Duty Tough Work" covering topics such as hip-hop, business and art.
Discography
[edit]Studio albums
[edit]- The Weightroom (2003)
- Chamber Music (2004)
- 1988 (2005)
- Iron and Niacin (2006)
- Sign Language (2009)
- Adventures in Counter-Culture (2011)
- Deleted Scenes (2012)
- Respect the Architect (2014)
- King No Crown (2015)
- Two Headed Monster (2018)
Compilation albums
[edit]- Weightless Radio: A Collection of Blueprint Instrumentals (2011)
EPs
[edit]- Vitamins & Minerals (2004)
- Blueprint vs. Funkadelic (2008)
- Blueprint Who (2010)
- Vigilante Genesis (2016)
- Falling Down (2024)
Singles
[edit]- "Boombox" (2005)
- "So Alive" (2011)
Guest appearances
[edit]- Illogic - "Favorite Things" and "Blueprint" from Unforeseen Shadows (2000)
- Sage Francis - "Orphanage Freestyle" from Sick of Waiting Tables (2001)
- Eyedea & Abilities - "Before and After" from First Born (2001)
- Illogic - "Break Bread" from Got Lyrics? (2002)
- Aesop Rock - "Alchemy" from Daylight (2002)
- RJD2 - "Final Frontier" from Deadringer (2002)
- Mars Ill - "Planes and Trains" from Backbreakanomics (2003)
- Static & Nat Ill - "Fist High" from Teamwork (2004)
- Tack Fu - "Evolution Is Outdated" from 85 Decibel Monks (2004)
- Vast Aire - "Zenith" from Look Mom... No Hands (2004)
- Illogic - "The Only Constant" from Celestial Clockwork (2004)
- Envelope - "Be Your Own Man" from Insignificant Anthems (2005)
- Mr. Lif - "Mo' Mega" from Mo' Mega (2006)
- Zero Star - "Catch Up" from Forever's Never Really That Long (2006)
- Lord 360 - "Previously Pillaged" from The Anomaly LP (The Battle Cry) (2006)
- Ill Poetic - "Common Knowledge" from The World Is Ours (2007)
- Atmosphere - "Crewed Up" from Strictly Leakage (2008)
- Envelope - "Looking In" from Shark Bolt (2008)
- Bottom Brick - "Cadillac Rap" from The Groundbreaking (2008)
- Jake One - "Scared" from White Van Music (2008)
- BK-One with Benzilla - "Blue Balls" from Rádio Do Canibal (2009)
- Felt - "Protagonists (Full Clip Remix)" (2009)
- Small Professor - "Make Moves" from Gigantic Vol. 1 (2012)
- Aesop Rock - "BMX" from Skelethon (2012)
- Abstract Rude & Musab - "Pomp and Circumstance" from The Awful Truth (2012)
- True Believers - "One Question" from The Man (2012)
- Illus - "The Gift" and "Extraordinary" from Family First (2012)
- Solillaquists of Sound - "Here I Am" from The 4th Wall: Part 2 (2013)
- Art Vandelay - "When Death Sings" from Eye 8 the Crow (2013)
- Midaz the Beast - "Seeing Is Believing" from AU: Another Universe (2013)
- RJD2 - "It All Came to Me in a Dream" from More Is Than Isn't (2013)
- Mad Dukez & Fresh Kils - "Rearview Reminder" from Gettin' Gatsby (2013)
- Illogic & Blockhead - "Justified" from Capture the Sun (2013)
- Rick Chyme - "Starving Artists" from 5iveit LP (2013)
- J. Rawls - "Best Producer on the Mic II" from The Legacy (2014)
- Doze - "How America Works" from Hell Is Hot as Hell, Boss (2014)
- Illus & ICBM - "Beautiful Thing" from Behind the Mask (2014)
- Ill State - "Blood, Sweat & Tears" from Illiterates (2014)
- Illus & DJ Johnny Juice - "Extraordinary" and "Beautiful Thing" from Kaboom (2015)
- Abstract Rude - "Kan of Whoop Ass Reprise" from Keep the Feel: A Legacy of Hip Hop Soul (2015)
- Doze - "No Gravity" from Pay Dues Forever (2015)
- Paulie Rhyme - "Dream Chasers" from Super String Theory (2015)
- Atmosphere - "This Lonely Rose" (2015)
- RJD2 - "Up in the Clouds" from Dame Fortune (2016)
- More Or Les - "No Turning Back" (also featuring The Mighty Rhino) from Blow The Fuck Up But Stay Humble (2016)
- The MC Type – "Folding Chair" from Lucky Silverback (2024)
- COOLETHAN – "Pickup Lines" from You Can Never Go Back (2024)
Productions
[edit]- Aesop Rock - "Alchemy" from Daylight (2002)
- Illogic - Celestial Clockwork (2004)
- Vast Aire - "Zenith" and "Outro: 12 Noon" from Look Mom... No Hands (2004)
References
[edit]- ^ "ALL SHOCK NO VALUE". ASCAP. American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers. Retrieved May 3, 2023.
- ^ Downing, Andy (April 24, 2014). "Locals: Blueprint strips his music down to the studs for Respect the Architect". Columbus Alive.
- ^ Sigelman, Danny (March 2, 2011). "Rhymesayers mainstay Blueprint readies new full-length release". City Pages. Archived from the original on August 19, 2012.
- ^ Perezcastaneda, Geneva (April 25, 2011). "Q&A: Blueprint Takes Us On 'Adventures in Counter-Culture'". Filter.
- ^ Umile, Dominic (January 21, 2004). "Soul Position: 8,000,000 Stories". PopMatters.
- ^ Gillespie, Blake (October 19, 2009). "Greenhouse (Effect): The New Cast". Impose.
- ^ Deville, Chris (July 21, 2011). "Hip-hop in Columbus: Key moments". Columbus Alive.
- ^ Thomas-Glass, Daniel (July 25, 2002). "RJD2 - Dead Ringer". Dusted Magazine.
- ^ Breihan, Tom (April 3, 2006). "Soul Position: Things Go Better With RJ and Al". Pitchfork.
- ^ Macia, Peter (June 2, 2005). "Blueprint: 1988". Pitchfork.
- ^ Matthews, Aaron (April 5, 2011). "Blueprint - Adventures in the Counter-Culture". Exclaim!.
- ^ Connor, Martin (May 1, 2014). "Blueprint - Respect The Architect". HipHopDX.
External links
[edit]- Official website
- Blueprint discography at Discogs
- African-American male rappers
- American hip-hop record producers
- Living people
- Rappers from Columbus, Ohio
- Rhymesayers Entertainment artists
- 1974 births
- Midwest hip-hop musicians
- Underground rappers
- 21st-century American rappers
- 21st-century American male musicians
- Soul Position members
- Greenhouse (music group) members
- 21st-century African-American musicians