Blxst I'll Always Come Find You 2LP (Silver Vinyl)

The world has come to know Blxst as a culture-shifting multi-hyphenate — singer, rapper, producer, songwriter, executive, Grammy-nominated artist — and a master of all. Leading the new wave of L.A. hip-hop since 2020's billion-streaming No Love Lost EP, he's earned multiple career-defining awards, collaborated with global greats, and has always kept his foot on the gas. But with his debut album, I'll Always Come Find You, he's changing his pace a bit. Slowing down to reflect on his journey thus far while he looks out to the open road, Blxst has both hands on the wheel and knows exactly where he's going.

Executive produced by Grammy-winning producer Sounwave (Kendrick Lamar, Taylor Swift, Beyoncé), the project spans 20 tracks at nearly an hour in length, weaving a cohesive story across four chapters. Reviving the art of the concept album, Blxst builds a cinematic world around a character named Birdie, a young man who inherits his father's chauffeur car service upon his sudden passing. While Birdie's focus is on the destination ahead, he's confronted with a constant reminder of the life lessons his father instilled in him as experiences unfold in the backseat. I'll Always Come Find You is the soundtrack to Blxst and Birdie's introspective journeys, analyzing the twists and turns of love and relationships, personal identity, and self-reflection on their drive through life.

On his debut full-length album, Blxst shares, "Growing up, I was always a fan of concept albums – Get Rich or Die Trying, The Carter, Graduation – and particularly, the 'hero's journey' storyline. On I'll Always Come Find You, the character Birdie and I have gone through similar experiences but in alternate universes. It's my way of telling a relatable story while protecting my privacy. This album can be anyone's story, just hop in the backseat and come along for the ride."

The car and driver motif is omnipresent throughout the project, whether in the detailed artwork and visuals by Creative Director Amber Park (Gunna, Sabrina Carpenter, Kehlani), or in the sound bites of car doors slamming, engines revving, and faux radio DJs. The narrative elements bring the story to life, with real actors like LaRoyce Hawkins of Chicago P.D. reading the part of Birdie's father, Big E, and rap pioneer E-40 playing the role of 95.5 40-Hour Radio host. Hip-hop's favorite hype man Fatman Scoop also lends his iconic voice to "Too Many Friday Nights," while the legendary Snoop Dogg's unmistakable chops introduce "dedication hour" on "To the Moon." The attention to conceptual details allows the listener to feel like they're riding in Birdie's car for the duration of the album.

Showcasing his multi-dimensionality, Blxst balances his signature LA-rooted R&B sound with a diverse array of genres, styles, and instrumentation, ranging from rhythmic reggaeton to house beats. Determined to make the album he'd always dreamt of, he pulled inspiration from a melting pot of his greatest influences. The featured artists seamlessly guide moments in the storyline, with Offset appealing to Birdie's young sense of adventure in "Risk Taker," while Anderson .Paak warns him of falling too fast on the groove-laden, "Dance with the Devil." Nights turn into mornings with Feid and Becky G on the cross-cultural number, "Rewind," and just as Birdie's ready to head home, Ty Dolla $ign steps in with another Platinum-worthy joint, "I Need Your Love."

While Birdie might, Blxst never veers off course on I'll Always Come Find You. Every soundbite is charged with intention and listeners get a front row seat to his multi-dimensional artistry. As the journey nears its finale, it's clear that Birdie has found a version of himself he never knew existed. On "Ten Summers or Better," the warmth of Kamasi Washington's grand arrangements in the 21-piece live orchestra signal brighter days ahead, and we're left wondering if there are any parallels in Birdie's story for Blxst.

The album in its entirety showcases Blxst as an authentic talent. Multi-faceted, he skates across genres – house, afrobeats, bounce, reggaeton, neo-soul – pulling flavour from each. In a time where themed albums are rare, its four acts and the running story of 'Evgle & Son' as well as 95.5 radio are refreshing. Its interludes delight with surprising twists and turns throughout, and by the end we still haven't heard one bad Blxst song.