When I got with him, he kept saying “okay you love Prince, you love these people. He also does Doja Cat, Bebe Rexha, Lizzo too. I've been working with Sam Woolf as a stylist. He flew in that morning, he showed up with the rollers in his hair like a black Austin Powers.” I kept telling the director, I want to feel like Lena Waithe or Issa Rae put this together, that was the vibe for the video. We shot the video down here in downtown Los Angeles. It's really n*ggas who rock with me and say, “I want to be a part of this vision.” Trinidad falls right on brand with that. I never have to pay, come up out the bag. It's never been the label reaching out to somebody. When I did “Presidential” for Ross and he did my feature for “Sing For Me,” it’s real organic. Common, he wrote the verse right there in front of me. Every time we had revisions, he’d go to Westlake together in New York. Cole did “Vendetta,” we were in a studio. I've always only done features with those types of people I have relationships with. Every time I do shows coming up, he's like “yo, I'ma pop out.” I knew for the video, he’s going to give me what I needed in terms of a black fashion type of video. I like how he dresses.l I like who he was as an artist, what he represented online. When artists perform it live, it’s a blank space. On a video, sometimes the rapper doesn’t show up. Or a rapper came and talked about something that was completely opposite of the subject. A lot of times I hear a song, it didn't really need this rapper. Black androgyny, fly shit like Austin Powers.īecause I hate features. When “Dreams” was done, I wanted this video to feel like Black excellence. We speak the same language.” He had Bottega, this is before everybody knew what Bottega was. They weren't there that day so me and Trinidad had ample time to really connect and flush out some ideas for them. Shout out Dad! I ran into Trinidad at a City Girls session in Los Angeles. How and when did Trinidad get on the song? Shout out to Dad. He said “I got this idea.” As soon as he played it, I heard “dreaaams.” I kept saying, “what if Marvin Gaye was to do trap music?” So that's what “Dreams” is. Like some Marvin Gaye shit, live instrumentation. I forget how young you are because you sing so mature?Īmen! Well, how about we do a record with your type of trap/modern day drums, but with the chords and my melody on top of it. I see you, keep forgetting you're such a big ass kid. I don't give a fuck about none of that weird shit, let's make some music that feels how you look. When I see you, you’re always dressed in some fly shit. Killah B was part of the production for Ariana Grande’s single “Positions,” we were working. That’s one of the things I did prior to quarantine, so I could still work. That's why we came out that motherfucker ready to go.
Throughout quarantine, I was able to form an incredible team so that when the world opened back up, I could come in blazing. We’re chillin', we thought we were going to be locked down for a day or two. When my publicist told me I was coming to talk to you, you were the last interview I did before the world caught on fire. We didn’t know it was going to be as bad as it was. How have you been since the last time we talked? Read below as we discuss his new record “Dreams,” why Trinidad was the perfect feature, his favorite looks and brands, shooting the cover art underwater, working out for his mental, owning his own masters, close friendship with Keyshia Cole, and more!
Additionally, he starred in the BET series The Encore.įlaunt caught up with Elijah in downtown Los Angeles, who was in high spirits after wrapping a photoshoot.
The project features appearances from Tamar Braxton, D Smoke, Keyshia Cole, and Rome Flynn, giving every listener something new and fresh they can relate to, vibe out to, and enjoy.īeyond his own music, Blake wrote the hook for “Skyscrapers” on the critically-acclaimed posthumous DMX album, Exodus. Now, the young superstar FINALLY unleashes his highly-anticipated new album titled The Neon Eon, spearheaded by lead single “Dreams” featuring Trinidad James which catapulted to #1 most added on R&B radio, and continues to climb the charts. Having written for everyone from Usher and Rick Ross to Rihanna and Keyshia Cole to more recently JoJo’s new album, Blake is excited as ever to be stepping into the limelight as his own artist.
Hailing from the Dominican Republic but now based in Los Angeles, Elijah Blake hails an incredibly strong pen game, a killer falsetto, his own unique swag, and pure, undeniable passion. Insert Elijah Blake, one of the biggest secret weapons of the music industry. Real always recognizes real, and talent always recognizes talent.