Blade

Hip-Hop

1. Born in the Armenian quarter of Iran, Blade came to London aged 7. Within months of arriving, he felt the effect of the Islamic revolution back home. Unable to send money out of the country, Blade’s family could no longer support him. So, with no money, no family, alone in a strange country, Blade’s self-reliance and determination were all he had to see him through. The microphone, the studio and the stage provided his only release. 1989 saw Blade’s first release with which he took to the street and sold direct to the punters. This became the blueprint for future ventures. A string of 12’s, ep’s and a massive double album followed, all of which were released on his own “691 INFLUENTIAL” label. Selling via mail order and on the streets, he amassed sales of up to 60,000 units. His one-man record operation quickly became the stuff of rap mythology. And then it all went quiet. There were some rumours, most of them invented by Blade himself, concerning retirement, emigration and a particularly bizarre one about a chicken farm. The truth – more mundane, perhaps, but undeniably real – was that he needed to take time out after the death of his father and the birth of his son. Teaming up with producer Mark B was a departure for Blade. On the Mark B & Blade’s EP Hitmen For Hire, released in 1998, he allowed another man to produce the music he rapped on for the first time. The partnership became the focus for both men, and for two years their names were insepa...