Album Notes

Haiku returns with his anticipated sophomore release, Blew, a multi-layered concept album based on mood. “The mood of the album is blue and all its possible manifestations Instead of releasing energy, I’m harnessing it,” he says. So why blue? “The color is all-encompassing like love.”

The Chicago emcee quickly gained attention after 2004’s buzz-worthy Brainstorms, countless performances and an appearance at Chicago Rocks, an annual showcase of all-star emcees. After sharing the stage with artists from the Rhymesayers, Def Jux, and Day By Day camps, Haiku is now poised to expand nationally with the release of Blew. In addition, the album features PNS of the Molemen and Galapagos 4 producer Meaty Ogre.

The opening track “Blue” sets the tone for the album. Haiku absorbs serene surroundings, distills what he can and releases what he’s found. In “Betty Blue,” Haiku describes a reoccurring dream that pays tribute to the ideal woman, while the declarative “Widow’s Peak” shows the emcee in top form. “I’m not going to be a cat who gets stuck being the opening act. I’m here to take it.” The playful “Pendulum Head” is “a song about the hipster in all of us even though we’d like to deny it,” he says. “It gages thoughtless head-bobbing.”

From carefree and confident to vibrant epiphanies, there is song for every nuance of life on Blew. A testament to his skill, Haiku is able to unite these diverse themes into an album that flows seamlessly and is accessible to all. “Blew can mean different things for different people but overall, the color blue is the same for everybody.”