Billy Blue Shares New Project ‘The Life of Pedro’
A veteran in the game who has perfected his style over the course of two decades, Billy Blue rhymes with both power and finesse. The Miami rapper gives a glimpse into his life as a talented everyman in The Life Of Pedro, his new album. Over the album’s nine tracks, Billy Blue–born Pedritho Dorsonne, to Haitian parents–contrasts the glamorous perception of a rapper’s life with a harsh dose of reality, focusing on the pain as much as the pleasure. Singles “A Broken Love Story” and “Lil Yeah Yeah” illustrate both sides of the coin–the latter illustrates the early days of infatuation with a Miami bounce, while the latter shows how love and lust can curdle into jealousy and hate.
Rapping with a force that enhances the gritty realism of his lyrics, Billy adapts perfectly to each instrumental. He skates atop house-hop synths on “Right,” escaping his hardships with a night out on the town. “Lil Yeah Yeah” stacks Dirty South triplets into explicit come-ons, while on “Fundamentals,” Billy slides into the pocket with a see-sawing flow. Billy’s label boss Lupe Fiasco joins him on “Fundamentals,” as the Miami rapper brings out the MIT professor’s ignorant side: “B*tches want to play, I tell ’em it’s essential/Tell that b*tch to say no more, it’s instrumental,” rhymes Lupe. On the album’s final two tracks, “Uncle’s Prayer” and “Therapy,” both produced by Soundtrakk, Billy shows his reflective side, examining the consequences of street life and the scars it leaves, that never fade. Featuring an additional guest appearances from B. Howard and C.B., TheLife Of Pedro is available everywhere via 1st & 15th/Thirty Tigers
The Life Of Pedro is Billy Blue’s first project for 1st & 15th, following a long career as a respected rapper in his city and beyond. Born in New Rochelle, NY to Haitian immigrant parents, Billy moved to Miami when he was 10-years-old. Experiencing periods of homelessness and neglect as a youth, he took the name Billy Blue as a reference to his emotional state (“blue”) and his survival instincts (“Billy” comes from “Billy The Kid”), rapping as a way to exercise his demons and process his situation. He built a reputation for hard-nosed lyricism, crafting local hits like “Riders N Sliders” and earning the attention of hitmakers Timbaland and Akon, who signed him to a joint deal with Interscope Records in 2006. Years later, he has become an expert at navigating the changing tides of the music industry, and he still commands the respect of the game’s greats. In 2024, Lupe Fiasco signed him to 1st & 15th, and brought him as an opening act for his 2024 “Samurai Tour.”
With Lupe in his corner, Billy Blue is out to prove that he still has the lyrical ability to stand with anyone in the game. Stay tuned for more from the veteran rapper as he proves he’s still got it. More stories on Billy Blue here.