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Bladee

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Bladee
Bladee in 2016
Bladee in 2016
Background information
Birth nameBenjamin Reichwald
Born(1994-04-09)9 April 1994(age 30)
Stockholm,Sweden
Genres
Occupations
  • Rapper
  • singer
  • designer
Years active2013–present
Labels
Member of

Benjamin Reichwald(born 9 April 1994), known professionally asBladee,is a Swedish rapper, singer, and designer. In 2013, he formed theDrain Gangmusic collective alongside childhood friendsEcco2K,Thaiboy Digital,andWhitearmor.Bladee began releasing music that same year, and gained attention after collaborating withYung Lean.

Bladee released his debut mixtape,Glueein 2014, and his debut album,Eversince,in 2016. In 2017 he became art director of Yung Lean's Sadboys Gear clothing line, and releasedWorking on Dying,a collaborative mixtape withthe production group of the same name.Bladee releasedRed LightandIcedancerin 2018.

Throughout 2020, Bladee released three projects:Exeter,333,andGood Luck,a collaborative album with producer Mechatok. Bladee released his fifth studio album,The Fool,in 2021, which was met with critical praise. Later that year, he exhibited his first solo collection of paintings,Real Sprin9,and released a collection in collaboration with American-Swedish clothing brandGANT.In 2022, he releasedCrest,a collaborative album with Ecco2K, as well asSpiderr,his sixth solo album.

In 2023, he released several singles in collaboration withSkrillexand Yung Lean. The next year, in 2024, Bladee releasedPsykos,a collaborative album with Yung Lean, as well asCold Visions.That same year, he appeared onthe remixofCharli XCX's song "Rewind", and announced his departure from longtime label and management companyYear0001.

Early life

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Benjamin Reichwald was born 9 April 1994[1][2]inStockholm,Sweden[3]and was raised mainly in theSkanstullarea. His mother was a teacher and his father worked in restaurants.[4]As a child, Reichwald aspired to become a painter.[5][6]

In 2004, he metEcco2K.The two were classmates and formed apunkband named Krossad (Swedish for "crushed" ),[2][4][7]releasing a demo CD in 2007.[8]Reichwald later met producerWhitearmorand rapperThaiboy Digitalthrough mutual friends.[4]After leaving school, he worked at a daycare centre for about a year.[6][9]

Career

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2013–2016: Drain Gang formation and debut projects

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Reichwald began releasing music under the name Bladee in 2013. Alongside Ecco2K, Thaiboy Digital, and Whitearmor, he formed theDrain Gangmusical collective, at the time named Gravity Boys.[4]Bladee became friends with fellow Stockholm rapperYung Lean,forming a working relationship between his own Gravity Boys collective and Yung Lean's Sad Boys Entertainment. He was featured on the track "Heal You // Bladerunner" from Lean'sUnknown Death 2002mixtape, which gave him attention from Yung Lean's fanbase.[4][10]

In 2014, Bladee released his debut mixtapeGluee.[11]It was described as "a summertime anthem for a suburban generation stuck scrolling through Twitter".[9]Bladee released his debut album,Eversince,on 25 May 2016. The album was produced entirely by Whitearmor.[12][13][14]

2017–2018:Working on Dying,Red Light,andIcedancer

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In 2017, Bladee became art director of Yung Lean's Sadboys Gear clothing line.[15]Later that year, Bladee collaborated with production groupWorking on Dyingto release his second mixtape, named after the group.[16]The mixtape included features from Yung Lean and Ecco2K.[17]A music video for the track "Lordship" was later released.[18][19]

After releasing the track "Decay" as a lead single,[20]Bladee releasedRed Light,his second album, on 11 May 2018.[21][5]It features executive production by Whitearmor as well as production from Sad Boys producerGudand Drain Gang member Yung Sherman.[22]In July2018, Bladee walked the runway at Alyx's fall 2019 menswear show in Paris, alongside Ecco2K.[7]Bladee's third mixtape,Icedancer,was released on 28 December 2018. The mixtape was produced by production duo Ripsquadd,[23][24]and had guest appearances from Yung Lean and Thaiboy Digital.[25]

2019–2020:EXETER,333,andGood Luck

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In April 2020, Bladee releasedEXETER,a nine-song album he recorded during a week-long stay inGotland,Sweden with Gud.[26]The album included features from Ecco2K.[11]A music video was later released for the track "Every Moment Special".[27]In July 2020, Bladee released333,his second album of 2020, viaYear0001.Executively produced by Whitearmor, the album contains no credited features.[28][29]A music video for the track "Reality Surf" was released.[30]

After releasing tracks "All I Want", "God", and "Drama" as singles,[31][32][33]Bladee released his third and final album of 2020. A collaborative album with Berlin producer Mechatok,[34]Good Luckwas premiered on 10 December as part of anaudiovisuallivestream.[35][36]A deluxe version of the album was later released, which included a remix of the track "Drama", featuringCharli XCX.[37][38]

2021–2022:Real Sprin9exhibition,The Fool,"Amygdala",Crest,andSpiderr

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In May2021, Bladee released his fifth solo album,The Foolvia Year0001.[39]The album included a feature from Thaiboy Digital, and was primarily produced by Ripsquadd producer Lusi.[40]The Foolwas well received by critics,[41][39][42]and was placed 11th onThe Fader's2021 end of year list.[42]During July and August2021, Bladee exhibited his first solo collection of paintingsReal Sprin9at the Residence Gallery in London.[43]In September2021, Bladee released a capsule Drain Gang collection in collaboration with the American-Swedish clothing brandGANT.[6]

In January2022, Bladee released the singleAmygdalain collaboration with Ecco2K and Mechatok, along with an accompanying music video.[44][45]On 18 March, he releasedCrest,a collaborative album with Ecco2K, via Year0001. Produced entirely by Whitearmor,Crestwas critically acclaimed.[46][47][48]In September2022, Bladee released lead singleDrain Story,announcing his sixth album,Spiderr.An accompanying music video directed by Ecco2K was released.[49]On 30 September, Bladee releasedSpiderrvia Year0001.[50]

2023–present: Various collaborations,Cold Visions,and Year0001 split

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In January2023, Bladee appeared on theSkrillexsingle "Real Spring",[51]which shares its name with Bladee's 2021 art exhibition.[52]The next month, Bladee appeared on Skrillex's single "Ceremony" alongside Yung Lean. Music videos were released for both tracks.[53]Bladee collaborated with fellow Swedish artist Jonas Rönnberg (Varg2™) for their first art exhibition,Fucked for Life,held at The Hole in New York from May to June2023.[54][55]In August2023, Yung Lean released the double-sided single "Victorious" & "Bullets" in collaboration with Bladee.[56]Both tracks were produced by Whitearmor[56]and released via Yung Lean's personal label World Affairs.[56][57]

On 13 March 2024, Bladee and Yung Lean releasedPsykos,a surprise album,[58]via World Affairs.[57]Psykosmarked their first collaborative album after over a decade of working together, and was a sonic shift for the two artists, incorporating elements ofrockandpost-punkas opposed to their usualpopandhip hopsoundscape.[57][59][60]Bladee releasedCold Visions,also a surprise album, via his label Trash Island on 23 April 2024.[61][62]All 30 tracks were produced byF1lthy,with whom Bladee had previously collaborated on the mixtapeWorking on Dyingin 2017.Cold Visionsfeatured Yung Lean, Yung Sherman, Thaiboy Digital, and Black Kray[63]and was well received by music critics,[64][65]with it being described as Bladee's "most realized project to date" byPitchfork.[62]

On 11 October 2024, Bladee appeared onCharli XCX's albumBrat and It's Completely Different but Also Still Bratalongside Yung Lean.[2]He was featured on a remix of the track "Rewind",which was met with mixed reviews.[66][67][68][69]In November2024, Bladee and other Drain Gang members announced that they were no longer affiliated with their longtime label and management company Year0001.[2][70]In an interview withThe Guardian,Bladee stated: "I don't really care anymore about being a bigger artist. The only thing that's important is that I'm doing something that's true to me."[2]

Musical style and personal life

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In a 2019 interview, Bladee said that the music he creates cannot be fully described through genre.[4]Jack Angell, a music writer forThe Fader,described Bladee's sound as "frostbitten futurism" and remarked that his music evokes "a wide spectrum of emotion".[4]Nadine Smith, writing forPitchfork,stated that Bladee's work "introduces recognizable elements of American rap music to a new environment".[71]In an interview with032c,Drain Gang members described their intuitive approach to music creation, with Bladee stating that he does not write lyrics ahead of time. Bladee has citedHilma af Klint,[46]Chief Keef,Lil B,The Beach Boys,Basshunter,andJames Ferraroas influences on his work.[4]

Bladee is a private person.[2][6]He has stated, "I really don't like to talk about myself. I find it weird."[4]In interviews, Bladee has mentioned beingstruck by lightningduring a trip to Thailand in 2019,[6]alluding to it being a transformative experience.[2][4]

Discography

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References

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  1. ^Aim Nothyng [@BladeeCity] (9 April 2016)."Thanks everyone that wish me happy birthday"(Tweet).Archivedfrom the original on 29 August 2022.Retrieved3 December2022– viaTwitter.
  2. ^abcdefg"'I was really not OK': Bladee on PTSD, Charli xcx and being struck by lightning ".The Guardian.18 November 2024.ISSN0261-3077.Retrieved25 November2024.
  3. ^"Benjamin Reichwald".THE RESIDENCE GALLERY.Retrieved25 November2024.
  4. ^abcdefghijAngell, Jack (17 September 2019)."Being Bladee: In a rare interview, the Drain Gang CEO opens up about the distinctive world he's created".The Fader.Archivedfrom the original on 20 September 2019.Retrieved24 September2021.
  5. ^abDunn, Frankie (15 May 2018)."10 things you need to know about bladee".i-D.Vice.Archivedfrom the original on 24 July 2018.Retrieved24 July2018.
  6. ^abcde"The Tao of Bladee: Wisdom from the Drain Gang's Artist-in-Chief".Highsnobiety.21 September 2021.Archivedfrom the original on 20 April 2023.Retrieved2 February2022.
  7. ^ab"Meet Bladee, the Swedish Musician Who Stars in the New Heaven by Marc Jacobs Lookbook".Vogue.6 April 2021.Archivedfrom the original on 16 April 2021.Retrieved24 September2021.
  8. ^Dandridge-Lemco, Ben."Ecco2k: PXE EP".Pitchfork.Retrieved25 November2024.
  9. ^ab"Bladee, old swedish hardcore punk mix".atractivoquenobello.9 July 2014.Archivedfrom the original on 12 September 2014.Retrieved14 April2019.
  10. ^""Taking Arizona Iced Tea and Making It Cry": An Interview with Yung Lean and the Sad Boys ".The FADER.Archivedfrom the original on 22 April 2019.Retrieved14 April2019.
  11. ^abDandridge-Lemco, Ben."Bladee: Exeter".Pitchfork.Retrieved26 November2024.
  12. ^Cooper, Duncan (25 May 2016)."Hear Swedish Sing-Rapper Bladee's Debut Album Eversince".The Fader.Archivedfrom the original on 14 September 2018.Retrieved10 September2018.
  13. ^Eklund, Jonathan (5 June 2016)."Kliver ur Yung Leans skugga med briljant debut".Gaffa(in Swedish). Archived fromthe originalon 14 September 2018.Retrieved14 September2018.
  14. ^Jenkins, Craig (25 May 2016)."Stream Yung Lean Associate Bladee's Chilly, Gorgeous Debut Album 'Eversince'".Noisey.Archivedfrom the original on 8 July 2018.Retrieved10 September2018.
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  24. ^Walker, Jackson."Bladee circles back to his old sounds in his newest album 'Spiderr'".Massachusetts Daily Collegian.Retrieved26 November2024.
  25. ^Jones, Daisy (2 January 2019)."All the Music You Might Have Missed Over the Xmas Break".VICE.Retrieved12 December2024.
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  31. ^Bloom, Madison (24 November 2020)."Bladee and Mechatok Announce New Album, Share Video for New Song" God "".Pitchfork.Retrieved26 November2024.
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