In 2010, nobody, unless you were deep in the know, knew the name Nacho Picasso. The names Moor Gang or Bad Ass Yellow Boys didn’t mean anything yet. This was before the rapper linked up with Blue Sky Black Death and the music was more July in Seattle than it was December. While many artists are figuring out what they want to do throughout their career, and it is often a process involving patience and self-discovery, it seems Nacho knew who he was and what he wanted to do from the jump.
Because of this, some of those still trying to figure out who they are make debuts with some filler tracks. Blunt Raps is succinct at 10 tracks with one bonus track featuring Seattle beat and wordsmith Sax G Whiz. The only two features are the aforementioned bonus track and “On Again,” which features Young TH, perhaps better known as Thaddeus David, who is associated with the Moors and SOTA respectively. Aside from that, it’s all Nacho. Clocking in at 39 minutes, it seems that he didn’t want to waste any time or bars.
Fresh off the heels of a Mass Line disbandment and a bit before Macklemore really started popping out of state, Nacho Picasso gave Seattle the bad guy that it never knew it wanted. With tracks like “Not A Good Guy,” and “Sweeney Todd,” this fact is cemented in the music.
While it may be too soon to throw that ever elusive term “classic” at Blunt Raps, it is definitely no understatement to call this album dope. It was a great introduction to the man and the myth that is Nacho Picasso. And with the luxury of reminiscing, it is safe to say the rapper only grew and evolved his style further from this point.
Only time will tell where this album fits in the lexicon of Northwest Hip Hop and music in general, but it is safe to say that Nacho Picasso is not slowing down, and it’s been a pleasure watching him progress and see what he’ll do next.