Blxst: Rocketing Toward Musical Success

WHO IS BLXST?

Some of you may remember him from a Kendrick Lamar feature, but Blxst is now ready to fully step out on his own. The 31-year-old Los Angeleno has rapped, sung and produced his way up the musical food chain after making some noise in his hometown, thanks to a production credit on a track featuring K Dot a decade ago. A full-circle moment with Kendrick featuring him on “Die Hard” years later has helped raise Blxst’s profile more than ever — and he’s still just getting warmed up.

So how did the artist born Matthew Burdette develop a singing voice that goes just as hard as his rhyming abilities, walking the rap/R&B tightrope with the precision that comes with more than a decade of making music? Let’s deep dive how Blxst got to where he is today, and what’s still in store for him.

HOW BLXST GOT ON THE MAP

Having grown up in South Central L.A., Blxst — pronounced “blast” — began pursuing a music career when he became part of the TIU Muzic collective not long after high school. After gaining some traction locally, Blxst would get tapped for high-profile production work as long ago as 2014, where he produced the remix of “Do Yo Gudda” by Hitta J3 featuring Kendrick Lamar, YG, and Problem before getting production credits on other L.A. rap songs.

Blxst made his debut song “Who Would’ve Thought” two years later, as well as a host of other singles including “Hurt”, “Savage” and “Overrated". His first hit as a solo artist wouldn’t come until 2020 with “Chosen”, which features Ty Dolla $ign and Tyga and peaked at #51 on the Billboard Hot 100 (though it topped Billboard’s Rhythmic Chart). “Chosen” has since gone platinum in the U.S., Canada, Australia and New Zealand, and remains his most streamed single to date on Spotify at more than 392 million streams.

Blxst released his first EP, No Love Lost, in September 2020. Five years earlier, he'd launched his own record label, Evgle, with whom he’d eventually partner with Red Bull Records — yes, the energy drink brand has a record label, too — to release his first album. One more EP, 2021’s Just for Clarity, came before finally releasing his debut LP, Before You Go, in April 2022.

BLXST’S KEYS FOR SUCCESS

Having watched YouTube videos to teach him how to produce and engineer music, Blxst has very much been a self-taught artist since his teen years. That extends to his image, too: he designs his own album artwork and edits his own music videos. One of his biggest sources of success, though, has been through feature placements: specifically, singing on Kendrick Lamar’s “Die Hard” alongside Amanda Reifer, a top five Billboard Hot 100 song and a top 10 hit in six other countries.

Another big factor in Blxst’s come-up has been social media. He currently has 1.7 million TikTok likes (and nearly 133,000 followers), more than 548,000 Instagram followers, and more than 8.6 million listeners on Spotify. "Chosen" gained traction thanks in part to its success on TikTok while people were still stuck in quarantine. Some good press helped along the way, too: XXL named Blxst among their Freshman Class in 2021.

Though none of his singles other than “Chosen” and “Die Hard” have charted, Blxst's 2020 single “Overrated” still went gold in America regardless. Ultimately, it's not where you chart that matters, it’s how many people you have supporting you full stop, and Blxst has plenty of fans in his corner.

WHAT’S NEXT FOR BLXST

Nothing concrete has been announced as of now, but Blxst has been teasing a possible follow-up to Before You Go thanks to an Instagram post of his from late April with the caption, “is it time for a new album 🤔”. So far, he’s spent 2024 releasing individual singles “Heart Ain’t Empty” and “Rewind” (a duet with Colombian singer Feid). Blxst also featured not long ago on Killer Mike’s “EXIT 9”, which recently got the remix treatment with a feature from Offset. 

As far as touring goes, Blxst played Coachella in April (his debut appearance at the festival), and will be playing the Blavity House Party Music Festival in Nashville this coming June. Though he has no shows booked otherwise, you can stay in the loop for all updates about a possible tour and/or album by following Blxst on his social media channels (Instagram, X fka Twitter, Facebook, TikTok), as well as on YouTube, SoundCloud, and all streaming platforms.

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FAQS ABOUT BLXST

Where is Blxst from?

• Blxst hails from South Central Los Angeles, California.

How old is Blxst?

• Blxst was born on September 17, 1992, and is 31 years of age.

What is Blxst’s real name?

• Blxst’s real name is Matthew Dean Burdette.

Who is Blxst signed to?

• Blxst is signed to Evgle and Red Bull Records.

What was Blxst’s breakout song?

• Blxst’s breakout song was 2020’s “Chosen”, featuring Ty Dolla $ign and Tyga.

Who influenced Blxst's music?

• Blxst has been influenced by various rappers and major hip-hop producers, including Pharrell Williams, Dr. Dre, Kanye West, Ryan Leslie, and DJ Quik.

What’s next for Blxst?

• Blxst has not yet announced a new album, but has been teasing one on Instagram following his debut appearance at Coachella in April.

How can I stay updated with Blxst’s music?

• You can keep up with Blxst and all new releases and tour dates of his by following him on Instagram, TikTok, SoundCloud, X fka Twitter or Facebook, subscribing to his YouTube account, or through your streaming service of choice.