UB Celebrates: 20th Anniversary of Blu Cantrell’s ‘So Blu’

Born Tiffany Cobb, Blu Cantrell was discovered in a hotel lobby in Atlanta, in 2000, by an associate of “Tricky” Stewart. She was introduced to the CEO of Arista records, Antonio “LA” Reid, who signed her precisely 30 seconds after hearing her sing.

“I knew the first time I heard Blu sing that she was special,” stated LA Reid in 2001. “She is someone who is going to be around for a long time.”

Blessed with vocal chords that convey both power and passion, along with insightful songwriting skills and unparalleled enthusiasm for her craft, it’s no wonder why consumers and critics alike were captivated by Blu the instant they heard “Hit ‘Em Up Style (Ooops!),” her distinctive introductory hit single.

Produced by Dallas Austin, the song’s intriguing mix of sassy lyrics and streetwise R&B flavor sprinkled with elements of swinging 1920s-style jazz, spent multiple weeks at #2 on Billboard’s Hot 100 singles chart.

It also helped “So Blu” become a Grammy and American Music Award nominated success that landed in the upper reaches of Billboard‘s top albums chart. Most importantly, it distinguished Blu Cantrell from the throngs of R&B coquettes cluttering the airwaves at that time.

There was always a plan with Blu from the beginning, Lionel Ridenou Vice President of Arista Records at the time stated; “Blu Cantrell is absolutely amazing, a vocalist that, on a label built on divas, ranks right up there at the top. She has an amazing voice, an amazing presence.”

Lionel went on to say; “It’s always exciting when you’re starting from the ground floor of building what will be a voice that’ll be around for years to come. I look at her like a Chaka Khan, a Phyllis Hyman, an Aretha Franklin. What’s exciting is, in this era of everything being about the producers, it’s nice to have someone who can just pick up the microphone and do it. It’s great to have someone who is a pure soul singer. The tagline that we have given her is that she is the truth. And she is, no doubt about it.”

The second single released from “So Blu,” was the power ballad “I’ll Find a Way.” Written by legendary producers Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis, along with the late great Big Jim and Blu herself. The single peaked at #25 on the R&B charts, without a video. The final single released from the album was “Till I’m Gone,” another one without a video.

Blu posed naked for Black Tail in 1995, and the pictures resurfaced in May 2002. “We were all born naked and we will die naked. So I really don’t see what is so wrong with having our clothes off.” Blu stated in 2003.

That same year, she released her second album “Bittersweet,” which was nominated for a Grammy Award and featured the single “Breathe” featuring Sean Paul. Written and produced by Ivan Matias.

“Breathe” was a major global success in 2003, in the United Kingdom where it topped the Singles Chart for 4 consecutive weeks.

In December 2016, she told Fuse that she was still working on a new album.