Blu & Exile A Man

Much to the delight of new-age backpackers worldwide, Blu & Exile, the heralded duo from L.A., return to the spotlight.

Half a decade after their debut collaboration gave a flashback to the Rawkus era with a weeded West Coast twist, the duo officially reintroduce themselves with "A Man," a cut off of the Maybe One Day EP that just dropped in anticipation of the official September release of Give Me My Flowers While I Can Still Smell Them.

The full length will be an updated version of the project Blu unceremoniously threw on Bandcamp earlier this year and eventually removed. The preview hints at an updated version of the formula that won hearts all over the Internet -- soulful chops adorned with dexterous, introspective wordplay. Blu can still rap laps around your favorite MC when he feels like it, and Exile is always on deck with enjoyable beats that sound deceivingly simple.

Ex has spent the last five years capitalizing off the attention from their breakthrough LP while Blu has spent that time trying to run as far away from that attention as possible. Both have been successful to certain extents, but neither has been able to completely escape the mountainous shadow of their first project. It just may be their Illmatic or Resurrection, the album that fans forever measure their every bar and beat by, but both artists have the talent to transcend this confine.