Blade

Blade is a drum and bass producer from Bristol, United Kingdom, also known as Levi Phillips. He is an independent UK hip-hop artist who builds his own releases and live profile around direct-to-listener promotion, self-releasing music and performing across rap and club circuits.

Early life and beginnings

He is born in the Armenian quarter of Iran and moves to London at the age of seven. Soon after arriving, he experiences financial hardship and a long period of self-reliance, with the microphone, studio and stage becoming his main outlet.

His first release arrives in 1989 and is sold directly to listeners on the street. That approach becomes the model for later work, with subsequent 12-inch singles, EPs and a double album issued on his own 691 INFLUENTIAL label. He also sells records by mail order and through street sales, reaching reported figures of up to 60,000 units.

Mark B collaboration

After a period away from the public eye following the death of his father and the birth of his son, Blade teams up with producer Mark B. Their EP Hitmen For Hire appears in 1998 and is the first time Blade raps over music produced by someone else. The partnership develops into Mark B & Blade, and their album The Unknown becomes one of the best-selling LPs in UK rap history.

The duo tour widely in 2000 and 2001, playing hip hop shows, rock festivals, indie tours and rock clubs. They also support Eminem on his UK tour in 2001. Their single You Don’t See The Signs is re-recorded with Grant Nicholas of Feeder and reaches the top 20.

Later independent work

Blade later returns to solo work and finances an album himself, including manufacturing, press, radio promotion and street teams. When the distributor collapses shortly after release, the album is removed from major stores and the tour is cancelled. He responds by organising a large number of shows to keep the project moving.

During this period he meets producer BABY J and starts recording Guerrilla Tactics. The album includes a range of up-and-coming MCs, and Blade puts together a launch event that features 14 rap crews, hosted by Mista Jam, with fans travelling from across the UK and from several European countries.

Style and profile

Blade’s work is rooted in UK hip hop and drum and bass, with a strong independent release culture and a reputation built through direct sales, touring and self-management.