Exposed Vocals Interviews Blair Harlan

Courtney “Blair” Harlan (born Feburary 13,1986 in Detroit,Michigan) is a upcoming rap artist and songwriter on the Detroit Hip-Hop scene. He’s currently released an EP entitled “DA BLAIR HARLAN PROJECT” (2009) & A mixtape Street Apps Vol 1 (2011) which featured Songs like Swagg So Sik How I Do & Crazy. DA BLAIR HARLAN PROJECT had hit singles like “WASSUP” AND “BOUT MY PAPER”. His hit single “WASSUP” made its debut on WJLB’s What’s Next On The Menu radio show. He’s also performed at showcases, open mic’s, and club venues. Since then Blair has been working with a slew of producers Axel Foley ProducedbyTruth D2TheRJ  Rich Rhoades & Ric & Thadeus and a few others. He currently has 3 new singles produced by Rich Rhoades  “Stamped” “H.I.M.C” & “GO” That will be featured on his new mixtape entitled “STREET APPS VOL 2 ”.

At the age of 14 years old, Blair started writing, then began recording when he was only 16 years of age. Working with local producers and artists on his mixtape and album project. Blair’s 1st mixtape he appeared on, was “4th and 1” with group SL. Classics were created, like “I’m Dat Deal” and “Walk on By”. After that Blair decided to go solo and work on his 1st EP.

Blair has also worked with grammy award winning producer Michael Powell on several projects. Instead of sitting and waiting for things to happen, Blair decided to take his career in his own hands. He’s gained more experience by paying for studio time and tracks all on his own.

Having his own sound, Blair’s music is original. A rare quality that some of today’s artists are lacking. Blair makes music for all audiences, young and old. Blair possesses lyrical talent and skills. He’s also very witty with a commercial sound. Blair has great lyrics with catchy hooks that will stick with you. He has the hit factor that will make you love his music. Once you hear Blair, you will know that good music still exists.

Blair is currently unsigned, but hopefully that won’t be for too long. Having had a lot of exposure within the music industry, he wants to make a change and leave his mark on what we call, The Hip-Hop Game. Courtney “Blair” Harlan has the qualities of a major artist, all Blair needs is to be heard!

MIXTAPES BLAIR’s APPEARED ON: 4th and 1(2005) MEN ON FIRE (2006) MEN ON FIRE 2 (2007) HOLLYWOOD ALUMNI (2007) WHO’S THE DJ WHO’S THE RAPPER (2008) SL TAKEOVER (2009)

ALBUMS: YOUNG AND NASTY EP (2008) BH PROJECT EP (2009) STREET APPS VOL 1 (2011) NEW Age The Arousing (2014) STREET APPS VOL 2 (2016)

Stay Tuned Blair will be working on many more projects in the near future……

He’s Currently the Flagship Artist on C1V Entertainment a New Fresh Independent Detroit Label On The RISE..

 http://m.audiomack.com/artist/blair-harlan

 https://m.datpiff.com/tape/297047

Exposed Vocals: So tell us your story. Where did you grow up? What made you decide to become an artist?

Blair Harlan: I grew up on the Westside of Detroit attended Schools in Detroit. I then moved To Oak Park where I was getting a feel to be a producer. Originally I wanted to Produce. But I loved music so much that one day me n My Uncle his names Jamel by the way he put a beat on And I just started Freestyling. He was like “Yo that was DOPE u should keep at it. So I did then I started taking Pens and writing poems every chance I could. Shortly after that those poems became songs and my creativity began setting in. After i moved outta Oak Park with my family. We went to Georgia I met a A&R there I believe his name was Alan He heard me Rap and told me to study the greats in the Game. I told him Tupac was my favorite rapper and he inspired me as an Artist.
But who was “HOT” at the time was Jay-Z he told me to Watch & Study his moves so I did. Then I started using that to work on my own skills as a Artist. A year later we moved back to Dearborn. At the high school Fordson it was other dope artists who rapped and were very lyrical. I really honed my skills there from hopping in cyphers to just freestyling. But my vocabulary really expanded when we use to do this thing when we rap called “Wordplay” where each artist used a word and rhymed it til we couldn’t rhyme with the word we was given anymore. Great times memories forreal those were some of the dopest cyphers I ever was in.
I began recording that year also to hear what I sound like experimenting pretty much. After High School my Brother Toine called me One Day. And he was like I want you to go to the Studio with me my boy wanna Hear you rap. His Boy TC heard me flow and he was Sold so then TC introduced me to Pete the CEO of C1V Entertainment and then I became a Artist of the Label Officially. My reason to be an Artist is because I wanna show the World my Range on Topics Subject Matter and my Songwriting  Ability I can put in Words what people are Really going through in this Day & Age I call it “Reality Rap” just Real music to fit your lifestyle or whatever Mood you in. I just Remain to Be Through it All.

 Exposed Vocals: How did you come up with that name? What was your inspiration behind it?

Blair Harlan: You know I got a Crazy Story about that so I was going through my rap names in High School. 1st it was C-Dogg cause C’s the 1st letter in my Name and I just thought Dogg was dope. Then I was like Nah let me try Element I just thought it fitted The Hip Hop Trend. Then I chose Magnificent cause my lyrical rhyme style. After that I shortened it to MAG. So one day I was riding with my Best Friend Brian he’s known as (Denmark Vessey) and “I was like yo what you think my rap name should be? And he was like why don’t Just Go wit Blair Harlan and I was like Blair Harlan hmm got a Ring to It its my Middle Name & Last Name so It just stuck wit me pretty Much. I personally believe its one of the dopest rap artist names To Be Honest.

 Exposed Vocals: What do you think about online music sharing? Do you ever give your music away for free? Why?

Blair Harlan: Sharing Music Online is Powerful because you can Reach a Wider Audience and Gain More Listeners and Fans All Over The World. I just wish people would value online music sharing more some take it for granted I guess because its so Accessible these days. Yes I’ve given away Tons of Music Reason being is that I wanna Be HEARD. Why keep a CD if No ones Listening to it Yet alone Make One. Sure we all wanna be BIG but you have to Get Heard 1st.

 Exposed Vocals: Since everyone was a start-up once, can you give any smaller or local bands or artists looking to get gigs and airplay some tips?

Blair Harlan: I say Use every Resource you have do your Research find the Hot Spots all Bands and Artists are in. On the Airplay side send your record to every DJ Promoter or Radio Person you Know. Most of the time music Is spread by “Word of Mouth”. So my point people have to hear You to see if you’re talented & to decide whether they’re fans or Not.

 Exposed Vocals: Where do you usually gather songwriting inspiration? What is your usual songwriting process?

Blair Harlan: My songwriting inspiration is usually my mood a thought or an idea. As well as life experiences. Really I’ll hear a beat and let it talk to me in a Sense. Then I’ll come up with a Hook always do my Hooks 1st that Drives a Song. After I get the Hook in motion then I’ll write my Verses. Some Songs I write quick and Some I take my time with. It really depends on the importance of a song and how I feel about the song &what message im trying to get across. Some songs I write based on experiences either I went through it or I know someone who has.

 Exposed Vocals: Do you have a band website? What online platforms do you use to share your music?

Blair Harlan : Yea I do You can find my music on Soundcloud
https://soundcloud.com/blairharlan
I share my Music On Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Flipagram, Audiomack,Reverb Nation and Datpiff.

 Exposed Vocals: If you were given half a million dollars and a year off, what would you do? How would you spend it?

Blair Harlan : A half a million well 1st I’d deposit some of that money in a bank account but I’d use that money to start up and invest more into my music and projects. Id spend it on things like Promotion, Music Videos, & Studio Time. Now the rest would go towards a House Car & My family of course cause I wanna make it Big for them One Day they Deserve it. My Dream is theirs in a Sense.

 Exposed Vocals: How do you find ways to promote your music? What works best for you?

Blair Harlan : Me Mainly I use Social Media and Word of Mouth thats the Best way to Promote in my Eyes these Days.

 Exposed Vocals: So, what’s next? Any new upcoming projects that you want to talk about?

Blair Harlan: Whats next is this project i’ve been working very Hard on The 2nd Installment to the Street Apps Series which is Street Apps Vol 2. Got a few singles out for it currently actually 3
“Stamped”
“H.I.M.C”. and
“GO” this Mixtape has a darker feel to it definitely more in depth. This mixtape is a Soundtrack for the Streets thats who Music is Approved by Forreal if you wanna be Technical.

 Exposed Vocals: If you weren’t making music, what would you be doing?

Blair Harlan : Id be in Somebody Office Learning Computers How they Operate and how to Set Up Networks and Databases. I’m really Tech Saavy Technology is something im Into.

 Exposed Vocals: How do you juggle the rest of your responsibilities while trying to stay ahead in your music life?

Blair Harlan : I take every day a step at a Time. I try to Balance Personal Life and Music Life make sure One doesn’t over Power the Other. I’ve gotten good at it also. Just stay the course stay focused and it will all fall in place.

 Exposed Vocals: What should fans look forward to in 2016?

Blair Harlan: Fans should be on the Look out for Street Apps Vol 2 As well as Music videos from the project as well. Also after that I’ll be working on my 1st Album Release No Title Date Set for that Yet just working on the Mixtape Series for Now.