Blueprint (rapper)

For other uses, see Blueprint (disambiguation).

Blueprint
Birth nameAlbert Andrew Shepard[1]
Also known as
  • Printmatic
  • Shepard Albertson
Born (1974-07-11) July 11, 1974 (age 50)
OriginColumbus, Ohio, U.S.
GenresHip hop
Occupations
Years active1997–present
Labels
Websiteprintmatic.net

Albert Andrew Shepard, (born July 11, 1974),[2] better known by his stage name Blueprint, is an American rapper and record producer from Columbus, Ohio.[3] He is a founder of Weightless Recordings.[4]

Blueprint is one half of the duo Soul Position along with producer RJD2.[5] He is also a member of the rap group Greenhouse (formerly known as Greenhouse Effect), which currently consists of himself and Illogic.[6] The duo also run a podcast "Super Duty Tough Work" which airs on YouTube, SoundCloud, and other platforms.

Life and career

Blueprint first gained underground attention as a member of the crew Greenhouse Effect.[7] He then reached a wider audience when he appeared on the track "Final Frontier" from RJD2's debut album Deadringer in 2002.[8] Since then, he has released two albums with RJD2 as Soul Position,[9] as well as several solo albums on Rhymesayers Entertainment, including 1988 (2005)[10] and Adventures in Counter-Culture (2011).[11] In 2014, he released Respect the Architect.[12]

Blueprint has written 4 books as of February 2021. Furthermore, Blueprint does a weekly podcast with fellow Greenhouse member Illogic titled "Super Duty Tough Work" covering topics such as hip-hop, business and art.

Discography

See also: Soul Position discography and Greenhouse discography

Studio albums

Compilation albums

  • Weightless Radio: A Collection of Blueprint Instrumentals (2011)

EPs

  • Vitamins & Minerals (2004)
  • Blueprint vs. Funkadelic (2008)
  • Blueprint Who (2010)
  • Vigilante Genesis (2016)
  • Falling Down (2024)

Singles

  • "Boombox" (2005)
  • "So Alive" (2011)

Guest appearances

  • Illogic - "Favorite Things" and "Blueprint" from Unforeseen Shadows (2000)
  • Sage Francis - "Orphanage Freestyle" from Sick of Waiting Tables (2001)
  • Eyedea & Abilities - "Before and After" from First Born (2001)
  • Illogic - "Break Bread" from Got Lyrics? (2002)
  • Aesop Rock - "Alchemy" from Daylight (2002)
  • RJD2 - "Final Frontier" from Deadringer (2002)
  • Mars Ill - "Planes and Trains" from Backbreakanomics (2003)
  • Static & Nat Ill - "Fist High" from Teamwork (2004)
  • Tack Fu - "Evolution Is Outdated" from 85 Decibel Monks (2004)
  • Vast Aire - "Zenith" from Look Mom... No Hands (2004)
  • Illogic - "The Only Constant" from Celestial Clockwork (2004)
  • Envelope - "Be Your Own Man" from Insignificant Anthems (2005)
  • Mr. Lif - "Mo' Mega" from Mo' Mega (2006)
  • Zero Star - "Catch Up" from Forever's Never Really That Long (2006)
  • Lord 360 - "Previously Pillaged" from The Anomaly LP (The Battle Cry) (2006)
  • Ill Poetic - "Common Knowledge" from The World Is Ours (2007)
  • Atmosphere - "Crewed Up" from Strictly Leakage (2008)
  • Envelope - "Looking In" from Shark Bolt (2008)
  • Bottom Brick - "Cadillac Rap" from The Groundbreaking (2008)
  • Jake One - "Scared" from White Van Music (2008)
  • BK-One with Benzilla - "Blue Balls" from Rádio Do Canibal (2009)
  • Felt - "Protagonists (Full Clip Remix)" (2009)
  • Small Professor - "Make Moves" from Gigantic Vol. 1 (2012)
  • Aesop Rock - "BMX" from Skelethon (2012)
  • Abstract Rude & Musab - "Pomp and Circumstance" from The Awful Truth (2012)
  • True Believers - "One Question" from The Man (2012)
  • Illus - "The Gift" and "Extraordinary" from Family First (2012)
  • Solillaquists of Sound - "Here I Am" from The 4th Wall: Part 2 (2013)
  • Art Vandelay - "When Death Sings" from Eye 8 the Crow (2013)
  • Midaz the Beast - "Seeing Is Believing" from AU: Another Universe (2013)
  • RJD2 - "It All Came to Me in a Dream" from More Is Than Isn't (2013)
  • Mad Dukez & Fresh Kils - "Rearview Reminder" from Gettin' Gatsby (2013)
  • Illogic & Blockhead - "Justified" from Capture the Sun (2013)
  • Rick Chyme - "Starving Artists" from 5iveit LP (2013)
  • J. Rawls - "Best Producer on the Mic II" from The Legacy (2014)
  • Doze - "How America Works" from Hell Is Hot as Hell, Boss (2014)
  • Illus & ICBM - "Beautiful Thing" from Behind the Mask (2014)
  • Ill State - "Blood, Sweat & Tears" from Illiterates (2014)
  • Illus & DJ Johnny Juice - "Extraordinary" and "Beautiful Thing" from Kaboom (2015)
  • Abstract Rude - "Kan of Whoop Ass Reprise" from Keep the Feel: A Legacy of Hip Hop Soul (2015)
  • Doze - "No Gravity" from Pay Dues Forever (2015)
  • Paulie Rhyme - "Dream Chasers" from Super String Theory (2015)
  • Atmosphere - "This Lonely Rose" (2015)
  • RJD2 - "Up in the Clouds" from Dame Fortune (2016)
  • More Or Les - "No Turning Back" (also featuring The Mighty Rhino) from Blow The Fuck Up But Stay Humble (2016)
  • The MC Type – "Folding Chair" from Lucky Silverback (2024)
  • COOLETHAN – "Pickup Lines" from You Can Never Go Back (2024)

Productions

References

  1. ^ "ALL SHOCK NO VALUE". ASCAP. American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers. Retrieved May 3, 2023.
  2. ^ Downing, Andy (April 24, 2014). "Locals: Blueprint strips his music down to the studs for Respect the Architect". Columbus Alive.
  3. ^ Sigelman, Danny (March 2, 2011). "Rhymesayers mainstay Blueprint readies new full-length release". City Pages. Archived from the original on August 19, 2012.
  4. ^ Perezcastaneda, Geneva (April 25, 2011). "Q&A: Blueprint Takes Us On 'Adventures in Counter-Culture'". Filter.
  5. ^ Umile, Dominic (January 21, 2004). "Soul Position: 8,000,000 Stories". PopMatters.
  6. ^ Gillespie, Blake (October 19, 2009). "Greenhouse (Effect): The New Cast". Impose.
  7. ^ Deville, Chris (July 21, 2011). "Hip-hop in Columbus: Key moments". Columbus Alive.
  8. ^ Thomas-Glass, Daniel (July 25, 2002). "RJD2 - Dead Ringer". Dusted Magazine.
  9. ^ Breihan, Tom (April 3, 2006). "Soul Position: Things Go Better With RJ and Al". Pitchfork.
  10. ^ Macia, Peter (June 2, 2005). "Blueprint: 1988". Pitchfork.
  11. ^ Matthews, Aaron (April 5, 2011). "Blueprint - Adventures in the Counter-Culture". Exclaim!.
  12. ^ Connor, Martin (May 1, 2014). "Blueprint - Respect The Architect". HipHopDX.