B-Legit

Long considered one of the top emcees on the left coast, B-Legit, AKA The Savage, is a bonafide rap star. COO of the independent powerhouse, Sick-Wid-It Records, the Vallejo native is recognized for contributing mightily to the Bay Area Hip Hop movement and overall culture, helping pave the way for artists among the likes of Mack 10, Snoop Dogg, Kurupt, Keak Da Sneak and Sugar Free along the way. A centerpiece on genre defining albums such as Down and Dirty, Game Related and Money & Muscle, the gruff voiced game spitter is O.G. as they come.

Legit’s legend grew in 1996 when he signed a solo deal with Jive Records, subsequently releasing – Hemp Museum and Hempin’ Ain’t Easy (1998). His rise soon fell victim to the times though, as pop artists like Brittney Spears, Back Street Boys and NSync, were in high demand. As a result, emcees with devout Hip Hop followings like B Legit, suffered in the way of allotted money, time and attention from the major label. Fortunately, Allen Grumblet, president of Koch Records, was impressed enough with Bela’s hustle and flow to buy the rapper out of his contract with Jive. One hundred and thirty five thousand units later, the satisfied independent moved to push Hard 2 B Legit a September 2002 release.

Arguably one of his best albums to date, Hard… sold a modest 75,000 units. A relative success for the indie, B was forced to momentarily sever ties with Koch due to bootleg CD purchases (i.e. downloading and burned copies). Despite the financial woes of the label and its inability to provide significant budgets for promo tours/packages and distribution, 2004 provided B Legit the opportunity to form his own conglomerate – Block Movement Media Corporation – a decision independent of Sick-Wid-It.

“Sic-Wid-It is ‘records’ and ‘media’ covers the whole nine,” B reasons. “I wanted to have something that was going to identify [me] solo, so it was time to expand the wings a little bit.”
Between the years of 2003 and 2005, B began instituting mentoring programs for the youth in the way of seminars and presentations. An official sponsor for the Coats for Kids Xmas Drive in Detroit, Legit continued to prove his worth in and outside of the Bay Area. He delivered meaningful messages to youth in the Oakland California School District, spoke at various high schools and never missed an opportunity to stress the importance of education. Additionally, he coached youth basketball, dropped science as a panelist for a Hip Hop forum in San Francisco, and sponsored youth baseball and health educator athletic teams.

Outside of his philanthropic efforts 2003 remained positive for B-Legit’s music career as he toured the US and Canada, making frequent spot dates in Portland, Washington, Fresno, Modesto and a number of other Northwest hotspots. In the same breath, he performed with notable Hip Hop heavyweights such as Too Short, E-40, Yukmouth and Nelly, all the while maintaining his presence on radio (West Coast Reno – 93.7, KWYN and 106.1 KMEL) and in magazines (THE SOURCE, XXL, SHOWCASE, EXPLOSIVE, etc.).

Most recently B-Legit secured a deal with SMC Recordings and Universal Music Group subsidiary Fontana, effectively ending his three year absence from the game. “It gives me an opportunity to lead my own way,” Legit says. “This gives me a way to where I can custom design [my material]. Now I got a chance to really put on my CEO hat.”

A subtle departure form his signature sound, B-Legit’s new album, Block Movement, is Bay Area Hip Hop at its finest and possibly his most rounded work to date. Complete with producers from various regions of the country, Block Movement hits on all cylinders, beginning with the sonic movement down south. It continues to impress with old school mob music and mainstream thump, effectively delivering what the rapper likes to call “Feel Good Music.”

“It’s just music that you can feel,” Legit says. “It’s music with soulful hooks. Anybody that has a background from the South or the church, you can just feel those certain hymns and certain notes: the soul. [At the same time,] it’s whatever it is that makes you feel good. You get you a nice pair of shoes and a nice clean truck, drive off and listen to some feel good music.”

The Rick Rock produced “Guess Who’s Back,” featuring E-40, is currently setting B’s new standard, already earning a worthy amount of spins on the Bay Area radio stations. “That’s just to warm up my area to let them know I’m comin’ back,” he offers. “This is where the maturity and my support comes from: home.”

Mall (St. Louis) and Gold Fingers (Dallas), do their part on the production side as well, delivering respective bangers in their own right. “What they do is bring that Midwest, down South sound over the Bay Area lyrics,” B explains. “It’s a beautiful combination.” Bay area producers, including Richmond’s LJ Philly (“Friends” and “Wanna Know Your Name”), Ponte (“Kick It Tonight” and “I Can’t Change”) and Bedrock, also contribute, helping create B Legit’s most versatile album to date.

Posted by Anna Nathanson