Real always recognizes real, and talent always recognizes talent. Insert [Elijah Blake](https://www.instagram.com/sirelijahblake/?hl=en), one of the biggest secret weapons of the music industry. Hailing from the Dominican Republic but now based in Los Angeles, Elijah Blake hails an incredibly strong pen game, a killer falsetto, his own unique swag, and pure, undeniable passion.
Having written for everyone from Usher and Rick Ross to Rihanna and Keyshia Cole to more recently JoJo’s new album, Blake is excited as ever to be stepping into the limelight as his own artist. Now, the young superstar FINALLY unleashes his highly-anticipated new album titled _The Neon Eon_, spearheaded by lead single “Dreams” featuring Trinidad James which catapulted to #1 most added on R&B radio, and continues to climb the charts. The project features appearances from Tamar Braxton, D Smoke, Keyshia Cole, and Rome Flynn, giving every listener something new and fresh they can relate to, vibe out to, and enjoy.
Beyond his own music, Blake wrote the hook for “Skyscrapers” on the critically-acclaimed posthumous DMX album, _Exodus._ Additionally, he starred in the BET series _The Encore_.
Flaunt caught up with Elijah in downtown Los Angeles, who was in high spirits after wrapping a photoshoot. Read below as we discuss his new record “Dreams,” why Trinidad was the perfect feature, his favorite looks and brands, shooting the cover art underwater, working out for his mental, owning his own masters, close friendship with Keyshia Cole, and more!
**How have you been** [**since the last time we talked?**](https://flaunt.com/content/elijah-blake)
I've been good. Last time we spoke, Covid happened. We didn’t know it was going to be as bad as it was. When my publicist told me I was coming to talk to you, you were the last interview I did before the world caught on fire. We’re chillin', we thought we were going to be locked down for a day or two.
**“Dreams” out now, how are you feeling?**
I feel great. I'm really surprised. Throughout quarantine, I was able to form an incredible team so that when the world opened back up, I could come in blazing. I did the whole album, I lived with it. I didn't get bored of it. That's why we came out that motherfucker ready to go.
**Bring us back to when you made the song.**
I have a studio at my crib. That’s one of the things I did prior to quarantine, so I could still work. Killah B was part of the production for Ariana Grande’s single “Positions,” we were working. He said “Look, I know you like Prince. I know you like that weird shit. I know you’re in church. When I see you, you’re always dressed in some fly shit. You’re cool to me. I don't give a fuck about none of that weird shit, let's make some music that feels how you look. I see you, keep forgetting you're such a big ass kid. I forget how young you are because you sing so mature?
**And you got them vocals!**
Amen! Well, how about we do a record with your type of trap/modern day drums, but with the chords and my melody on top of it. Like some Marvin Gaye shit, live instrumentation. He said “I got this idea.” As soon as he played it, I heard “dreaaams.” \[sings\] I kept saying, “what if Marvin Gaye was to do trap music?” \[laughs\] So that's what “Dreams” is.
**How and when did Trinidad get on the song? Shout out to Dad.**
Shout out Dad! I ran into Trinidad at a City Girls session in Los Angeles. They weren't there that day so me and Trinidad had ample time to really connect and flush out some ideas for them. I’m like “yo, you dress pretty cool. We speak the same language.” He had Bottega, this is before everybody knew what Bottega was. I kept him in mind. When “Dreams” was done, I wanted this video to feel like Black excellence. Black androgyny, fly shit like Austin Powers.
Because I hate features. A lot of times I hear a song, it didn't really need this rapper. Or a rapper came and talked about something that was completely opposite of the subject. On a video, sometimes the rapper doesn’t show up. When artists perform it live, it’s a blank space. But Trinidad just made sense. I like how he dresses.l I like who he was as an artist, what he represented online. I knew for the video, he’s going to give me what I needed in terms of a black fashion type of video. He's even showing up with the shows. Every time I do shows coming up, he's like “yo, I'ma pop out.”
I've always only done features with those types of people I have relationships with. When J. Cole did “Vendetta,” we were in a studio. Every time we had revisions, he’d go to Westlake together in New York. Common, he wrote the verse right there in front of me. When I did “Presidential” for Ross and he did my feature for “Sing For Me,” it’s real organic. It's never been the label reaching out to somebody. I never have to pay, come up out the bag. It's really n\*ggas who rock with me and say, “I want to be a part of this vision.” Trinidad falls right on brand with that. I got a really dope lineup. \[laughs\]
**Where did you guys shoot the video?**
We shot the video down here in downtown Los Angeles. He flew in that morning, he showed up with the rollers in his hair like a black Austin Powers.” I kept telling the director, I want to feel like Lena Waithe or Issa Rae put this together, that was the vibe for the video.
**Talk about your looks and outfits.**
I've been working with Sam Woolf as a stylist. He also does Doja Cat, Bebe Rexha, Lizzo too. When I got with him, he kept saying “okay you love Prince, you love these people. These are artists that have caused disruption. Let's continue that because we don't have that today with many black artists. People see me with tattoos, but then they see me wearing my weird shit. They’re like “we don't know how to fix that” because they don't see that enough. A white artist can wear some shit and the whole world thinks it’s fly. A black male does it, something's gotta be wrong with him. That’s because of being programmed that way, being seen that way.
One thing we agree on: if it makes me uncomfortable, if it makes him uncomfortable, we probably should do it. That’s what we’re coming to chip away at. Dolce and Gabbana sent us some looks for that, they’ve been holding me down this year. Trinidad helped co-style, helping me pick out looks. He had his Bottega boots and gloves, it was a really good shoot.
**What other brands do you like?**
People always say this wrong but French is my first language so I’m going to brag a little bit: \_ Enfants Riches Deprimes\_\_\_\_\* The real niggaz just ERD\_\_\_. \[laughs\] That's been my favorite for a couple of years. I love Alyx \*. A couple years ago, I loved Supreme. I got really annoyed, I really like Supreme because I understood where they came from and what they’re turning into. Most motherfuckers were wearing it because it was the thing, that deterred me from it. I might go back now that it's not this ultra-high PC like it used to be. Chrome Hearts, Gallery Department. I like how they're not afraid to play with color in terms of their pants and hoodies.
**What are your “Dreams?”**
Want to know something crazy? I told my mother the other day: “how ironic that all my dreams are coming true, with this record called ‘Dreams’.” This is my first time I have a #1 most added song on the radio. Glory, hallelujah! My first album with with all these features. I had to stop doing features on this album because my shit starting to look like a Khaled album. \[laughs\] But I got some really nice features. We got Tamar Braxton, we got Rome Flynn. We got DSmoke, who just turned in his feature right before we went to mixing and mastering.
Some really exciting moments on this project. Of course, Trinidad James. This new kid who I love his tone. It’s a fun album. I like how people's tone sounds. Bo Papi sounds like a cartoon character for real, I like his stuff.
**I know _The Neon Eon_ is all about colors, right?**
I got my hair dyed today. All my hair’s finna fall out by the time the album’s out. People don't know, they gotta appreciate us when we do this because we suffer. \[laughs\] Because the record started doing well on radio, my team asked “should we push the album back?” I said no, i’ll be bald by then! I believe in artists really living in that project.
The whole time we've been making _The Neon Eon,_ I've kept my hair blonde or a color because I wanted to look like, “Oh yeah, he believes in this world that I'm trying to bring you guys into.” Oh, I'm on my way out of here. I need to let my thing rest, let it breathe. Put this album out, go back to black like Amy Winehouse.
**Is there a cover art?**
This other dope ass songwriter Tristan, he works with Chris Brown, Kesha, all these people. He's a super dope. I love his mom. He was really somebody I leaned on while making his project, second opinions. I kept saying, “I want it to look like I'm in another world, I'm on another planet.” He said “there’s this guy who build things underwater. Let me talk to him, I think we can get you a set built underwater.” He designed an underwater set, I had to hold my breath and this guy got a camera. I was underwater for a long time, we shot the cover underwater. We created a whole set with lights and everything.
**How long did you have to hold your breath for?**
Because I sing, it's all in the diaphragm. He’s like “yo, I can't believe how good you are.” I sing. \[laughs\]
**What’s your workout regimen?**
I workout almost every day. The appearance, when I was only working out strictly because I wanted to look a certain type of way, I didn't meet my goals. Because those are constantly changing. As human beings, we’re always striving for the next thing. You get discouraged, you don't go no more. When I started going for peace of mind… I remember when I left Def Jam, okay what am I going to do? How can I be the artist I want to be? What's the next moment? I was really overwhelmed, and the gym was my safe place.
I didn't want to sit home being sad, so I was excited to get up and go. That's when I realized, “Oh shit, I'm getting muscular. This is how I wanted to look my whole life.” I’m still afraid of going back to that place. As happy as I am now, to feel as motivated as I am, I want to keep that so I go to the gym every day. It’s less for physical gain. I'm very aware it keeps me in shape, but that goes with the term: if you stay ready, you never have to get ready. That's part of my stay ready process. I eat like a fucking pig. I eat what I want to, so I have to go to the gym everyday. \[laughs\]
**Who do you listen to in your workout?**
Gospel music, I only listen to gospel when I workout. I listen to Kierra Sheard, she has a song called “Always Win” that gets me going. Add “Always Win” to your morning workout, I start with that. The Walls Group, Daryl Coley, Vanessa Bell Armstrong, Karen Clark is one of my favorites. That's what gets me through.
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**How was it working on JoJo’s new album?**
I grew up loving JoJo. I was in my room like she was kicking me out my own house. I'm looking at the TV like “Get Out”! I’m a fan of voices and people who can sing. How does this little girl sing like this? She sang like a black person at 10 years old, I was so confused. JoJo came and shook the table. We were around the same age. When I came into the music industry at 15, her and I luckily crossed paths early. We formed a friendship that has lasted 10 years.
With this project, she was almost done but she felt she was missing a song. There’s a song I started w/ Blush\*” & Rob Grimaldi. She said “look, there's a song you started. I think it could be perfect. We have to work on certain parts to make it personal to me.” It's a song I originally recorded with Kehlani called “Feel Alright,” we never quite finished it or got it right. When the producer played it for JoJo, she said “Let's just change this,” because she had time. She was closing on her album, it fit the last song she needed.
I told her, I get it. When I heard her on the record, I said “okay this makes sense, because you've always had them big pop records.” I'm not necessarily a fan of poppy songs, but I love a brilliantly written, melodically lush pop song. I’m a sucker for that. JoJo's done that with “Get Out” and “Too Little, Too Late,” which is a brilliantly written song melodically. When she sang that in big vocals, I got it. The record we did “Feel Alright” goes along the lines of a “Too Little, Too Late.”
**How does it feel to own your masters?**
It doesn't feel real. For everything to be happening, it shows me either so much has changed in the music industry. Artists in general are finally getting the platform we deserve, the ownership, leadership, and appreciation we deserve. And the control, over our art! How am I getting my most added record when I’m not on a label? How am I getting all these crazy, dope opportunities?
One of my biggest icons of all time, I got to perform for his family. Prince Jackson and the Michael Jackson's estate held a private event on Halloween, “Thriller Night” that I had the honor of performing at. To be sitting there with his kids and his family, all these opportunities are opening up for me right now without a label. I couldn't even get this if I was a priority at the label. It goes back to all my “Dreams” coming true, and the record being called “Dreams.”
**What does that mean to you? Michael was a big influence on you.**
That means everything. I used to stand in front of the TV and try to dance like him. When we talk about artists that created disruption, Michael exemplified freedom and liberation. The spinning, the shiny gloves, the socks, the shoes, and the red jacket, he’s an icon in every sense of the word. That’s confirmation from God and the powers that be that I'm walking in alignment. It's a great feeling.
**What are you most excited for next?**
I really want to work this album for 2 years, that's how strong I feel about it. It’s only 10 songs. Keyshia’s on the album too, having somebody that’s my sister. Tomorrow’s her birthday. She wanted to take a picture of her kids. Her two boys are the most important things to her in the world, so I set up a photoshoot for her so she could take pictures with the boys. They're going to get dressed up in royal fashion. They're going to have those pictures forever.
What do you get somebody who has everything right? You create moments for them. Keyshia’s on Rodeo Drive every day. When she FaceTimes me, “where you at?” She’s like “I'm on Rodeo, I’m at the Louis store.” She spares no experience making herself happy. Aside from giving me good advice, if I get sad, I say “what would Keyshia do?” She's seen the highest of highs, the lowest of lows, and she still finds a way to make sure she takes care of herself.
I'll go to her house, there’s a full makeup artist, a full hair person there. “Oh, what you got going on?” She’s like “nothing.” \[laughs\] I’ve never seen that before but I get it. She wants to look in the mirror and feel good about herself. When you know your worth, can’t nobody talk to you crazy. How can you call a woman a bitch, that has a full face of makeup on, hair done, dressed to the 9. You have to address her as a queen! When I get down, what would Keyshia do?
**One thing you want people to take away from the album?**
It's okay to be free, it's okay to not have to explain yourself. One thing I've learned with social media, especially during the pandemic, why do people feel like they have this access to your personal information? If you popped out tomorrow saying you were dating Brad Pitt, people on social media would say “I saw you two days ago and you didn’t tell me that, you're a fake!” No, just because I didn't tell you, maybe it wasn't your business.
With this project, people get to hear Elijah having more fun now. All my music has been sad boy up until this point, emo and dark. My fans see me, I'm goofy and I'm laughing. Hmm, they're confused. This project is more upbeat. Less vibey, more upbeat, more rhythmic. I'm playing with cadences. I'm still finding a way to sing, but I'm not overly singing. I'm really excited about this, it’s more of a vibe and more of an experience.
**I love that it’s 10 tracks, that’s perfect.**
Yes. I look back, what are my favorite albums? _Thriller_ and _Purple Rain_, kept it short and sweet. That's where I’m at with it.
