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In the heart of Los Angeles, a sleek black luxury sedan glides through the cityscape, weaving between palm-lined streets. Inside the car, West Coast artist Blxst sits comfortably in the backseat, his gaze reflecting the city’s vibrant energy. EBONY Magazine embarked on a chauffeured journey with Blxst ahead of his eagerly anticipated album, I’ll Always Come Find You, diving into the album’s themes while making stops at some of his favorite food spots in the city. However, this wasn’t just an ordinary ride through Los Angeles; it was a journey into the deeper meaning behind Blxst’s latest project as he reflected on how far he’s come and what continues to drive him forward.
Our day begins at Oh My Burger, a burger joint in Gardena renowned for its burgers and decadent shakes. Inside the restaurant, the sounds of Blxst’s song “Wrong Or Right” from his 2020 project No Love Lost provide a familiar soundtrack. While we both enjoyed the restaurant’s signature drink, a peach cobbler milkshake, Blxst reminisced about frequenting this spot when he lived down the street. He mentions it being one of the best spots in the city to grab a vegan burger–he doesn’t eat meat.
It’s clear that places like this represent a sense of community for him. Blxst reflects, “It’s more than just food; it’s a connection to where I came from.”
As we savor each sip of milkshake, the conversation effortlessly shifts to the concept behind I’ll Always Come to Find You. Blxst’s newest album is a cinematic experience centered around Birdie, a young man navigating life’s twists and turns from behind the wheel of his father’s chauffeur service.
At the core of Blxst’s creative process is his commitment to authenticity and community engagement. He crafted Birdie as a character relatable to anyone dealing with life’s challenges and becoming inspired to take life by the wheel.
“The character Birdie and I have gone through similar experiences but in alternate universes,” Blxst says. “It’s my way of telling a relatable story while protecting my privacy. This album can be anyone’s story, just hop in the backseat and come along for the ride.”
While he’s known for his signature blend of R&B and hip-hop, Blxst says he intentionally pushed his boundaries with this album. Collaborating closely with Grammy-winning producer Sounwave, he mentioned he wanted to challenge himself creatively.
He says that I’ll Always Come Find You is his most ambitious project to date. In addition, Blxst credits Sounwave with making him “uncomfortable” in the creative process of the project.
“For my debut, I wanted to have a sensei. I had to come correct. Sounwave has been a pivotal piece in me pushing my boundaries and the sounds that I’m making,” he says, “down to how I use my voice. The falsettos…You’ll hear a lot of different elements in this album that you wouldn’t hear in my previous bodies of work.”
I’ll Always Come Find You is his way of paying homage to his roots while pushing the boundaries of what’s possible. Blxst’s versatility as an artist is evident in his collaborations throughout his career: Anderson .Paak, Feid and Becky G appear as guest features within this album.
“I leaned on getting out of my comfort zone more,” he continued. “And now that’s always in my mind. I think about how the song is gonna perform on stage, in earphones, the music video, the activations, all of it. It all aligns, and I hold that in high regard.”
As we ride through the South L.A. neighborhoods to the next location, our destination isn’t just about food—the conversation becomes about the experiences that define Blxst: his career and, more importantly, how he’s been enjoying the ride. The car becomes our sanctuary as we dive deeper into the album character Birdie’s world and the parallels with Blxst’s own journey. While driving through the streets of L.A., he continues to open up about the album’s themes of love, identity and the complexities of human connection.
“Birdie’s story is my story, told through a different lens,” Blxst explains thoughtfully. “We have some similarities and some differences. Each track is a chapter in his journey, but it’s also a reflection of moments in mine. It’s all a journey.”
Our culinary adventure continues with our second stop at Taco Mell, a Black-owned Mexican food restaurant known for its burritos. Blxst’s passion for both music and community shines through here. During our stop at Taco Mell, located on busy Crenshaw Boulevard, it didn’t take long before just about anyone who looked in his direction stopped to ask for a picture. He was kind about each interaction, saying hello to familiar faces and hopping on Facetime calls with excited fans. “This is what it looks like to be a man of the community,” he jokes as he unwrapped his rice, cheese and bean burrito in the car.
“My personal goal is to give more givebacks and get more involved in the community I grew up in,” he says. “And hopefully, it inspires people with more chili in their pocket to do the same—spread the wealth.”
As our conversation continued, he reflected on the evolving landscape of Los Angeles’ music scene. Blxst attributes much of its current vibrancy to artists like Kendrick Lamar, whose recent “Pop Out” concert on Juneteenth sparked a renewed sense of creative energy.
“I give all the credit to Kendrick alone,” Blxst says. “[The Pop Out] was an alley-oop for every L.A. artist to pop out and showcase how they are putting on our city for the world. If you’re paying attention, it’s an open lane right now. I champion every L.A. artist as much as I can.”
As our journey through Los Angeles draws to a close, we end the day at Earle’s On Crenshaw, a to-go restaurant known for its hot dogs and several vegan options. Blxst leaves us with a final reflection on the album’s overarching message. It serves as a reminder to cherish the present amidst the pursuit of future goals.
“When I say ‘I’ll always come find you,’ it’s me letting go in a sense,” Blxst concludes. “Whatever happens, happens. Lessons and failures can be turned into a win if you change your perspective.”
Blxst serves as the visionary behind the wheel of his musical narrative. The project is a testament to the transformative power of storytelling and how characters such as Birdie navigate life with both hands on the wheel. With I’ll Always Come Find You, Blxst invites us all to hop in the backseat while we embrace life’s twists and turns, reminding us that sometimes, the best moments and memories are made along the way.
“Sometimes we’re so fixated on the destination that we overlook the beauty of the journey,” he says. “Life happens in real time, and every moment is an opportunity to embrace the here and now.”