Off-beat rapping can make you a star. Just ask Blueface.
Rapper ‘Blueface‘ is well known as the off-beat rapper behind Stop Cappin, Thotiana, and Blow Her Bacc, among many other hits. As you listen to his music, you notice that he doesn’t rap with the right beat. No matter. Before Blueface (real name Johnathan Porter), was a rapper, he made it big in the game of football.
In high school, Porern played quarterback for Arleta High School, leading his team to the 1984 East Valley League championship, throwing for 1,724 yards and 21 touchdowns. After graduating, Porter played for Fayetteville State U before leaving school in 2016.
In the remix video for Thotiana, Porter drew on his football experiences for inspiration.
Blueface may be off-beat in rap, but he wasn’t off-beat in football.
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This article is dedicated to the memory of Lexi Alijai, the 21-year-old rap star who died when she took a pill sold by a drug dealer. The rap and sports industry should be doing more to help their stars avoid ending up like this. But, for now, all I can do is say, ‘RIP Lexi Alijai.’