Bru Lei (born Bruce Burnett)[1] is a rapper, muralist and activist who has been a fixture of the Sacramento hip-hop and arts scene since relocating to the city in 2006.[2] Originally from Columbus, Ohio, he resists fixed labels but says the term that fits him best is "magician."[2]
At a glance
- Born/raised in Columbus, Ohio; first performed as a rapper in 1999.[2]
- Real name: Bruce Burnett.[1]
- Moved to Sacramento in 2006, following DJ PRZM west.[2]
- Cites DJ PRZM and fellow Ohio rapper Blueprint as his mentors.[2]
- Member of the Sacramento collective The People's Revolution.[3]
- Half of the duo Century Got Bars & Bru Lei, whose 2013 album Midtown Marauders made Submerge's Top 30 of 2013.[4]
- Resident emcee of Grimey Tuesday, a biweekly bass-music night at Townhouse.[5]
- Active in Sacramento's mural/public-art scene, including a contribution to Art Street.[2]
- Associated with the Spitball crew; hosts weekly "Rap Camp" mentorship sessions for rappers ages 15–22.[6]
Origin and local status
Bru Lei is a transplant rather than a Sacramento-origin artist: he is "originally from Columbus, Ohio,"[2] and only came to California in 2006, following his mentor DJ PRZM to Sacramento.[2] He had never been to California before the move.[2] His pride in his home state is explicit — Submerge describes photos of him in a shirt emblazoned with "Ohio" and notes "it's easy to sense Lei's pride in being from the Buckeye State."[2] For this reason he is best classified as regional/transplant rather than "local" by origin, while functioning within the Sacramento scene as a longtime resident creative.[2]
Beginnings in Ohio
Lei first dabbled in rapping as a teenager, recording himself using a tape recorder and a CD player and standing between the two components to get the timing right.[2] He recalled taking a Nas record his mother owned and rapping over it, so that his rhymes can be heard over Nas' vocals with the beats in the background.[2] His early work with original instrumentals included visits to his uncle's music studio.[2] He remembers his first show being in 1999.[2] In Ohio he toured with rapper Blueprint, and cites both Blueprint and DJ PRZM — who was "a big part of the hip-hop scene in Ohio" and "like my older brother" — as the mentors who helped him develop his craft and learn the music business.[2]
Sacramento years
After arriving in 2006, Lei played his first Sacramento show on the steps of the Capitol Building downtown, decided the city was "interesting," and stayed.[2] He has since become active in the city's art, music and activism communities.[2] He describes himself as deliberately selective with his time so he can support other artists.[2] As of 2018 he spoke of "fighting to survive in Midtown," refusing to live in the suburbs.[2]
Blue Lamp (1400 Alhambra Blvd.) is a sentimental venue for him: he had his first drink in California there, and his last show before a hiatus was there around the time rapper Eyedea died.[2] He noted the venue had changed owners but continued to play hip-hop.[2]
Music and releases
Lei's style is rooted in gritty, East Coast-flavored '90s rap.[2] Wu-Tang Clan has been a lifelong influence; he recounted meeting Method Man as a teen at Disney World and an encounter with RZA.[2]
His recordings are released primarily through Public School Records, an independent hip-hop label based in Fairfield, Iowa, with whom he has worked since at least 2009.[1]
Documented releases and recordings:
- Shroom Crumbs (2009) — released February 14, 2009, on Public School Records; the album that established Lei's relationship with the label.[1]
- "Things to Do" (2011) — Lei, a member of The People's Revolution, guests on this Tribe of Levi track from their album Follow My Lead; the Jae Synth-directed video was shot at Mic Jordan's Midtown home around 19th and G.[3]
- Midtown Marauders: A Tribute to A Tribe Called Quest (2013) — collaborative album credited to Century Got Bars & Bru Lei, released February 26, 2013, on Logical Alien Productions (mixed and mastered by AlienLogik). The 17-track project features members of The People's Revolution including Mahtie Bush, Poor, NON, and Mic Jordan.[7] Submerge ranked it No. 18 on its Top 30 Albums of 2013 and called it "a flawless Tribe tribute and audible tour of this fair city's nucleus."[4]
- Selfie (2017) — solo album released on Public School Records, described as reminiscent of gritty, strong '90s East Coast rap.[2][1]
- The Secret Recipe (2017) — 18-track collaborative album with Mic Jordan, released December 29, 2017, on Public School Records; mixed and mastered at SoundCap Audio in Sacramento, CA.[8]
- Crumbs (2019) — 8-track EP released December 20, 2019, on Public School Records. Produced by the late DJ PRZM, the project celebrates the 10-year anniversary of Shroom Crumbs (2009). The EP features Columbus, Ohio artists including Eclypse Da Predanatural, Metro, Jakki the Motamouth, and Illy, with vocal archives compiled by DJ Pos 2.[9]
Community work
According to therealhip-hop.com, Lei hosts a weekly Thursday session called "Rap Camp" at his California residence, offering mentorship to young rappers ages 15 to 22.[6] The program is linked to the legacy of DJ PRZM and the Spitball crew from Columbus, of which Lei is a member.[6]
Visual art and activism
Lei is a muralist as well as a rapper.[2] He contributed a piece to Art Street, a recognizable black-and-white mural created as an ode to Sacramento that incorporated a manipulated Wu-Tang Clan logo to reflect Midtown's community of creative minds.[2] As of 2018 he had recently completed a mural for a co-ed youth basketball league intended to connect communities across Sacramento.[2]
Performances
- April 12, 2011 — listed among the resident emcees (with Skurge) of Grimey Tuesday at Townhouse, the night that hosted !!! (Chk Chk Chk) in a Concerts 4 Charity event.[5]
- Oct. 13, 2012 — performed at Heart Boutique's Second Anniversary Sidewalk Bash on Capitol Avenue alongside DJ Esef and DJ Mosean.[10]
- Concerts in the Park (2017) — opened for Del the Funky Homosapien.[2]
- June 27, 2018 — opened for fellow Ohio rapper Blueprint at Blue Lamp, on a bill that also included DJ Detox, Sparks Across Darkness, Circus Runaways and Errth.[2]