Re-envisioning Rap: The Co-Creation of Ser Amari and Blake Christopher

Georgia-born Ser Amari and Blake Christopher collaborate to revitalize mainstream hip-hop in their latest single Blueprint, each contributing tasteful elements of their unique personalities. Together, they’re serene, exemplifying a sound the industry is on its hands and knees for. 

Brooklyn-based Ser Amari, 21 and hungry to create, immersed himself in the music industry in 2018. His silver-decorated fingers and floral-embedded collars emulate a romantic allure, transforming your pupils into little beating hearts as soon as he captures your attention. 

What began as an acting career metamorphosed into music—but as great creatives often do, his relentless love for art in all its shapes and sizes continues to persuade his experimentation. His artistic perspective of theater, fashion, and cinematography adheres to his conscience throughout his creative process, facilitating the essence of his musical vision. 

Behaving as no less of a heartthrob, Blake Christopher demonstrates a soulful sound that emulates the cadence of his background. You can hear his Southern roots in the infliction of his voice and the smoothness of his production, paying homage to his Georgian origin.  

Like Ser, Blake finds inspiration within all art forms. Interestingly enough, the nostalgic aroma of Adult Swim has persistently influenced his work. Baby-faced Blake would sneak over to his cousin’s to indulge in racy cartoons and vivacious hip-hop beats, foreshadowing his later artistic visions. He never realized how much of an impact this aesthetic would have on his future creative efforts, but sure enough, he finds himself constantly referencing this recollection. 

Blake’s cartoon-crazed fascination, especially in accordance with artists like MF Doom and Madlib, has heavily influenced his visual approach to align with his sound. His album Southern Hospitality is cascaded with references to his hometown, articulated tediously with colored pencil. 

It was his girlfriend who exquisitely illustrated the piece; adorably enough, the album was the product of their meet-cute.

Similarly, Ser incorporates hand-designed artwork on his own covers. They’re lavishly adorned in digital photos and oil paintings, produced with the help of friends and family.  

The cover of Ser’s latest single dinner for two was illustrated by himself, proving he’s a man of many talents. Its sound secretes a bougie elegance, which he admittedly wears like a family name. His roll-off-the-tongue flow compliments the smooth strokes of the instrumentals, aligning superbly with his sleek aesthetic. 

“I’m a big believer in consuming other art forms,” Ser tells me from his bedroom, embellished with ambiguous paintings and influential vinyl. 

For an entire year, Ser practiced abstinence, avoiding the temptation of music. He was zealous to absorb the perspectives of different art without the symphonious distraction. It was a ritual of sorts, influencing the originality of his latest album, The Art of The Artery. 

The album is deliciously garnished with dystopian additives, designed to manipulate your temperaments and engross you in a stimulating experience. 

“I want to make my listeners feel as though they’re a character in a film,” Ser says when asked about his intended vision. “I wanted to make something cinematic.” 

Films like Everything Everywhere All at Once and The Spider-Verse heavily exemplify his intent. How you feel when seeing mind-altering visuals is the exact emotion he yearns to extract from his listeners. 

“Imagine creating music as beautiful as how a painting looks” Ser explains. 

Perhaps Blake takes a similar approach when producing his own music, forcefully combating his perfectionist tendencies and allowing his art to be. 

The 24-year-old has fiddled with the construction of sound since 5th grade, yet officially began releasing music in 2018. What’s most notable about Blake’s artistry is that his hands are the only ones toying with the synths and samples.

“It’s like me working with myself,” Blake says, referring to his lyrical relationship with his sample-based production. It’s clear that the production aspect of his music remains his favorite part of the creative process. 

“Release-wise, I just wanted to produce,” Blake says, describing the beginning of his career. “I only wanted to make beats till I started rapping.” 

His creative methodology is heavily inspired by artists like Playboi Carti and Young Thug. Once he has the skeleton of his production, he’ll let whatever lyrics flow naturally before having a word on paper. 

He yearns to get more intimate with his lyricism on future projects. Artists like Earl Sweatshirt have compelled Blake to create something heart-wrenchingly relatable, reflecting his anxiety-riddled transition to NYC. 

“You can’t make music without being fly all the time,” Blake tells me. 

Blake lost his best friend at a young age, shifting his perspective on life forever. He fears the promise of death, yet finds gratitude every day. He exemplifies this mindset in his upcoming album, Heaven Can Wait I’m Not Ready, set to release this summer - and we can’t wait to hear it. 

Ser and Blake’s alternative personas yet complimentary style choices align tremendously on their latest release, having us itching to hear what else the two have in store both collectively and separately. 

Look out for Ser’s next single “To The Needle.” set to release on May 24th.