Benjamin Reichwald (born 9 April 1994), known professionally as Bladee, is a Swedish rapper, singer, record producer, and designer. In 2013, he formed the Drain Gang music collective alongside childhood friends Ecco2K, Thaiboy Digital, and Whitearmor. Bladee began releasing music that same year, and gained attention after collaborating with Yung Lean.
Bladee released his debut mixtape, Gluee in 2013, and his debut album, Eversince, the following year. In 2017, he became art director of Yung Lean's Sadboys Gear clothing line, and released Working on Dying, a collaborative mixtape with the production group of the same name. Bladee released Red Light and Icedancer in 2018.
Throughout 2020, Bladee released three projects: Exeter, 333, and Good Luck, a collaborative album with producer Mechatok. Bladee released his fifth studio album, The Fool, in 2021, which was met with critical praise. Later that year, he exhibited his first solo collection of paintings, Real Sprin9, and released a collection in collaboration with American-Swedish clothing brand GANT. In 2022, he released Crest, a collaborative album with Ecco2K, as well as Spiderr, his sixth solo album.
In 2023, he released several singles in collaboration with Skrillex and Yung Lean. The next year, in 2024, Bladee released Psykos, a collaborative album with Yung Lean, as well as Cold Visions. That same year, he appeared on the remix of Charli XCX's song "Rewind", and announced his departure from longtime label and management company Year0001.
Early life
Benjamin Reichwald was born 9 April 1994[3][4] in Stockholm, Sweden[5] and was raised mainly in the Skanstull area. His mother was a teacher and his father worked in restaurants.[6] As a child, Reichwald aspired to become a painter.[7][8]
In 2004, he met Ecco2K. The two were classmates and formed a punk band named Krossad (Swedish for "crushed"),[4][6][9] releasing a demo CD in 2007.[10] Reichwald later met producer Whitearmor and rapper Thaiboy Digital through mutual friends.[6] After leaving school, he worked at a daycare centre for about a year.[8][11]
Career
2013–2016: Drain Gang formation and debut projects
Reichwald began releasing music under the name Bladee in 2013. Alongside Ecco2K, Thaiboy Digital, and Whitearmor, he formed the Drain Gang musical collective, at the time named Gravity Boys.[6] Bladee became friends with fellow Stockholm rapper Yung Lean, forming a working relationship between his own Gravity Boys collective and Yung Lean's Sad Boys Entertainment. He was featured on the track "Heal You // Bladerunner" from Lean's Unknown Death 2002 mixtape, which gave him attention from Yung Lean's fanbase.[6][12]
In 2014, Bladee released his debut mixtape Gluee.[13] It was described as "a summertime anthem for a suburban generation stuck scrolling through Twitter".[11] Bladee released his debut album, Eversince, on 25 May 2016. The album was produced entirely by Whitearmor.[14][15][16]
2017–2018: Working on Dying, Red Light, and Icedancer
In 2017, Bladee became art director of Yung Lean's Sadboys Gear clothing line.[17] Later that year, Bladee collaborated with production group Working on Dying to release his second mixtape, named after the group.[18] The mixtape included features from Yung Lean and Ecco2K.[19] A music video for the track "Lordship" was later released.[20][21]
After releasing "Decay" as a lead single,[22] Bladee released Red Light, his second album, on 11 May 2018.[23][7] It features executive production by Whitearmor as well as production from Gud and Drain Gang member Yung Sherman.[24] In July 2018, Bladee walked the runway at Alyx's fall 2019 menswear show in Paris, alongside Ecco2K.[9] Bladee's third mixtape, Icedancer, was released on 28 December 2018. The mixtape was produced by production duo Ripsquadd,[25][26] and had guest appearances from Yung Lean and Thaiboy Digital.[27]
2019–2020: EXETER, 333, and Good Luck
In April 2020, Bladee released EXETER, a nine-song album he recorded during a week-long stay in Gotland, Sweden with Sad Boys producer Gud.[28] The album included features from Ecco2K.[13] A music video was later released for the track "Every Moment Special".[29] In July 2020, Bladee released 333, his fourth album and second project of 2020, via Year0001. Executively produced by Whitearmor, the album contains no credited features.[30][31] A music video for the track "Reality Surf" was released.[32] After releasing tracks "All I Want", "God", and "Drama" as singles,[33][34][35] Bladee released his third and final project of 2020. A collaborative album with Berlin producer Mechatok,[36]Good Luck was premiered on 10 December as part of an audiovisual livestream.[37][38] A deluxe version of the album was later released, which included a remix of the track "Drama", featuring Charli XCX.[39][40]
2021–2022: Real Sprin9 exhibition, The Fool, "Amygdala", Crest, and Spiderr
In May 2021, Bladee released his fifth solo album, The Fool via Year0001.[41] The album included a feature from Thaiboy Digital, and was primarily produced by Ripsquadd producer Lusi.[42]The Fool was well received by critics,[43][41][44] and was placed 11th on The Fader's 2021 end of year list.[44] During July and August 2021, Bladee exhibited his first solo collection of paintings Real Sprin9 at the Residence Gallery in London.[45] In September 2021, Bladee released a capsule Drain Gang collection in collaboration with the American-Swedish clothing brand GANT.[8]
In January 2022, Bladee released the single Amygdala in collaboration with Ecco2K and Mechatok, along with an accompanying music video.[46][47] On 18 March, he released Crest, a collaborative album with Ecco2K, via Year0001. Produced entirely by Whitearmor, Crest was critically acclaimed.[48][49][50] In September 2022, Bladee released lead single Drain Story, announcing his sixth album, Spiderr. An accompanying music video directed by Ecco2K was released.[51] On 30 September, Bladee released Spiderr via Year0001.[52]
2023–present: Various collaborations, Cold Visions, and Year0001 split
In January 2023, Bladee appeared on the Skrillex single "Real Spring",[53] which shares its name with Bladee's 2021 art exhibition.[54] The next month, Bladee appeared on Skrillex's single "Ceremony" alongside Yung Lean. Music videos were released for both tracks.[55] Bladee collaborated with fellow Swedish artist Jonas Rönnberg (Varg2™) for their first art exhibition, Fucked for Life, held at The Hole in New York from May to June 2023.[56][57] In August 2023, Yung Lean released the double-sided single "Victorious" & "Bullets" in collaboration with Bladee.[58] Both tracks were produced by Whitearmor[58] and released via Yung Lean's personal label World Affairs.[58][59]
On 13 March 2024, Bladee and Yung Lean released Psykos, a surprise album,[60] via World Affairs.[59]Psykos marked their first collaborative album after over a decade of working together, and was a sonic shift for the two artists, incorporating elements of rock and post-punk as opposed to their usual pop and hip hop soundscape.[59][61][62] Bladee released Cold Visions, also a surprise album, via his label Trash Island on 23 April 2024.[63][64] All 30 tracks were produced by F1lthy, with whom Bladee had previously collaborated on the mixtape Working on Dying in 2017. Cold Visions featured Yung Lean, Yung Sherman, Thaiboy Digital, and Black Kray[65] and was well received by music critics,[66][67][64] with it being described as Bladee's "most realized project to date" by Pitchfork.[64]
On 11 October 2024, Bladee appeared on Charli XCX's album Brat and It's Completely Different but Also Still Brat alongside Yung Lean.[4] He was featured on a remix of the track "Rewind", which was met with mixed reviews.[68][69][70][71] In November 2024, Bladee and other Drain Gang members announced that they were no longer affiliated with their longtime label and management company Year0001.[4][72] In an interview with The Guardian, Bladee stated: "I don't really care any more about being a bigger artist. The only thing that's important is that I'm doing something that's true to me."[4]
Musical style and personal life
In a 2019 interview, Bladee said that the music he creates cannot be fully described through genre.[6] Jack Angell, a music writer for The Fader, described Bladee's sound as "frostbitten futurism" and remarked that his music evokes "a wide spectrum of emotion".[6] Nadine Smith, writing for Pitchfork, stated that Bladee's work "introduces recognizable elements of American rap music to a new environment".[73] In an interview with 032c, Drain Gang members described their intuitive approach to music creation, with Bladee stating that he does not write lyrics ahead of time. Bladee has cited Hilma af Klint,[48]Chief Keef, Lil B, The Beach Boys, Basshunter, and James Ferraro as influences on his work.[6]
Bladee is a private person.[4][8] He has stated, "I really don’t like to talk about myself. I find it weird."[6] In interviews, Bladee has mentioned being struck by lightning during a trip to Thailand in 2019,[8] alluding to it being a transformative experience.[4][6]
