On his 2018 track ‘Number One,’ Blake G perfected the kind of gentle, endlessly listenable pop hooks that got people listening. Six years on – with an ever-blossoming career – ‘Number One’ still proves to be the cornerstone of Blake G’s delightful, original sound.
Miami artist Blake G. continues to ride high, having released several acclaimed hit singles in the last 12 months.
Success wasn’t always assured for the artist. Still, following the pivotal release of his debut EP Resurrección and his defining single ‘Number One,’ Blake G. became a lovable emerging pop icon.
Here’s how the single brought him success.
Blake G’s Backstory
Blake G. was born and raised in Miami, Florida. The city’s open-hearted, laidback vibe has dramatically influenced his upbeat pop artistry.
Blake describes himself as of “Italian descent, with traces of South African heritage from his father.” A natural-born tenor, he took to singing from a very young age. His upbringing has inspired his growth as an artist, musical journey, and long-standing love for R&B and soul music.
But his abiding love for music comes from listening to many of the doo-wop crooners of the ‘50s and ‘60s, whose timeless sound he has tried to emulate. Like them, Blake sings about perennial themes—love, heartbreak, romance, and relationships—and he calls himself an “old soul” deep down.
Blake G. as an Emerging Artist
2018 was an important year for Blake. This year, the artist made his television debut on Univision’s Despierta America. Audiences from across America saw Blake in front of the camera, and the brief TV slot helped turn him into a pop sensation and an undeniable heartthrob overnight.
Following this, he opened for some of the most iconic artists of all time, including The Backstreet Boys, En Vogue, and Stephanie Mills. He called his experience performing on the same stage as The Backstreet Boys “life-changing,” it sharpened his skills as a live performer and an artist in general.
Blake G’s ‘Number One’ Moment
Blake’s single ‘Number One’ was officially released in 2018, around the same time as his debut EP, Resurrección (which saw him partner with Latin legend Emilio Estefan).
‘Number One’ feels like a doo-wop track that has been given a modern redress. It’s a delightfully seductive song about appreciating the one you’re with and letting them know that they take pride of place in your heart.
But this song also introduced listeners to how much of a modern pop artist Blake could be. He doesn’t shy away from pop-y synth sounds or auto-tune, even as he strives to be the “old soul” crooner. The fact that he can marry both old and new in his music is what made him so appealing to listeners in the first place.
Now, six years after the release of “Number One’, Blake has solidified this style even further – and he still has plenty more in the tank.
