West Coast emcee, Blame One is a part of the Dirty Science crew (Exile, Blame One, Blu, Aloe Blacc, Fashawn, Johaz). He is a veteran in the game with a slew of albums and EPs under his belt. Sean Price, in an interview about their collaboration ‘Disturbed’ (Produced by Exile), said Blame One was one of two people that ever outshined him on a track.

In depth:

Jahson Rutkowski – better known as his stage name Blame One – raps about living a normal 9-5 life, and raising his two children. He says he was 7 when he wrote his first rhyme in Baltimore, a riff about his sneakers inspired by Run-DMC’s “My Adidas.”

Blame One moved to Vista in 1987 and formed the rock band Mystery’s Extinction in 1993. After that band split in 1999, he built a recording studio in the spare room of his home. His 2004 album A Complex Burden features “Alumni,” a collaboration with former Cincinnati rapper Main Flow, who currently lives in San Diego.

In late March of 2008, he was a MySpace featured artist, as well as being named Chairman’s Choice in XXL, one of the most widely distributed hip-hop magazines in the U.S. His solo album Days Chasing Days was executive produced by DJ Exile, who has collaborated with and championed Blame One for years. The album also includes guest performers Sean Price and Blu.

In late March 2009, the album hit the Top 40 Best Selling Hip-Hop Albums at iTunes, one of only five indie acts charting at the time. Three months later, he announced he was retiring from music.

However, by the end of 2009, he was offering free downloads of a new album, as well as working on a collaborative effort with DJ Babu of the Beat Junkies and Dilated Peoples fame.

In 2010, after losing his job at EuroRSCG, a Carlsbad ad agency, he began pursuing music full time. In October of that year, he released a new album called Endurance. The album, featuring guest performers Jimmy Powers (Clay Pigeons), and Johaz (Deep Rooted), won Best Hip-Hop Album at the 2011 San Diego Music Awards (though he was not on had to accept it).

Shortly after the awards show, he dropped a new single, “Rap Song,” featuring his latest collaboration with local star Main Flow, and produced by DJ Exile. His next single “Dropping Bombs” (featuring producer Coper) was released in conjunction with a related “Broken Beaker Tee” shirt, both put out by Oceanside company Chemistry Surfboards.